Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Prediction, Game Preview

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-5) want to build off last week’s miraculous upset of the Virginia Cavaliers (2-5) when visiting Charlottesville this weekend. Check out the Georgia Tech vs. Virginia prediction and game preview.

Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, October 31
Game Time: 3:00 ET
Venue: Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Virginia
Network: ESPN3

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Why You Need To Care

Georgia Tech and Virginia want to stave off bowl extinction as the 2015 regular season begins leaning into the final turn. The Yellow Jackets showed they weren’t dead yet with last week’s stunning upset of unbeaten Florida State on a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown at the end of regulation. Can the defending Coastal Division build off the win, or did it use everything to stop the Noles? Now three games below .500, the Cavaliers are trudging to the finish line of what appears to be head coach Mike London’s final season in Charlottesville.

Why Georgia Tech Will Win

By avenging last year’s ACC title game loss, the Jackets know they can beat one of the dozen or so most talented teams in the country. And while their trademark triple-option will give fits to a struggling Virginia defense, it’s the Georgia Tech D that came through in Week 8. Tech allowed one touchdown, held RB Dalvin Cook to below 100 yards and got nice efforts from linemen Adam Gotsis and KeShun Freeman.

Why Virginia Will Win

The only consistent thing about Georgia Tech this season has been its inconsistency. The Jacket offense has been drab and erratic, while the defense has struggled to stop the run with any regularity. The Hoos are still playing hard for London, and this week could be a good spot for backs Taquan Mizzell and Daniel Hamm to build on solid efforts. The pair combined for 187 yards on 31 carries last week.

Player Who Matters

It’s been a rough year for Tech QB Justin Thomas, a microcosm of his team’s woes. He should see a little more running room this week versus a Cavalier defense giving up 4.6 yards per carry. Still, the junior will need to keep his head on a swivel for Virginia DE Mike Moore and LB Micah Kiser, who’ve combined for 20 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks.

What’s Going To Happen?

With a little more to play for—and a lot more momentum—Georgia Tech will get out of C’ville with a second straight win. The Yellow Jacket defense finally has some confidence, bad news for error-prone UVA QB Matt Johns, and Thomas and B-back Marcus Marshall will find enough seams in the defense to inch closer to .500.