North Carolina Tar Heels at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Betting Preview
A matchup of ACC teams that had forgettable Week 1 performances of the College Football season and have been trying to right the ship. Mack Brown’s team came into the season with aspirations of playing in the College Football Playoff, and Virginia Tech tempered those dreams before most teams took the field.
Georgia Tech had a much easier opener against MAC opponent, Northern Illinois, but was shocked on their home turf by the Huskies. Chalk it up to opening week jitters or being unprepared, but whatever the case, the two teams certainly weren’t thrilled with the start to 2021.
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North Carolina Tar Heels Team Preview
Sam Howell came into the year as the preseason ACC Player of the Year and has put up stats to back it up. The junior signal-caller has combined for over 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns through the air and on the ground, but he’s turned the ball over six times in just three games. Three of his four interceptions came against Virginia Tech in the opener and are a major reason the Tar Heels only scored 10 points in their opening loss.
Since then, Carolina has put up 59 points in each of their next two games and has covered the spread in both, putting their record against the spread at 2-1. The sportsbooks have put the Tar Heels’ total points betting lines over 60 points in each of their three games, and the Tar Heels are doing their best to reach that mark on their own.
North Carolina can still be a lethal team thanks to their offense, but Howell will have to continue to take care of the football if they’re going to make their way back into contention for a conference championship.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Team Preview
Geoff Collins and Georgia Tech have been working to shift the Yellow Jacket program back to a traditional style offense after years of the triple option under former coach Paul Johnson. Prospects were bright this year behind quarterback Jeff Sims and running back Jahmyr Gibbs that the Jackets may be able to compete at a higher level than during Collins’ first two seasons that saw only three wins each year.
Those prospects faded fast in a Week 1 loss to Northern Illinois as Sims left the game with an injury and was replaced with freshman Jordan Yates. Gibbs hasn’t been bad to start the year but has yet to break the 100-yard mark in a game this season.
Overall the Yellow Jackets have bounced back after their opening loss. The team lost to Clemson a week ago but played the Tigers within a touchdown while limiting their offense to only 14 points. The Ramblin’ Wreck is 2-1 against the spread to start the year and has played under their total points betting line in two of their three games.
Betting Preview
Bovada and BetUS both have the Tar Heels as road favorites in this game, with a betting line of -12.5. The total points spread is currently sitting at 63 points on Bovada and has an extra half-point added on BetUS to make it 63.5.
Even with the Jackets holding Clemson to 14 points offensively a week ago, it likely says more about the Tigers offense and the multiple-hour weather delay than the Tech defense. Mack Brown’s team seems to realize that they’ll need to accumulate some style points if they’re going to work their way back into the conversation for a CFP berth so expect Howell and company to try and light up the scoreboard. Tar Heels big in this one, and if the Jackets can muster up a few points, take the over.
