Georgia Tech 2018 Betting Preview: New Defense Gets Jackets Bowling

Georgia Tech 2018 Betting Odds

• To win the National Title: +60000
• To win the ACC: +4000
• To win the ACC Coastal: +725
• Win Total: 6 (over -120)

All lines as of July 24. Always shop for the best line.

Georgia Tech 2018 Schedule, Betting Odds

The Action Network Projected Wins: 6.3

Bet To Watch

Georgia Tech Over 6 (-120)

If Navy is the land of the plug-and-play quarterback, Georgia Tech is the land of the plug-and-play running back. And quarterback TaQuon Marshall will get a bit more time to throw this year with all his offensive linemen back. That's a good recipe for success.

When Georgia Tech wants to pass, it comes in huge chunks, as it ranks second overall in passing explosiveness. Of course, Georgia Tech's entire game is to get the defense to bite on the triple-option play action and throw it over the top.

But enough about the offense — we know what Tech wants to do. The biggest off-field news from a gambling standpoint was the hiring of Nate Woody as defensive coordinator. Woody comes from Appalachian State, where his teams consistently ranked in the havoc top-25 rankings.

The returning production on defense ranks 108th, so Woody does have his work cut out for him. Look for the Jackets to move from a complicated 4-2-5 to a 3-4 scheme on defense during their opener against Alcorn State.

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Georgia Tech had a 2nd Order win total of 0.8, indicating it played almost a win better than its record in 2017. The Jackets draw Clemson from the Atlantic and Georgia in nonconference play. Georgia Tech should have easy victories in Alcorn State and Bowling Green. In the remaining eight games, the point spread is projected within one score. Tech also has early games against teams that are rebuilding, including South Florida and Louisville.

Expect coach Paul Johnson to take a team with an experienced offense — combined with havoc defensive coordinator Woody — to go over its win total. It opened at 5.5 and now sits at 6 or 6.5 across the market, but 6 is a number I'm still comfortable with.

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