GEORGIA TECH @ GEORGIA (UGA -18.5, 51.5) CFB ODDS, CFB PREDICTIONS, CFB PREVIEWS
YELLOW JACKETS @ BULLDOGS 11/29/24
The well-known rivalry between Georgia and Georgia Tech, frequently referred to as "Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate," has seen the scales tip significantly in Georgia's favor since the dawn of the new millennium. Georgia Tech's last win against the Bulldogs was in 2000. Since then, the rivalry has taken on a more one-sided narrative, as Georgia has seized 16 of the 19 subsequent victories.
This year's face-off, scheduled for tonight in Athens, provides a golden opportunity for the Yellow Jackets to shift the balance of their season, and potentially upend the postseason plans of the currently seventh-ranked Bulldogs. Georgia made a recent leap to the top of the College Football Playoff rankings and clinched their fourth consecutive SEC Championship Game appearance. Bulldogs' head coach Kirby Smart is not letting the looming Dec. 7 title game distract from this rivalry game.
The Bulldogs will meet the winner of the Texas and Texas A&M game on Saturday night. Georgia is fully aware of the coveted prize for the SEC title winner and is geared up to claim it. They demonstrated their readiness in their resounding 59-21 victory over UMass, led by their fifth-year quarterback Carson Beck. He delivered an impressive performance, racking up 297 yards and four touchdowns against the Minutemen.
Georgia Tech, with a 7-4 record overall, has an intriguing narrative unfolding. Interest is growing around the performance of true freshman quarterback Aaron Philo, who was thrust into the limelight following Haynes King's injury. Philo led the Yellow Jackets to a nail-biting 30-29 home win over North Carolina State in their previous game.
Philo, a resident of Bogart, Ga, which is less than 20 miles from Athens, and Brent Key, Georgia Tech head coach and former Yellow Jacket offensive lineman, would treasure a victory on Friday far beyond mere bragging rights.
Georgia Tech is on a two-game winning streak and another upset win over the Bulldogs would help the Yellow Jackets get to a more prestigious bowl bame. Georgia Tech could play in consecutive bowl games for the first time since 2014. The Yellow Jackets are already bowl eligible, but they are 0-6 SU in their last six against Georgia. The Bulldogs have also won 20 straight home games.
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COACH RICK FREE PICK:
GEORGIA TECH (1H) +10.5
This is a rivalry game. Georgia Tech will be jacked up. Throw out the defense that has some issues. Against Georgia, they’ll have issues but they’ll make up for it in clean, old-fashioned hate. The Yellow Jackets kept last year’s game close and they have done just that in most of their games this season. In fact, Georgia Tech has covered the first half spread in 4 of their past 5 games. Georgia, as good as they have been, has covered one first half spread all season long. The Bulldogs actually have a negative point differential in the first quarter this year. They get off to some pretty poor starts. Georgia Tech will exploit that early and cover the first half spread.