#22 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Miami Hurricanes
Sun Life Stadium – Miami, Florida
Saturday, October 22, 2011, 3:30 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: Miami -2
Current Line: Miami -3 (-105)
Opening Total: 62
Current Total: 62
Opening Money Line: Miami -140 / Georgia Tech +120
Current Money Line: Miami -150 / Georgia Tech +130
Georgia Tech is coming off their first loss of the season last week, a 24-21 upset at Virginia. The 6-1 Yellow Jackets try to rebound as they travel to the 3-3 Miami Hurricanes, who are finally getting most of their players back from suspensions for accepting improper benefits. Georgie Tech coached by Paul Johnson has home wins over Western Carolina 63-21, Kansas 66-24, North Carolina 35-28, and Maryland 21-16, along with road wins at Middle Tennessee St 49-21 and North Carolina St 45-35. The Yellow Jackets lead the ACC Coastal division with a 3-1 conference record. Miami, is led by first year coach Al Golden, is 3-3 this year with home wins over Ohio St 24-6, Bethune-Cookman 45-14, and last week at North Carolina 30-24. The Hurricanes have losses at Maryland 32-24, and Virginia Tech 38-35, and a home loss to Kansas St 28-24. Georgia Tech leads the series against Miami 10-6 including 2-2 at Sun Life Stadium. Miami has won the last 2 in the series including 35-10 last year in Atlanta.
For two weeks in a row Georgia Tech’s high powered attack has been held to 21 points. The Yellow Jackets escaped with a 21-26 win two weeks ago against Maryland, but weren’t so lucky last week at Virginia as the Cavaliers pulled off the the 24-21 upset. Virginia was up 24-14 at halftime. Georgia Tech scored with about 5 minutes left in the third quarter to make it 24-21 but neither team scored for the rest of the game. The Yellow Jackets were 7.5 point favorites on the college football betting line. Georgia Tech had only 296 total yards including 272 rushing yards, and 17 first downs. The Yellow Jackets average well over 500 total yards and almost 350 rushing yards a game. Georgia tech quarterback Tevin Washington had as many interceptions (2) as he did completions with no touchdown passes for 24 yards. Washington did have 26 carries 115 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Yellow Jackets scored one of their touchdowns on a 32 yard interception return in the second quarter. Georgia Tech kicker Justin Moore missed a 52 yard field goal in the first quarter that would have sent the game into overtime. Virginia had 407 total yards, including 272 rushing yards.
Georgia Tech is averaging 516.7 total yards a game including 347.9 rushing yards a game. The Yellow Jackets have the #9 total offense, #2 rushing attack and #10 scoring offense in the nation with 42.9 points a game. The passing offense is averaging 168.9 yards a game. The Yellow Jackets have 9 turnovers and have allowed 3 sacks. Georgia Tech is 64/106 on third and fourth down conversions, and 29/34 scoring in the red zone with 26 touchdowns. Georgia Tech is allowing 352 yards and 24.1 points a game. Teams are running for 177.6 yards a game against Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets have forced 11 turnovers and 15 sacks. Tech opponents are 49/110 on third and fourth down conversions, and 19/24 scoring in the red zone with 16 touchdowns. The Yellow Jackets have 2 defensive touchdowns this year
Washington is 39/81 passing for 1,076 yards and 10 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, along with 121 carries for 424 yards and 8 touchdowns. Georgia Tech has 29 rushing touchdowns in 7 games this season. Running back Orwin Smith has 37 carries for 488 yards and 8 touchdowns, along with 9 catches for 260 yards and a touchdown. David Sims has 77 carries for 467 yards and 3 touchdowns, along with a touchdown catch on his only reception of the year. Roddy Jones has 27 carries, 254 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 39/39 on extra points and 4/8 on field goals with a long of 40 yards. Five Georgia Tech players are questionable doubtful, or out, including 3 members of the secondary.
Miami traveled to Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina. The Hurricanes were a 1 point underdog, but jumped out to a 27-3 lead in the second quarter. Miami held off a Tar Heel rally to win 30-24. The Hurricanes had 311 total yards but just 44 rushing yards, and 15 first downs. Miami quarterback Jacory Harris threw for 267 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions. Receiver Travis Benjamin had 8 catches, 99 yards and a touchdown. Tommy Streeter had 4 catches, 89 yards, and a touchdown. Miami had one turnover but North Carolina had 2. The Tar Heels 429 total yards including 288 passing yards.
Miami is averaging 384.3 yards a game including 159. rushing yards and 224.8 passing yards a game. The Hurricanes are averaging 30.3 points a game. Miami has allowed 9 sacks and has 9 turnovers. The Hurricanes are 36/82 on third and fourth down conversions and 17/19 scoring in the red zone with 13 touchdowns. Miami is allowing 406.5 yards and 23.7 points a game. Miami has one of the worst rush defenses in the country giving up 187 yards a game, but the pass defense is giving up only 219.5 yards a game. The ‘Canes have forced 8 turnovers and 17 sacks. Miami opponents are 42/91 on third and fourth down conversions, and 21/28 scoring in the red zone with 13 touchdowns. Miami has one defensive touchdown this season.
Harris is 82/122 passing for 1,104 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions, along with 21 carries for 11 yards. Running back Lamar Miller has 110 carries for 706 yards and 5 touchdowns, along with 11 catches for 51 yards and a touchdown. Mike James has 42 carries for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with 5 catches for 33 yards and a touchdown. Benjamin has 24 catches, 346 yards, and 3 touchdowns. Streeter has 14 catches for 243 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Allen Hurns has 18 catches for 286 yards and 3 touchdowns. Kicker Jake Wieclaw is 23/23 on extra points and 7/7 on field goals with a long of 43 yards. Miami has numerous players on the injury report due to suspension or injury including 6 defensive players.
Miami is 3-3 against the spread this season and the total is 4-2 in those games. Georgia Tech is 4-2-1 ATS this season and the total is 5-2 in those games. Miami has won and covered 2 straight against Georgia Tech and both games have gone under the total. The Yellow Jackets 14-5-1 ATS as an underdog of 3 points or less, including 3-1-1 on the road, 16-7-1 in road games, and as a road underdog, 1-4 following a straight up loss, 1-4-1 in conference games, and 0-3-1 in October games. Miami is 17-35-1 ATS at a favorite, 20-42-1 in home games, 13-32 following a cover, 15-40-1 as a home favorite, and 4-14 ATS in home games against teams with winning road records.
This line is clearly an overreaction to what happened last week. Georgia Tech was upset at Virginia last week and Miami upset North Carolina on the road. However, Miami can’t stop the run, and Georgia Tech has the second best rushing attack in the country. Miami has 5 defensive linemen injured and most of them are doubtful or out against Georgia Tech. I realize Miami is playing at home, but this isn’t the days when they filled the Orange Bowl with crazed Hurricane fans. This game will be played in a half full Sun Life Stadium. You can either take the 3 points with Georgia Tech or bet the Yellow Jackets on the money line at +130. Either way this line is a little ridiculous.
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