Betting Previews: Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech, Michigan vs. Illiniois, Colorado vs. Arizona

The Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech game features a line of Yellow Jackets +14.

Cornerback Benjamin Morrison's season-ending hip injury is a serious loss for No. 12 Notre Dame's already depleted defense as the Fighting Irish prepare to face Georgia Tech on Saturday.

The Yellow Jackets' ability to take advantage of Notre Dame's young fill-in cornerbacks could be impacted by the uncertain status of quarterback Haynes King.

Notre Dame is looking to protect its College Football Playoff hopes. The No. 12 spot in The AP Top 25 shows the Fighting Irish have little margin for error if they hope to make the newly expanded 12-team field with a home loss to Northern Illinois marring their record. Georgia Tech is looking for its first three-game winning streak of the season and its second win over a Top 25 team after beating then-No. 10 Florida State to open the season.

The Irish have had mostly dominating performances over their last four games. 

Jamal Haynes ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns, including a go-ahead 68-yard touchdown in the final minute, as Georgia Tech stunned North Carolina 41-34 on Saturday at Kenan Stadium.

Haynes’ second score came with 16 seconds left, just two plays after North Carolina had tied it on a Noah Burnette 26-yard field goal.

“I had a couple coaches telling me, ‘Bust one, bust one, it’s coming,’” Haynes said. “They had been harping on it all game. ‘Calm down, one’s going to come.’ … I just saw daylight and hit it.”

Both teams come into this one with 4-2 records Against The Spread.

Michigan vs. Illinois

The line on this game is Michigan -3 to -4.  Earlier in the week, the line was a PICK'EM.

No. 24 Michigan (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) had a school-record 27-game Big Ten winning streak snapped Oct. 5 at Washington when it lost 27-17. The Wolverines also had won 11 straight road games.

No. 22 Illinois (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) led a one-win Purdue team 27-3 in the third quarter last week, fell behind in the final minute of regulation, and rallied for a 50-49 overtime victory.

The Illini are 11-11-1 in ranked-vs-ranked games at home, but haven’t won one since beating Ohio State in 1991. They’ve lost six straight ranked-vs-ranked games against Michigan at home and on the road.

Illinois’ Luke Altmyer, who has emerged as one of the Big Ten’s top QBs in his second year as a starter, threw for a career-high 379 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 60 yards and a TD vs. Purdue.

There’s nowhere to go but up for the Michigan offense. The Wolverines are averaging 8.52 yards per pass completion, which ranks 133rd and last in the nation. They’re also 130th in passing offense, 119th in total offense fand 102nd in scoring (23.5 points per game.)

Tuttle replaced Alex Orji vs. Washington and was 10 of 18 for 98 yards and a TD. He also had a fumble and interception.

Sagarin gives us a number of Wolverines 1.83.  We definitely see an overlay here and this bodes well for the dog, Illinois.  Michigan has only covered the spread once this season. 

Colorado vs. Arizona

The Colorado vs. Arizona line was coming in at Wildcats -2.5 Friday afternoon.  This one had been at -3.5.

Sagarin actually has the Buffs at 1.49.

Our model does not give any edge in situations where the wrong team is favored within this line range (above and below the 3).

What's at Stake

Two former Pac-12 members meet for the first time since moving to the Big 12. Both are coming off losses. Colorado lost 31-28 to Kansas State on a late touchdown pass in a game that left the Buffaloes banged up, particularly at receiver. The good news: two-way player Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr. are expected to play, though fellow receivers Omarion Miller and Terrell Timmons Jr. are out indefinitely. Arizona returns home after losing two straight — a close loss to Texas Tech and a 41-19 blowout at No. 13 BYU after turning it over four times.

Key Matchup

Travis Hunter will be back in uniform for the Colorado football team on Saturday vs. Arizona.

Hunter vs. Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Hunter has become a Heisman Trophy favorite by starring on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he may not directly line up against McMillan every play, but will be part of the game plan to slow Arizona's preseason All-American. McMillan leads the Big 12 with 42 catches and is third in the FBS with 742 yards with four touchdowns despite facing extra scrutiny from the defense every game. Hunter is expected to play despite injuring his shoulder in the first half against Kansas State.