The long wait is over, and the full Week 1 of the college football season is finally upon us.
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will look to get their season off to a big start with Clemson looming on the horizon, while the Colorado Buffaloes hope to win for coach Deion Sanders while adjusting to life after the departure of their two superstars.
My Georgia Tech vs. Colorado early predictions and college football picks lean towards the more experienced team when the teams meet at 8 PM EST on Friday, August 29.
Georgia Tech vs Colorado predictions
Here are our early thoughts on the spread and total for this week’s game. We will have a full game preview (with a best bet and SGP) later in the week.
Early Georgia Tech vs Colorado spread pick: Georgia Tech -3.5 (-118 at FanDuel)
They say that life comes at you fast, and life without Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders will do just that to the Colorado Buffaloes. And while Deion Sanders and his coaching staff have loaded up again with strong talent from the transfer portal, losing those two players isn’t something you easily replace.
Time and again last season, Sanders was able to create space behind an inconsistent offensive line and find Hunter, whose highlight-reel catches and sure hands bailed them out and extended drives. The two had years of chemistry together, and that’s an intangible that can’t be overlooked.
Kaidon Salter won’t have that luxury. He’s got some talented receivers, but he won’t have that safety net. And he’s going against a talented Georgia Tech secondary, the strongest unit from a defense returning quite a few starters.
Speaking of starters, both Haynes King and Jamal Haynes return for the Yellow Jackets. King showed against Georgia last season that big games do not faze him, and he’s facing a Colorado defense that lacked consistency and once again has quite a bit of turnover.
Georgia Tech’s leading receiver is back, and he’s got more depth around him this season. The Yellow Jackets ranked 28th against FBS Power 5 opponents in plays of 10+ yards, and I expect we’ll see that number increase in 2025.
The Buffaloes were bailed out repeatedly last season by getting sacks and forcing turnovers, but King’s mobility and decision-making will negate that. The Yellow Jackets will be well-suited to handle the environment, and their offensive balance will get them a lead as their defense gets enough stops to cover the spread.
Early Georgia Tech vs Colorado total pick: Under 52.5 (-110 at FanDuel)
Colorado allowed 144 plays of 10+ yards last season vs. Power 5 opponents, and 48 plays of 20 or more yards. Both metrics placed them in the Bottom 25% nationally.
While Georgia Tech’s defense didn’t fare a whole lot better, it did limit Miami to just 23 points last season while holding the Bulldogs to 27 in regulation. Against a Colorado offense that is returning just three starters, I’m expecting a better performance early on from the Yellow Jackets.
Their secondary is one of the better units in the ACC, which means it likely takes some time for Salter and the passing game to get going. That’s also why I’m expecting to see more running from Colorado, whose coaching staff emphasised finding more balance in the transfer portal this offseason.
I also expect the Yellow Jackets to want to control the game and the clock a bit more than usual. Playing in the thin air can be taxing on a team unaccustomed to such conditions, and only 15 teams averaged more rushing attempts vs. Power 5 schools last season than Georgia Tech’s 39.4 runs per game.
Look for the Yellow Jackets to run early and often, taking advantage of a Colorado defense that is reloading in the front seven and was prone to giving up big plays a year ago. An extra
Georgia Tech vs Colorado odds
- Georgia Tech vs. Colorado spread: Colorado +4.5
- Georgia Tech vs. Colorado moneyline: Georgia Tech -204, Colorado +169
- Georgia Tech vs. Colorado Over/Under: 56.5
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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