NCAA Football Predictions: Georgia Tech vs Virginia Tech

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Virginia Tech Hokies
Thursday, 11/4/2010, 7:30 PM EST, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Virginia Tech -14.5
Current Betting Line: Virginia Tech -13
Opening Total: 56
Current Total: 56
Current Moneyline: Virginia Tech -455 / Georgia Tech +375

Virginia Tech QB Tyrod Taylor will try to capture a seventh-straight win when taking on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Georgia Tech is searching to spring a major upset on Thursday night over the Virginia Tech Hokies in Blacksburg, Virginia, but even that may not be enough to give them a legitimate chance at the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. “Yeah, we’re still talking about it,” said head coach Paul Johnson. “We still haven’t been mathematically eliminated.” The Yellow Jackets are the defending conference champions and the Hokies wore the crown in 2007 and 2008. The team had won five consecutive ACC road games before falling at Clemson on October 23 and still remains one win shy of becoming bowl eligible for the 14th consecutive season. Georgia Tech is 3-4 ATS this season and 10-5 ATS on the road. The college football lines page shows the Jackets have been backed early on.

The Yellow Jackets are still paced by the nation’s top rushing attack that has managed to gain 317.4 yards per game and has finished in the top five nationally the last two seasons. Quarterback Joshua Nesbitt ranks sixth in the ACC in rushing and needs just 42 yards to become the most prolific rushing quarterback in history. Georgia Tech has had a tough time making way without four junior stars that left early for the NFL last year and Johnson knew it was going to be a rebuilding year. “Any time you lose good players, it hurts,” he commented. “That’s the nature of the beast. I thought we would play better in some other spots than we have.” The squad is 19-8 against ACC Coastal Division opponents, including 9-6 on the road since divisional play began in 2005.

Virginia Tech will be meeting tonight’s opponent for the eight time in a series that dates back to 1990. The Hokies lead the series 4-3 after the Yellow Jackets downed the Hokies last year at home, 28-23. It’s been quite a layoff for head coach Frank Beamer’s team that hasn’t played since a 44-7 win over Duke on October 23, racking up 491 yards and reaching the 40-point mark for the fourth consecutive game. “I do think we’ve got things to work on, but when you play well and you have success, it builds confidence,” Beamer stated. Virginia Tech has been on quite a roll and will be seeking to post seven straight wins for the first time since 2005. The team is 4-1 ATS at home and a perfect 4-0 ATS versus conference opponents.

The Hokies have won by an average of 24 points during its winning streak and have been led by the outstanding quarterback play of senior Tyrod Taylor. He leads the ACC with a 171.1 passer rating while throwing for 1,602 yards with 15 touchdowns and three interceptions. “It all starts with Tyrod Taylor,” said Duke head coach David Cutcliffe. “You give him opportunities and he’s going to make the most of them.” Virginia Tech definitely puts the foot on the accelerator this time of the year and has posted a 20-2 record in November games since joining the league in 2004.