Pittsburgh at Georgia Tech
Saturday, Nov. 22
7 p.m. Eastern, 4 p.m. Pacific
ESPN
Pittsburgh-Georgia Tech is the focus of the Atlantic Coast Conference this week. Before the season, the full expectation was that Clemson and Miami would be at the top of the conference, maybe Florida State as well. Miami hasn’t cratered, but the Hurricanes are not calling the shots here. Miami needs help to get to the ACC Championship Game. The Hurricanes are utterly dependent on Pittsburgh beating Georgia Tech this weekend.
If Georgia Tech beats Pittsburgh, the Yellow Jackets are in Charlotte and will be able to play their way into the playoff regardless of what happens in the Georgia game next week. There is an outside chance that Georgia Tech can beat Pitt and Georgia and then lose the ACC title game and still get into the playoff, but that’s the unlikely scenario. Tech will make its life so much easier if it wins here, goes to Charlotte, and prevails. The Jackets could lose to Georgia and not suffer at all.
What Georgia Tech would really love is if Virginia somehow makes it to Charlotte and opposes the Yellow Jackets. Getting one game against Virginia for a playoff spot would be Georgia Tech’s dream scenario. Beating Pittsburgh is the first step toward getting that ideal position. It’s up to Pitt to stop that and stay in the ACC race. Pittsburgh plays Miami next week, so if the Panthers can handle Tech here and then beat Miami next week, they could be in Charlotte with a chance to snag a most unlikely playoff spot.
Pittsburgh-Georgia Tech is a test of offense versus defense
Panthers need to exploit Yellow Jackets’ defense
Georgia Tech’s defense is so bad right now that the Yellow Jackets were torn apart by Boston College. The Eagles have one of the worst teams in the ACC, so it was jarring to see Tech be that weak against such a low-end opponent. Pittsburgh’s offense has a chance to light up the scoreboard and score a season-changing win in Atlanta.
The problem for Pittsburgh is that its offensive line is not very strong right now. The Panthers were shredded by Notre Dame’s defensive front last week. The matchup between Pittsburgh’s offensive line and Georgia Tech’s defensive line is a battle of weakness versus weakness. The team whose weakness doesn’t fall apart in this game and can hold it together will very likely win. It’s not as though Georgia Tech’s offense versus Pitt’s defense will be irrelevant to the outcome, but the first point of focus will be the weak Tech defense against the shaky Pitt offense.
Pittsburgh Panthers-Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets odds
Hear TJ Rives and Jason Powers break down this game on the 3Dog Thursday Podcast by clicking Play below:
Pittsburgh +2.5 (-105) Georgia Tech -2.5 (-115)
Over 61.5 (-105) Under 61.5 (-115)
Underdog moneyline: Pittsburgh +110
Georgia Tech knows this is a huge game. Under coach Brent Key, the Yellow Jackets have performed well in really important high-profile games. The problem for Tech has been the under-the-radar games against the likes of Wake Forest and Boston College. Georgia Tech has wobbled against weaker opposition, but when the lights are bright, Tech usually brings a good effort. If it brings a good effort here, it should win. With the spread being just 2.5 points, Georgia Tech should be able to win by at least a field goal. Take Tech. You can also take the over in what figures to be a high-scoring game.