Miami-Georgia Tech, N.C. State-Clemson Highlight Vegas ACC Predictions Week 6
Saturday Blitz Vegas ACC Predictions Week 6
Game of the Week
Miami Hurricanes at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Line: Georgia Tech by 1.5
Here is a huge ACC Coastal game between two teams that have a legitimate shot at winning the division. At the beginning of the year, and especially after the first week, this game would not have been taken seriously by anybody. But with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets now undefeated and the Miami Hurricanes appearing on the verge of turning things around and becoming a very good team, this could be a game to determine who belongs in the Top 25, who wins the division, and who can compete with Florida State for the ACC crown.
Miami finally appears to have found an offense against Duke, as Brad Kaaya finally looked decent. And look what happens when he does that. The rest of the offense plays well, and the defense gets more rest, which means it plays well also. The defense held a very strong Blue Devils offense to 10 points in its 22-10 win. With its visit to Atlanta this weekend, the Hurricanes need Kaaya to play well again. That means not throwing interceptions and making crucial throws when needed. Then, they want to give Georgia Tech a heavy dose of Duke Johnson. That triple-option offense can throw such a wrench in your defensive planning that even if your defense is good, you want to keep them off the field. Al Golden has to know that, so his ultimate objective should be to make sure his offense stays on the field as much as possible. If it can do that and not turn the ball over, and if its defense can play well enough to not get too thrown off by the option, then Miami should be able to pull out the victory on the road.
Georgia Tech, meanwhile, has to play Georgia Tech football efficiently. That means Justin Thomas executing the option offense as well as he’s done it all season and coming through with timely passes when needed. The Yellow Jackets proved against Virginia Tech that they can throw the ball if you dare them, which makes Paul Johnson’s seventh team a lot more dangerous than many of his other teams. Thomas has to keep doing that, but it will be incredibly difficult this time around with a very good Hurricanes defense in the way. If Georgia Tech wants to wear the defense down, it can’t let Kaaya get into any type of rhythm. The Yellow Jackets needs to force the Hurricanes offense into making a few mistakes, and it needs to stack the line to stop the run and get pressure on Kaaya. That is the best way for it to get the home crowd going and pull out the win. Force Kaaya to beat you, and if he does, he does. But Johnson shouldn’t bank on him having two incredibly efficient games in a row, can he?
Prediction
Miami and Georgia Tech will turn this into a defensive struggle, with both teams trying to control the clock. The Hurricanes have more talent, but Tech has better quarterback play right now for its system. However, Kaaya is getting a lot better, and that is what’s going to be the difference. The passing game will make just enough plays to keep the Hurricanes offense on the field, and the defense will be well-rested enough to keep that Georgia Tech option offense from getting into any type of rhythm. Miami pulls out the win on the road.
Miami: 20 Georgia Tech: 14