#12 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Virginia Cavaliers
Scott Stadium – Charlottesville, Virginia
Saturday, October 15, 2011, 3:30 pm Eastern, TV: ESPNU
Opening Line: Georgia Tech -8
Current Line: Georgia Tech -7 (-115)
Opening Total: 55
Current Total: 55 1/2
Opening Money Line: Georgia Tech -290 / Virginia +240
Current Money Line: Georgia Tech -290 / Virginia +240
Georgia Tech and Virginia meet for the 34th time Saturday. The series is tied 16-16-1, but Georgia Tech has won 2 straight including last year in Atlanta 33-21. Georgia Tech is 3-9-1 all time in Charlottesville. Georgia Tech, coached by Paul Johnson, is 6-0, including 3-0 in the ACC. The Yellow Jackets are ranked #12 in both polls. Georgia Tech has home wins over Western Carolina63-21, Kansas 66-24, North Carolina 35-28, and last week against Maryland 21-16, along with road wins over Middle Tennessee St 49-21 and at North Carolina St 45-35. Virginia is 3-2 under coach Mike London, and 0-1 in the ACC. The Cavaliers have home wins over William & Mary 40-3 and two weeks ago over Idaho 21-20 in overtime, along with a road win at Indiana 34-31. The Cavaliers have losses at North Carolina 28-17, and at home to Southern Miss 30-24.
Georgia Tech was a 15.5 point favorite last week on the college football betting line against Maryland. The Yellow Jackets were up 21-3 at the end of the third quarter and looked like they were going to cover. However, Maryland scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to make the final 21-16. The Terrapins went for 2 and failed on the last touchdown. Georgia Tech had 386 total yards including 272 rushing yards. The Yellow Jackets overcame 8 penalties and a turnover in the win. Maryland had 333 yards, with 246 rushing yards. Maryland had 2 turnovers. Tech quarterback Tevin Washington had 234 combined rushing and passing yards, with a rushing touchdown and an interception.
Georgia Tech is averaging a staggering 553.5 total yards a game including 360.5 rushing yards a game. The Yellow Jackets have the number 4 total offense, #3 rushing attack and #6 scoring offense in the nation with 46.5 points a game. Even the passing offense is averaging 193 yards a game. The Yellow Jackets have 7 turnovers and have allowed 3 sacks. Georgia Tech is 55/89 on third and fourth down conversions, and 27/32 scoring in the red zone with 24 touchdowns. Georgia Tech is allowing 342.8 yards and 24.2 points a game. Teams are running for 161.8 yards a game against Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets have forced 11 turnovers and 15 sacks. Tech opponents are 42/96 on third and fourth down conversions, and 17/20 scoring in the red zone with 15 touchdowns.
Washington is 37/73 passing for 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, along with 95 carries for 309 yards and 6 touchdowns. Georgia Tech has 27 rushing touchdowns in 6 games this season. Running back Orwin Smith has 32 carries for 464 yards and 8 touchdowns, along with 8 catches for 239 yards and a touchdown. David Sims has 66 carries for 432 yards and 3 touchdowns, along with a touchdown catch on his only reception of the year. Roddy Jones has 23 carries, 236 yards, and 2 touchdowns, along with 4 catches, 116 yards, and 3 touchdowns. Synjyn Days has 40 carries for 219 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Receiver Stephen Hill has 17 catches, 552 yards, and 4 touchdown catches. Kicker Justin Moore is 37/37 on extra points and 4/7 on field goals with a long of 40 yards. Three Georgia Tech linebackers are listed as questionable or doubtful Saturday.
Virginia was a 16.5 point favorite two weeks ago against Idaho. Virginia jumped out a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and it looked like they were well on their way to covering the point spread. However, Virginia would not score again in regulation. Idaho kicked 2 second quarter field goals and the scored stayed 14-6 until the Vandals blocked a Virginia punt and ran it back for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. The Vandals went for two and were successful to send the game into overtime. Virginia got the ball first and scored a touchdown on a 27 yard touchdown pass from David Watford to Dominique Terrell. Idaho scored a touchdown in their turn in overtime but went for 2 again for the win, but they failed to convert. Virginia held on for the 21-20 win. Virginia had 3 turnovers and 7 penalties in the win. The Cavaliers had 496 total yards, including 335 passing yards. Virginia quarterbacks Michael Rocco and Watford each threw a touchdown pass and Watford also threw an interception. Rocco threw for 240 yards. Running back Perry Jones had 21 carries, 110 yards and a touchdown, along with 7 catches for 41 yards and a touchdown catch. Receiver Kris Burd had 8 catches for 123 yards. Idaho had 296 total yards and 12 first downs. The Vandals had 5 penalties and 2 turnovers themselves.
Virginia is averaging 438.8 total yards a game and 27.2 points. Virginia is averaging 177.2 rushing yards a game. They have 13 turnovers and have allowed 6 sacks. The Cavaliers are 40/92 on third and fourth down conversions, and 18/20 scoring in the red zone with 12 touchdowns. Defensively, the Cavaliers are giving up 311.8 yards a game and 22.4 points. Virginia is holding opponents to 116.4 rushing yards a game. Virginia has forced 9 turnovers and 10 sacks. Cavalier opponents are 29/86 on third and fourth down conversions, and 14/18 scoring in the red zone with 9 touchdowns.
Rocco is 94/149 passing with 365 yards, 2 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Rocco has 17 carries for 24 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Watford is 25/50 passing with 2 touchdowns and an interception, along with 10 carries for 17 yards. Running back Perry Jones has 80 carries for 365 yards and 2 touchdowns, and is also the teams’ third leading receiver with 24 catches for 199 yards and a touchdown. Kevin Parks has 50 carries, 282 yards, and 6 touchdowns, and 3 catches for 29 yards. He missed the last game with an ankle injury and is listed as probable for the Georgia Tech game. Clifton Richardson has 34 carries for 207 yards and a touchdown. Burd has 30 catches, 373 yards, and no touchdowns. Matt Snyder has 19 catches for 220 yards. Tim Smith has 14 catches for 165 yards. Kicker Robert Randolph is 12/12 on extra points and 10/13 on field goals with a long of 48 yards.
Virginia is 1-4 against the spread this season and the total is 1-4 in those games. Georgia Tech is 4-1-1 ATS and the total is 5-1 in those games. Georgia Tech has won and covered the last 2 meetings against Virginia. The Yellow Jackets are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 as a favorite, following a straight up win, and overall, 8-2-1 in the last 11 as a road favorite, 3-1-1 ATS in the last 5 road games, and on grass, 10-4-2 ATS in the last 16 October games, 7-3 ATS in the last 10 following a game where they failed to cover, and 1-3-1 in the last 5 conference games. Virginia is 11-5 ATS in the last 16 as a home dog of between 3.5 and 10 points, 2-6 ATS in October, and as an underdog, 1-4 ATS in the last 5 following a game where they failed to cover, 2-8 in the last 10 conference games, 1-4 in the last 5 has a home underdog, following a straight up win, 1-6 in their last 7 on grass, 0-4 ATS versus teams with winning records, and overall.
Virginia is pretty good on defense, but they haven’t faced an attack like Georgia Tech’s high powered triple option offense. Georgia Tech had a subpar offensive performance last week against Maryland, and I look for them to bounce back this week. Georgia Tech should roll, even though Virginia is improving.
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