With its back-to-back wins over Virginia Tech and Miami to open ACC play, Georgia Tech’s path to the ACC Coastal Division title has become significantly more manageable. The Yellow Jackets are tied with Virginia for first in the Coastal with 2-0 and control their fate.
In fact, if they win their next four games — against Duke, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Virginia — and the Cavaliers lose another game, the Jackets (5-0) will clinch a spot in the ACC title game in Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 6.
At the request of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, oddsmaker Jay Kornegay of Westgate Las Vegas Superbook provided hypothetical betting lines for Tech’s remaining games, with the caveat that the lines are difficult to make and are bound to change. If the teams were to play this week, the Jackets, who are favored for Saturday’s game against Duke by four to five points, also would be favored against North Carolina and Virginia. They would be an underdog against Pittsburgh, N.C. State, Clemson and Georgia. If results followed the lines, that would mean an 8-4 finish, 5-3 in the ACC.
A look at the remaining ACC opponents:
Duke: The Blue Devils' 4-1 start (0-1 ACC) has been matched or exceeded only five times since 1966, but the wins are against teams with a combined 4-16 record. Two came against Kansas and Troy, who made job changes with their head coaches. The Duke defense, led by safety Jeremy Cash, does look legitimate, and the special-teams unit is elite. The offense, while averaging 36.8 points per game, has some questions. Duke is tied for 65th in the country in yards per play (5.55) against FBS teams and 84th on third downs (37.1).
At North Carolina, Oct. 18: Little has gone right for the Tar Heels (2-3, 0-2) losers of their past three and headed to play No. 6 Notre Dame on Saturday. North Carolina gave up 70 points to East Carolina, 50 to Clemson and 34 to Virginia Tech, a total the Hokies had exceeded only twice in ACC play, in 2012 and 2013.
The Tar Heels have played sloppily. They are tied for 116th in the country in penalty yards — 74.8 per game — and have turned the ball over 10 times. At a Monday news conference, coach Larry Fedora bemoaned a failure to pay attention to detail. Tech has beaten North Carolina the past five years. Kornegay would make the Jackets a 3-point favorite.
At Pittsburgh, Oct. 25: The Panthers (3-3, 1-1) also are riding a three-game losing streak, against Iowa, Akron and Virginia. The running game that was Pittsburgh's strength early has fallen off. The Panthers ran for just 129 yards against Akron, whose win was its first over a power-conference team in six years.
With the running game being suppressed and quarterback Chad Voytik inconsistent, Pittsburgh needs to find answers in the ground game during its off week or face major trouble. Kornegay tabbed the Panthers a two-point favorite at home.
Virginia, Nov. 1: The Cavaliers (4-2, 2-0) are the surprise team of the Coastal and perhaps the ACC. Picked to finish last in the Coastal after a 2-10 season in 2013 with coach Mike London on the hot seat, Virginia has benefited from a veteran defense infused with star freshman safety Quin Blanding. The Cavaliers have 19 takeaways, second most in the country, and 22 sacks, fourth most. The architect of the high-pressure scheme is none other than Jon Tenuta, a former Tech defensive coordinator.
Kornegay made Tech a three-point favorite over Virginia, which has lost its past two to the Jackets.
At N.C. State, Nov. 8: The Wolfpack (4-2, 0-2) are something of a mystery. N.C. State nearly knocked off Florida State, but was steamrolled by Clemson on Saturday. The Wolfpack are improved from last season's 3-9 record and have talented skill-position players, such as quarterback Jacoby Brissett and running back Shadrach Thornton. The development of the offensive line will be critical. This much is certain — being the third-worst defense on third down in the country (51.7 percent) won't cut it over the long term.
Tech has beaten the Wolfpack four times in a row in Raleigh, N.C. The Wolfpack would be a one-point favorite at home, according to Kornegay.
Clemson, Nov. 15: Don't let the record (3-2, 2-1) fool you. Clemson has played a tough schedule, with losses to Georgia and Florida State. The Tigers rank No. 18 in the Sagarin ratings. Clemson is tough up front (41 tackles for loss), and it looks as if the Tigers have their quarterback in freshman Deshaun Watson, who ranks second in the country in passer rating, with 12 touchdowns against one interception.
The Tigers could well be on a six-game winning streak when they visit Bobby Dodd Stadium, where they’ve lost in their past four visits. Clemson would be an 8 1/2-point favorite this week against Tech, according to Kornegay.
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