Duke hosts Georgia Tech in ACC Showdown

This weekend there is just one matchup of two ACC teams head to head. The game takes place in Durham, North Carolina when the Duke Blue Devils host the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Duke enters this matchup with a record of 2-0 SU and 1-0 at home, while Georgia Tech has played one game and is 1-0 SU.

Last weekend the Blue Devils received a boost from Brandon Connette who took over at quarterback in the second half and led his team to victory against Memphis 28-14.

Connette came in the game last week after Anthony Boone busted his collarbone. Connette led the Blue Devils offense on two consecutive touchdown drives in the fourth quarter. A win in today’s game would give Duke its first start of 3-0 in 19 seasons.

Georgia Tech with just one game has not been tested as they took on Elon, a FCS school and thrashed them 70-0 two weeks ago to open the season. The Yellow Jackets used a triple-option offense that overwhelmed the smaller school and Georgia Tech rushed for 368 yards including six touchdowns.

The Yellow Jackets won the Coastal Division of the ACC last season. Georgia Tech plays their next three out of four games away from home. Head to head the Yellow Jackets have dominated the Blue Devils winning nine straight times.

On offense, the Yellow Jackets are led by Vad Lee their sophomore quarterback. He did not play that well in the team’s opening game, but that sometimes is a misnomer since the competition is so inferior. In the game versus Elon, Lee passed for 180 yards and rushed for 49. He threw two touchdown passes and ran for another.

Rushing is the name of the game for Georgia Tech. Since 2008, when Paul Johnson arrived as the coach, the Yellow Jackets have led the nation in rushing.

Georgia Tech has averaged over 304 yards per game since then. In the 68 games, Johnson has coached the Yellow Jackets, the team has scored 40 points or more 18 times.

Last week Connette was 14 for his 21 passes for just under 200 yards, with two touchdowns. In just a span of 2 minutes and 54 seconds, he marched his offense down the field for two scores. Defensively Duke has upperclassman with experience as 8 or either seniors or juniors. In two games, the defense has allowed an average of just 210 yards per game.

Trends

Georgia Tech is 5-0 ATS over its past 5 ACC games.

Georgia Tech is 7-2 ATS over its last 9 games played overall.

Duke is 4-0 ATS is its last 4 games played in the month of September.

Duke is 0-4 ATS vs. teams with a record above .500.

The OVER has cashed out 3-1-1 over the past 5 games played at Duke between the two teams.

Good to Know

Connette started in 2010 versus Miami and hit 4 of his 6 passes, while rushing for a touchdown.

Georgia Tech has a record of 49-30-1 in the all time head-to-head matchup of the two schools and won last season 42-24.

My Pick: Yellow Jackets 35 Duke 17