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Georgia Tech vs. Duke prediction and game preview. The Yellow Jackets look to rebound after a close loss to Notre Dame as they travel to Durham to take on the Blue Devils.
September 21, 2015The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-1) and the Duke Blue Devils (2-1) meet in Durham for a key Coastal Division matchup. Check out the Georgia Tech vs. Duke prediction and game preview.
Date: Saturday, September 26
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Network: ESPN2
Follow and/or Contact @Rich Cirminiello
It’s crossroads time for Georgia Tech and Duke as September comes to a close. Both teams are coming off disappointing non-conference losses, the Yellow Jackets to Notre Dame and the Blue Devils to Northwestern. But since neither of those defeats impacts the ACC title chase, Tech and Duke have a chance to quickly reverse their fates by getting a fast start in the Coastal Division race. The Devils snapped a 10-game losing streak in the series with last October’s 31- 25 victory in Atlanta.
The offense is ready to get cranking again. Yeah, the Yellow Jackets seized up in South Bend, but the Blue Devils don’t have nearly as much front seven talent as the Irish. And while Duke is outstanding on the back end, and will use the safeties like linebackers Saturday, it won’t be enough to shut down QB Justin Thomas or backs Patrick Skov and Marcus Marshall.
Can Tech rebound from a crushing loss that will impact the team on an emotional level? Getting bullied by Notre Dame is going to stay in the Yellow Jackets’ heads for a while. The Blue Devils will attack with a physical dual-threat quarterback, Thomas Sirk, and a defense that’s only allowing 8.7 points per game. True, the opposing offenses have been awful, but DBs Jeremy Cash, Breon Borders, DeVon Edwards and Deondre Singleton are doing everything through three games.
Can the Duke O-line bounce back from a rough outing versus Northwestern? The usually consistent Devil blockers couldn’t hold the line, resulting in just three points over the final 54 minutes. They’ll get another stiff challenge this week, because DT Adam Gotsis is solid at the point of attack, and LB P.J. Davis cleans up a lot of messes in run defense.
Is Georgia Tech the team that averaged 67 points over the first two games? Or the one that got exposed in South Bend? As is often the case, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. And that middle ground will suffice in avenging last year’s loss to the Blue Devils. Thomas will get back on track, as his blockers create wide holes against a mediocre collection of Duke linemen and linebackers.
Prediction: Georgia Tech 31, Duke 24, Line: Georgia Tech -9, o/u: 55.5
Must See Rating: 5: 99 Homes – 1: The Intern … 2.5