Faizon Brandon threw three touchdowns and ran for two as Tennessee beat Furman 56-9, a fairly lavish introduction before his first road start in Atlanta. Georgia Tech lost 14-13 at Colorado despite Alberto Mendoza averaging 10.3 yards per pass attempt. One of these quarterback barely had to sub out for his punting unit; the other threw efficiently and still couldn’t get his team past 13 points. Below is my preview, prediction, and pick for today’s college football game between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Tennessee Volunteers.
Here’s how I’ll play it. I’ll be pumping out these predictions for individual games all season, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more betting plays.
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GT vs. Tennessee prediction, preview
Tech’s tough sledding in the running game so far explains that, at least to some degree. Star RB Justice Haynes needed 19 carries for 64 yards, Malachi Hosley added 14 on six attempts, and the Yellow Jackets finished with 51 net rushing yards. Without Haynes King’s rushing threat at quarterback, Tech has to replace ground yards that its backs aren’t yet supplying. Mendoza completed 17 of 23 passes last week in Boulder. I’d hate to demand that accuracy of him every week just to outweigh the running game’s disappointments. I expect some return to form for Haynes, here.
Tennessee’s feature back DeSean Bishop should spare his quarterback some of those scoring. He ran for 97 yards against Furman as Tennessee rushed, as a team, for 329 at 7.0 per carry. Georgia Tech just allowed Colorado to run for 183. I’d have Bishop attacking that front with bloody teeth. WR Mike Matthews caught four passes for 132 yards in the opener; once defenders start stepping toward Bishop, Brandon has a receiver who can make a mere handful of completions awfully devastating.
We should be allowing for Brandon to miss throws in his first road start, particularly against a defense that just held Colorado to 14 points. The Furman game didn’t provide much evidence about how he’ll respond after consecutive failed possessions. Tennessee averaged 6.5 yards per play and converted 50.3% of third downs last season, though. The Vols have assembled productive drives without needing this particular freshman to invent the offense.
Tennessee vs. GT pick, best bet
Haynes deserves another chance against Tennessee’s defense, too. The Vols recorded seven sacks against Furman and still allowed 177 net rushing yards at 4.9 per carry. Even subtracting those sack losses, Furman ran far too effectively for me to dismiss Tech’s backs. Arion Carter returns from suspension, but Tennessee allowed 28.9 points per game last season. With nine days between games, Brent Key should find some handoffs worth calling again Saturday.
I’m laying 11.5 with Tennessee. Bishop can attack a front that Colorado ran through, and Matthews can punish defenders who abandon the pass to tackle him. That gives Brandon two established scorers to use while he learns to quarterback on the road. Haynes should run better, but I trust Tennessee to sustain its rushing offense more consistently. I have the Vols winning 34-20, with Bishop doing plenty before Brandon ever has to make a tough throw.
Best bet: Tennessee -11.5 (-110)
Projected score: Tennessee 34, Georgia Tech 20
Best Bet: Tennessee -11.5 (-110) at Georgia Tech
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