The 2018 Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate has the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets making their way to Sanford Stadium to collide with the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs. Georgia Tech has won each of the last two Governor’s Cup games played at Sanford Stadium, in 2014 and 2016, but it is a 17-point underdog in this year’s contest with the total Sportsbook at 59 points.
- Georgia is 12-0 SU in its last 12 games at home (avg. winning margin: 28.5).
- The total has gone UNDER in three of Georgia Tech’s last four games vs Georgia (avg. combined score: 43.5).
- Georgia Tech is 2-5 ATS in its last seven games vs Georgia.
Georgia Tech vs Georgia Game Center
Can Yellow Jackets’ run game carry them to victory?
For the first time since the 2016 season, Georgia Tech is riding a four-game winning streak, claiming two victories on the road and two at home over that span. The Yellow Jackets got off to a rough start to the year, dropping three of their first four games, but have gone 6-1 since then with their only hiccup being a 28-14 defeat at home vs Duke. They are getting it done with their run game, leading the nation with an average of 353.8 rushing yards per game, 49 more yards than second-place Navy. Georgia Tech even secured a 49-28 triumph on the road over Virginia Tech without completing a single pass.
Keeping points off the board has been a little bit of a struggle for the Yellow Jackets as they surrender 27.5 points per game, which ranks 70th in the nation, with the biggest issue coming in their secondary. Georgia Tech’s rush defense is surrendering 137.5 yards per game, ranking 40th in the league, but its pass defense is giving up 223 yards per game, which ranks 58th. The Jackets have made just 100 pass attempts this season for 921 yards, but TaQuon Marshall has tucked the ball 174 times for 858 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Georgia’s defense looks to keep playoff hopes alive
The Bulldogs look to put together a dominant performance to stay relevant in the playoff picture. Outside of a Week 7 stumble in Death Valley, falling 36-16 to then-No. 13 LSU, Georgia has been solid on both sides of the ball and carries a 10-1 record into this game. Sophomore quarterback Jake Fromm has progressed from his rookie season, completing 68.2 percent of his passes this year for 2,061 yards and 20 touchdowns with just five interceptions. But the Bulldogs offense has been bolstered by its run game, most notably sophomore running back D’Andre Swift, who has averaged 6.9 yards per carry for 857 yards and eight touchdowns this season.
Defensively, Georgia has been really good this season, allowing fewer than 20 points in eight of its 11 games and giving up more than 30 points in just one contest. Overall, it’s allowing an average of 16.8 points per game, which is the 12th-fewest in college football. In the previous paragraph, I outlined the weakness in Georgia Tech’s attack through the air and it will definitely have a tough task this week as Georgia has allowed the 19th-fewest passing yards per game at 182.7. Additionally, its run defense surrenders just 128.5 rushing yards per game, 27th-best in the NCAA.
Is the OVER the bet to make?
This year’s Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate features two of the top 20 scoring schools in the nation and Sportsbook has the total Sportsbook at 59 points. The total has gone OVER 59 points in six of Georgia Tech’s last 10 games and the Yellow Jackets are scoring 36.9 points per game this season, which is the 20th-most in the nation. Meanwhile, Georgia averages 39.6 points per game, which ranks 15th in college football, however, it has had just two games in which the combined score was OVER 59 points. Similarly, this rivalry has only topped 59 points once since 2011 and that game needed double overtime to get to 71 points. So, I think the UNDER may be the bet to make.
My Take on Georgia Tech vs Georgia
I like the Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate to go UNDER 59 points. Georgia Tech relies so heavily on its run game, but Georgia allows the 27th-fewest rushing yards per game at 128.5. Meanwhile, there are plenty of signs pointing toward the UNDER 59 points with only three meetings between these schools going OVER that total since 2000. I think the Yellow Jackets’ points per game total is inflated by beating up on a shaky ACC and they are in for a tough game against a stout Georgia squad.
