Georgia Tech at Miami Odds

Written by Jack Jones

Following their first loss of the season, the No. 22 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets travel to face the Miami Hurricanes Saturday in ACC action. This has started to become a heated rivalry over the last few years. Georgia Tech had won four straight over Miami from 2005-’08, but the Hurricanes have responded with blowout victories each of the last two years. Miami won 35-10 on the road last season as a 2.5-point favorite over the Yellow Jackets.

The same spread has been used in 2011 with a line of Miami -2.5 over Georgia Tech and a total set of 62 points.

Miami

The Hurricanes are a better team than their record would indicate. Miami (3-3, 1-2 ACC) has suffered three losses all by eight points or less to the likes of Maryland, Kansas State and Virginia Tech. They finally pulled out a close one last week with a 30-24 road win at North Carolina. Jacory Harris was brilliant, completing 20 of 30 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He needed to be on top of his game because the Hurricanes were held to just 44 rushing yards, and they nearly let a 27-3 lead slip away.

Because of their tough schedule in the early going, and suspensions to several key players, the Hurricanes only rank 71st in the country in total offense (384.3 yards/game) and 82nd in total defense (406.5 yards/game). Their biggest weakness is a run defense that ranks 88th in the country (187.0 yards/game). They will certainly be tested up front against the nation’s second-best rushing offense Saturday.

Harris has been borderline spectacular since returning from his suspension. He is completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 1,104 yards and 12 touchdowns to only three interceptions. Lamar Miller is one of the best running backs in the country. He has rushed for 706 yards (6.4/carry) and five touchdowns for the Hurricanes. Travis Benjamin has also flourished since returning from suspension. The senior receiver has a team-high 24 receptions for 346 yards and three touchdowns.

Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets have played a pretty easy schedule thus far in comparison to Miami. Georgia Tech (6-1, 3-1 ACC) has yet to face a ranked team. They opened 6-0, which featured three straight wins over UNC, NC State and Maryland, all by 10 points or less. After a 21-16 win over the Terrapins on October 8th, the Yellow Jackets’ luck would run out last week with a 24-21 loss at Virginia. The Cavaliers held Georgia Tech to a season-low 296 yards while forcing two turnovers. Virginia’s offense racked up 407 yards, including 272 on the ground.

The Cavaliers had two weeks to prepare for Georgia Tech’s triple-option attack, but Miami will not have that same luxury. They’ll be up against a Yellow Jackets team that ranks 9th in the country in total offense (516.8 yards/game), including 2nd in rushing (347.9 yards/game). They are also 10th in scoring offense (42.9 points/game). Tech has been pretty solid on defense as well. The Yellow Jackets are 47th in total defense (352.3 yards/game) and 50th in scoring (24.1 points/game).

Georgia Tech actually has a resemblance of a passing game this season, which has made them even more difficult to stop. Tevin Washington has thrown for 1,076 yards and 10 touchdowns to four interceptions, while also rushing for 424 yards and eight scores. Orwin Smith (488 yards, 13.2/carry, eight TD) is arguably the most explosive player in college football. David Sims (467 yards, 6.1/carry, three TD) hasn’t been too shabby, either. Stephen Hill is their top target at receiver with 17 grabs for 552 yards and four touchdowns.

Betting Trends

Miami is just 20-42-1 ATS in their last 63 home games, and 17-35-1 ATS in their last 53 games as a favorite. Worse yet, the Hurricanes are 15-40-1 ATS in their last 56 games as a home favorite.

Georgia Tech is 16-7-1 ATS in their last 24 road games, and 14-5-1 ATS in their last 20 games as an underdog of 3.0 or less. However, the Yellow Jackets are just 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. loss, and 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 conference games.

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