Vegas ACC Predictions
Georgia Tech at Tulane
Line: Georgia Tech by 10
In odd move, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets turned to the passing game to beat Wofford Saturday 38-19 as Justin Thomas threw for 282 yards and 2 touchdowns, going 11 of 15. Don’t worry, the option wasn’t abandoned. Thomas also had 71 yards rushing while Zach Laskey added 70 and 2 touchdowns. With Georgia Tech hanging by a thread as a bowl team in recent years, Paul Johnson’s commitment to that option has kept them decent. And he’s trying to keep it that way. But this year is the hardest year they’ll have in avoiding a drop-off, and to do that this team will have to make sure it wins all of the games it’s supposed to, such as Tulane on the road.
The Tulane Green Wave, meanwhile, make this a battle between two former SEC teams and should be 1-0 this year after an overtime road loss to Tulsa. Tulane’s biggest weakness is its pass defense, but the rush defense isn’t bad, and it can torch other teams with its running game. Those two aspects make this the perfect team to exploit the Yellow Jackets’ weaknesses as a major underdog, but they’ll have to neutralize the effective passing game Georgia Tech has somehow found. If they can do that, then this could be yet another embarrassing loss for the ACC after Wake Forest had one to Louisiana Monroe last week.
Prediction
This game is going to be an upset. Georgia Tech is playing in Tulane and has a very weak rush defense, while the Green Wave can run it down your throat with multiple players. The Yellow Jackets will get some things going on the ground game, but it won’t be enough, and the efficient passing against a weak Tulane secondary won’t be used enough either. The Yellow Jackets 2014 collapse begins Saturday.
Tulane: 28 Georgia Tech: 24