The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets hadn’t won an ACC opener on the road since 1996. But that changed last week when Georgia Tech upset the Florida State Seminoles 16-13 as 13-point road underdogs.
Georgia Tech hopes to carry that momentum over to its home opener when they host the UCF Knights. UCF is playing its first game of the season with a roster that will be missing some key pieces.
We break down the NCAA football odds with our best college football picks and predictions for UCF vs. Georgia Tech on Saturday, September 19 with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. ET.
Central Florida Knights vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets betting preview
Weather
The forecast is calling mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the high-60s around kickoff. There will also be a 10-11 mile per hour wind gusting towards the southern end zone. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our NCAA football weather info.
Key Injuries
Central Florida: Jordan Davis TE (Out).
Georgia Tech: Tre Swilling DB (Questionable), Antonneous Clayton DL (Questionable).
Find our latest NCAA football injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The betting trends tend to favor UCF with the Knights going 4-1 ATS in their last five non-conference games, while the Yellow Jackets are 0-6 ATS in their last six non-conference games. Find more NCAA football betting trends for Central Florida vs. Georgia Tech.
Against the spread (ATS) Pick
For those who don’t know, Georgia Tech ran the Triple Option for years, but second-year head coach Geoff Collins ditched it for a more traditional spread offense. And while the transition was certainly bumpy last year, it seems like he has added a key piece to the puzzle in true freshman quarterback Jeff Sims.
The former Florida State commit (that must have stung) went 24-35 for 277 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions last week, while adding 64 yards on the ground on 13 carries. Sims showed confidence in his teammates, as 10 different players recorded a reception in that game.
The Georgia Tech defense also showed plenty of improvement from a year ago, limiting the 'Noles to just 4.3 yards per play, while recording three sacks and forcing three turnovers. They’ll have to be just as sharp against the high-octane Knights.
Dillon Gabriel returns to UCF for his sophomore season after throwing for 3,653 yards, with 29 touchdowns and seven picks last year. The Knights offense is deep and talented once again, but Gabriel will have to work in some new weapons as Gabriel Davis and Adrian Killins have both moved on.
On top of that, the Knights had 10 players opt out before the season, including starting CB Tay Gowan and DT Kalia Davis. If Georgia Tech can extend some drives to keep the ball out of Gabriel’s hands, while the defensive front can wreak some havoc as they did against Florida State, then the Yellow Jackets should keep this one close at home.
PREDICTION: Georgia Tech +7.5 (-110)
Over/Under Pick
The ATS pick rolls right into the Over/Under pick. If Georgia Tech is able to cover it means they were able to have multiple extended drives and chewing up clock, thanks to a balanced attack. That said, they still scored just 16 points in last week’s win. And while Sims could get better with each game he plays, you still wouldn’t call the Yellow Jackets’ offense explosive by any means.
UCF, on the other hand, certainly is explosive, ranking in the Top 10 in both points and yards per game last year, and are experienced too. And while that experience might win the Knights this game in the end, there has to be at least a little rust with this being their first game of the year. Also, there's the fact that the Georgia Tech defense is much improved and is more than capable of applying pressure to Gabriel in the pocket.
With two underrated defenses and just one explosive offense, this total is probably a tad too high.
PREDICTION: Under 60 (-110)
First Team to Score Prop Pick
While I like Georgia Tech to keep this one close, that doesn’t mean they’ll come flying out of the gates. They didn’t score until the second half against Florida State, and while I don’t expect a donut in the first half this time around, they are certainly the turtle to the UCF’s rabbit in this one.
Case in point: the Knights led the country in first-quarter scoring a season ago, averaging just over two touchdowns in the opening frame last year. Take UCF to put the first points on the board in this one.
PREDICTION: First team to score - UCF (-155)
Central Florida vs Georgia Tech betting card
- Georgia Tech +7.5 (-110)
- Under 60 (-110)
- First Team to score - UCF (-155)
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