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The Georgia-Georgia Tech spread opened at -4.5 and has since moved to Bulldogs -6.5. You can bet this game at Sportsbook.com. Receive up to $250 in FREE CASH upon joining. Use promo code GAMBLING911.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Georgia -6.5 & 54.5
Opening Line & Total: UGA -4.5 & 54.5
SEC East champion Georgia aims for a 10th straight victory when it takes on struggling in-state rival Georgia Tech, 2-3 in its past five games.
Sure No. 13 Georgia is red-hot with nine consecutive wins, but the Dawgs lucked out by not having to play any of the three SEC West beasts who are ranked 1-2-3 in the BCS standings. Georgia was favored by 30.5 points against Kentucky last week and won a sloppy, turnover-laden 19-10 game, as star RB Isaiah Crowell suffered a left ankle injury that could limit him for this in-state rivalry. No. 23 Georgia Tech has given Georgia fits in its spread option offense recently. Tech has 103 points (34.3 PPG) and 1,025 rushing yards in the past three meetings (342 YPG), and ate up 38:14 of clock in last year’s ATS win at Georgia.
The Bulldogs have taken nine of the past 10 meetings (6-3-1 ATS) in this series. They won 42-34 last year when QB Aaron Murray was nearly perfect (15-of-19, 271 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT). Crowell (832 rushing yards, 6 total TD) is expected to play, but it’s unclear if he’ll receive a full workload. The team’s second leading rusher, Carlton Thomas, missed last game after breaking a team rule, and it is uncertain whether or not he’ll be reinstated. Georgia ranks fourth in the nation in total defense (264 YPG), holding four of its opponents to less than 200 yards.
The Yellow Jackets are 1-5 ATS in the past six games, but their offense looked tremendous in last week’s 38-31 victory over Duke, rolling up 549 total yards. QB Tevin Washington had 321 of these yards (185 passing, 136 rushing) and scored a rushing touchdown for the sixth straight week. However, Washington has not thrown a TD pass in this six-game span, completing just 29-of-71 passes (41%) for 543 yards (91 YPG), 0 TD and 5 INT. Despite the lack of accuracy, Washington’s 11.9 YPA this season leads the nation among all passers with 10+ attempts. In last year’s loss to Georgia, Washington was 8-of-15 for 101 yards, 0 TD and 1 INT, while rushing 23 times for 73 yards (3.2 YPC) and two scores.
Georgia Tech played without injured RB Orwin Smith last week at Duke, and his status is uncertain for Saturday. Smith has 570 rushing yards on an amazing 10.8 yards per carry this year, tallying 11 total touchdowns. Defensively, Georgia Tech has allowed 68 points and 827 yards in the past two weeks, but its national rankings are slightly above average. The Jackets rank 43rd in total defense (359 YPG) and 56th in scoring defense (25.3 PPG) among all FBS schools.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
