Virginia Tech vs. Georgia Tech: Spread Info, Line, BCS Impact and Predictions

Major ACC implications are on the line when Virginia Tech travels to Georgia Tech in the battle of the top teams in the Costal Division.

This game signifies a potential changing of the guard as the Hokies are clearly not as talented as a typical Frank Beamer coached team. Yet a win over the Yellow Jackets almost ensures them a birth in the ACC championship game.

Here is everything you need to know about the biggest game of the week in ACC country:

Where: Bobby Dodd Stadium

When: Thursday 8:00 P.M EST

Watch: ESPN/ESPN3

Spread: No. 10 Virginia Tech -1 @ No. 21 Georgia Tech

(Spread courtesy of Covers.com)

In a matchup of Virginia Tech’s stout defense vs. Georgia Tech’s explosive offense, it comes down to who can stop the run and control the clock. Advantage Yellow Jackets and their No. 2 ranked rushing attack.

Key Trends:

Underdog is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 meetings.

Hokies are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 meetings.

Yellow Jackets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.

Over/Under: 48.5

Both teams are coming off of bye weeks and will be rested and relatively healthy.

That’s an advantage for the defenses, and considering the Hokies defense gives up an ACC-low 15.4 points a game, I’d side with the under.

Key Trends:

Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings 

Under is 4-0 in Yellow Jackets' last 4 games overall.

Under is 6-1 in Hokies' last 7 road games.

Under is 6-1-1 in Hokies' last 8 games following a S.U. win.

Virginia Tech Injuries:

Alonzo Tweedy, LB: Questionable (ankle)

David Wang, G: Doubtful (foot)

Georgia Tech Injuries:

Tyler Morgan, LS: Questionable (Undisclosed)

Jay Finch, OL: Questionable (Knee)

BCS/Top 25 Implications:

The team to win this matchup has gone on to win the Coastal Division in each of the past six years, and a Hokies win Thursday night would eliminate Georgia Tech in the ACC race. A victory wouldn’t push Virginia Tech up too far in the polls, depending on what happens in front of them, while a loss would see them plummet to the 15-17 range.

If the Yellow Jackets win, they would be tied with Virginia and Virginia Tech for first in the loss column in the Coastal Division. They would then hold the tiebreaker over V-Tech. In the polls, a loss would bounce them from the Top 25 and a win would vault them up to the 15-18 range.

Keys to Hokies Win:

It's all about the defense.

The Hokies have nine players with an interception and average three sacks a game. Beamer is terrific at maximizing the most talent out of his players, and it shows up on defense and special teams.

If the Hokies can limit the Yellow Jackets' second-ranked rushing attack, they should be able to control the time of possession and play keep-away from the vaunted G-Tech offense.

Keys to Yellow Jackets Win:

It’s all on QB Tevin Washington. He struggled for two weeks in a row before exploding last week against No. 9 Clemson. His 176 yards rushing against the Tigers were the most ever by a G-Tech QB. If he can continue to get the big plays out of WR Stephen Hill (30.4 YPC), this offense is going to be incredibly difficult to put the clamps on.

Have I mentioned their second-ranked rushing attack that averages 328 yards a game?

Prediction:

Behind a fired-up crowd on national TV, I expect the Yellow Jackets to dictate the pace of the game early, building a sizeable lead.

The Hokies will chip away at the lead behind an improving QB Logan Thomas, but ultimately they won't be able to contain the G-Tech running attack when it matters most.

Final Score: Georgia Tech 27 Virginia Tech 20