Georgia Tech at Virginia Line

Written by Steve Janus

This Saturday the No. 12 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will look to continue their impressive start to the 2011 season on the road against the Virginia Cavaliers. Georgia Tech improved to 6-0 for the first time since 1966 with a 21-16 win over Maryland last week. The Yellow Jackets are in complete control in the ACC Coastal Division with an 3-0 conference record. Virginia finished up non-conference play with a 21-20 overtime win over a one-win Idaho team. The Cavaliers are 3-2 overall, but lost 17-28 at North Carolina in their only conference game to date.

Taking a look at the week 7 college football lines, oddsmakers currently have Georgia Tech favored by 7-points over Virginia with the total set at 55.5 points.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets:

The Yellow Jackets come in averaging 46.5 ppg, but were held to a season-low 21 points last week against the Terrapins. While the offense didn’t have their best game, the defense came through with a big time performance. Maryland managed just 16 points, and were held without a touchdown until the fourth quarter.

Georgia Tech’s offense is fueled by the nation’s 4th best rushing attack that is averaging a ridiculous 360.5 yards per game. Seven different players have rushed for over 100 yards on the season. Orwin Smith and Davis Sims have done most of the damage. Smith leads the way with 464 yards and 8 touchdowns, while Sims has 432 yards and three scores.

Starting quarterback Tevin Washington has also played a huge role in the ground attack, rushing for 309 yards and six touchdowns. Washington isn’t a huge threat to throw the ball, attempting just 73 passes all season, but is averaging nearly 14.5 yards per completion with 10 touchdowns to just two interceptions.

The Yellow Jackets will go up against a Virginia defense that is allowing just 116.5 rushing yards on average, but a lot of that has to do with a weak schedule. Virginia allowed 148 rushing yards to Indiana and 222 in their loss to North Carolina. Last year Georgia Tech piled on 477 rushing yards in a 33-21 win at home.

Virginia Cavaliers:

This is a big game for the Cavaliers, who are trying to turn things around under second-year head coach Mike London. The problem is this team hasn’t shown a lot that makes you think they are going to hang with one of the best teams in the country. Virginia opened with an easy 40-3 home win over William & Mary, but have not looked very good in their last two home games. They lost 24-30 against Southern Miss and were lucky to escape with a win over a bad Idaho team last week.

In order for Virginia to make this a game, they are going to need their offense to play a lot better than they have so far. Virginia has the ability to move the ball behind sophomore quarterback Michael Rocco and a strong rushing attack, but have struggled to take care of the football. The Cavaliers have turned it over 13 times this season, including at least three giveaways in the last four games.

Rocco has completed 63% of his passes for 1,032 yards, but has just two touchdowns to seven interceptions. True freshman David Watford has seen a lot of action in each of the last two games,. Watford is just 20 of 40 for 176 yards with two touchdowns to one interception.

The struggles of the passing game shouldn’t be a huge factor in this game, as I expect the Cavaliers to pound the football against a Georgia Tech defense that is giving up an average of 161.3 yards per game on the ground.

Virginia has three talented backs that should be able to attack the Yellow Jackets defense. Perry Jones leads the way with 365 yard to go with two scores, Kevin Parks has 282 yards and a team-best six touchdowns, and Clifton Richardson has rushed for 207 yards on just 34 attempts. Parks missed the last game against Idaho with a ankle injury, but is expected to play this Saturday.

Betting Trends:

Georgia Tech is 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 games as a road favorite.

Virginia is just 2-8 ATS in their last 10 conference games.

Be sure to stop back and check out what Steve Janus has to offer in week 7 of college football. Steve is 18-4 over his last 32 NCAAF plays, which has him ranked No. 8 on the college boards in 2011!

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