Georgia Tech plus 3 1/2 hosting Pittsburgh 

The one thing you can figure out about the ACC this season is that it is hard to figure out. There have been nine conference matchups this season in the ACC and underdogs won five of those games straight-up. 

I see Georgia Tech making it six underdog winners. 

The Yellow Jackets are much improved from opening week when they were stunned, 22-21, by Northern Illinois at home as a 19-point favorite. That loss may have formed an early negative perception about Georgia Tech. Since then, the Yellow Jackets buried Kennesaw State, 45-17, hung tough in a 14-8 road loss to Clemson as a 27 1/2-point ‘dog and upset North Carolina, 45-22, as a two-touchdown ‘dog. 

Georgia has a strong pass defense and is opportunistic with a plus-five turnover ratio, which ranks 12th nationally. The running game is solid with Jahmyr Gibbs. Freshman QB Jeff Sims accounted for 240 yards and four TD’s versus the Tar Heels. The victory against North Carolina was Georgia Tech’s first over a ranked opponent in Geoff Collins’ three years as coach. So the Yellow Jackets should have confidence.

My handicap also has a negative bias against Pittsburgh. The Panthers are the second-highest scoring team in the nation at 52.5 points. Kenny Pickett has 15 TD passes, tied for the most in the country with Alabama’s Bryce Young and LSU’s Max Johnson. Pickett has a 195.62 passer rating, second-best in the nation. 

Pickett is in his fifth season. He never threw more than 13 TD passes in a year. He’s never finished a season with a QB ranking of at least 130. Has he suddenly become a superstar? 

No.

The Panthers’ four opponents have been New Hampshire, UMass, Western Michigan and Tennessee. The Panthers put up 128 combined points against cupcakes New Hampshire and UMass. Pitt surrendered a combined 78 points and 891 yards against Western Michigan and Tennessee. The Panthers averaged just 2.6 yards rushing against the Volunteers and Broncos. 

Now Pickett faces a Yellow Jackets defense that ranks 23rd in pass defense. 

It’s my opinion Pittsburgh is overrated, while Georgia Tech isn’t getting enough respect. I’ll take a field goal to find out if this is true.

I have five premium college football plays going Saturday in addition to this free selection. I am 4-0 in Notre Dame games this season and have a Max Unit play on the Cincinnati-Notre Dame game. I also have my first Max Unit Pac-12 sides play and three totals plays. I am 11-2 on my college football totals this season. If you are interested in my sports service, please email me at scriber26@gmail.com, or message me via Twitter.

Best of luck and no bad beats! 

 

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