A couple teams trying to snap two game losing streaks meet up in Friday night’s 7:00 PM ET Louisville at Georgia Tech betting matchup. The Yellow Jackets got their season off on the right note with an upset of Florida State, but were humiliated 37-20 by Syracuse two weeks ago as -7.5 road favorites.
Louisville is kind of in the same boat as Friday night’s opponent. The Cardinals rolled over Western Kentucky in the opener, but have fallen to Miami and Pitt the last two games. Quality opponents, but losses nonetheless. Louisville is favored by -5 on the road in this matchup, with a high scoring game expected (O/U 65).
Cardinals the More Battle-Tested Team?
Louisville’s 1-2 record is disappointing, but they’ve dropped games to 3-0 Miami and 3-1 Pittsburgh the last two times out. Miami has a top 30 defense, but the Cardinals were able to rack up 209 yards on the ground and 307 through the air in the 34-47 loss as +2.5 home underdogs.
The Cardinals last game was a 20-23 loss at Pittsburgh on September 26th as +3 point home underdogs. The two teams combined for just six points in the second half and many around the Louisville program think a win was possible in that game. QB Malik Cunningham threw for just 107 yards and had three INTs vs. the Panthers.
Cunningham is still the key for the Cardinals in Louisville at Georgia Tech betting. The Jr. had 20 TDs to just 5 INT a season ago and lit up Miami for 3 TD and 1 INT three weeks ago. The Yellow Jackets have allowed 49 and 37 points in their last two games The Yellow Jackets allowed 417 yards passing and 243 on the ground in their last home game vs. UCF.
Can Georgia Tech Survive Behind Their Running Game?
The Yellow Jackets’ game plan for Friday night isn’t a secret – run the air out of the ball. In their last two games Georgia Tech has gained 227 yards vs. UCF and 275 against Syracuse. The only thing wrong with those numbers is that both outings resulted in a loss, 49-21 at home against Central Florida as +10 underdogs and a 17 point loss at Syracuse as a TD road favorite.
The Louisville defense will give up the big play as three of Miami’s TD’s a couple weeks ago were 47+ yards including a 75-yard pass and a 75-yard run. Does Georgia Tech have that explosive ability though? True freshman QB Jeff Sims has a long pass of 45-yards on the season. Jahmyr Gibbs and Jamious Griffin are a nice duo in the backfield, but they only have 1 TD apiece and a combined 311 yards in three games.
Georgia Tech had optimism for 2020 after the 16-13 win at Florida State in the season opener. The Seminoles might not be that good though after falling 52-10 to Miami in their second game and falling to cover as -27.5 favorites against Jacksonville State the last time out.
Louisville at Georgia Tech Betting Free Pick
One thing to note for the Cardinals is that their starting QB Cunningham suffered what looked to be a horrific injury at the end of the Pitt game, but is probable to go on Friday night. Everybody wants to rush back to get a shot at this Yellow Jackets defense that has allowed an average of 43 points the last two weeks.
The X-factor in Friday night’s tilt is the Cardinals defense, that isn’t as bad as Miami made them look. Louisville is 26th in the country in yards/game allowed, and Georgia Tech doesn’t really have the offense that strikes fear in opposing coordinators.
Louisville 35 – Georgia Tech 23
Free Pick: Louisville -5
