While most eyes will be on Iowa City, Iowa on Saturday, my eyes will be fixed on Blacksburg, Virginia. This is where the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will try and avoid annihilation at the hands of Frank Beamer and his Virginia Tech Huskies.
Last year, Chad Galleys lads team was not a very good one and they visited the Hokies around the same time as 10 point dogs. Virginia Tech opened up a can of "whup ass" and when the dust settled it was a 51-7 dominating performance by the host. I had done some football betting on them, so of course I was happy.
This weekend if you like the home side the line sits at -9 at the sportsbooks. It has come down a long ways from the opening number of -11. Could this be the result of GTs nice performance Labor Day weekend against the Irish, or the fact that Virginia Tech has played essentially a high school schedule?
This is yet another chance for the Yellow Jackets to break out of the seven-win rut theyve been stuck in since 2002. The winner of the Tech-Tech matchup becomes the obvious front-runner in the ACCs Coastal Division, which doesnt look very formidable with Miami struggling and the other three schools -- Virginia, North Carolina, and Duke -- already heading toward miserable years.
Last season, Georgia Tech quarterback Reggie Ball was far from 100 % as he was still feeling the effects of meningitis. The offense, which ranked 103rd in the nation a year ago in scoring, has averaged more than 32 points a game in three straight wins over Division I-AA Samford, Troy, and Virginia. Calvin Johnson had a huge game against the Cavaliers, setting a personal best with 165 yards receiving and making the two longest touchdown catches of his career -- 58 and 66 yards.
The Hokies have a whole new offensive backfield and three offensive linemen. The speed of the game will pick up when they hit the field Saturday.
Numbers to consider:
Under is 16-5 in GATCH last 21 games on Grass.
GATCH are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 road games.
Under is 23-8-2 in GATCH last 33 conference games.
VATCH are 13-3 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
VATCH are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 games overall.
VATCH are 20-7 ATS in their last 27 games on Grass.
Bob Acton
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