Friday: Georgia Tech vs Colorado Predictions

[SBR Andy]

Life without Travis Hunter and Shadeur Sanders begins tonight when Colorado hosts Georgia Tech at 8:00 PM ET on ESPN. SBR's Rob Paul takes a look at this matchup and shares his Georgia Tech vs Colorado prediction:

Best bet: Georgia Tech -4.5 (-108 DraftKings)

"The players who helped turn Colorado around during the Primetime era are all playing on Sundays now. Not only does Deion lose his starting QB in Shedeur Sanders and a Heisman winner in Travis Hunter, which means losing an All-American wide receiver and cornerback, this team also lost three more receivers to the NFL (LaJohntay Wester, Will Sheppard, and Jimmy Horn Jr.).

With the Buffaloes outside the top 65 in returning production, they're once again leaning on a plethora of transfers - that includes new starting QB Kaidon Salter (Liberty), four offensive linemen, and several defenders. Meanwhile, Brent Pry doesn't just bring back play-caller Buster Faulkner; the Yellow Jackets also return Haynes King, Jamal Haynes, Keylan Rutledge, and Malik Rutherford - Georgia Tech is No. 18 in returning production.

Given the Yellow Jackets' continuity, especially on offense - where they rank No. 25 in SP+ - Pry's team should be able to lean on its ground attack. Defensively, Blake Gideon's unit is poised to expose another rough Colorado offensive line."


Best player prop bet: Jamal Haynes Over 70.5 rushing yards (-114 FanDuel)

"Haynes is Georgia Tech's most explosive returning playmaker with Eric Singleton Jr. now at Auburn. However, Colorado won't be able to key in on Haynes just because Singleton is gone; Faulkner still has Rutherford, and the Yellow Jackets added Eric Rivers (FIU) in the transfer portal.

Faulkner is one of the best run game designers in college football, and King's ability to play like a Wing-T QB from the 1950s should only help open things up for Haynes. The senior ran for Over 70.5 yards in seven games last season, including three of his last four, while finishing in the top 20 in the Power Four for runs of 15-plus yards (16)."


Georgia Tech vs Colorado odds:



Do you like the Yellow Jackets or Buffaloes on Friday Night Lights? Comment below!

[SBR Andy]

SBR's Matt Jacob breaks down his best Georgia Tech vs Colorado player prop bets:

Jamal Haynes Over 65.5 rushing yards vs. Colorado (-130 via Bet99)

"Jamal Haynes capped his junior season with a flourish last year. The Georgia Tech running back shredded Georgia’s stout defense for 91 rushing yards in the regular-season finale (on the road, no less) before ripping off 136 yards against Vanderbilt in the Birmingham Bowl. Most impressively, Haynes needed just 30 totes to rack up those 227 yards.

In an early November game against Miami, Haynes rushed for 83 yards on just three carries. With that, the Georgia native cleared 65 rushing yards in three of his last four contests (and five of his last eight). He also started strong last year, rushing for 75 yards on just 11 carries in an upset of Florida State in Ireland."


Haynes King Under 0.5 interceptions vs. Colorado (+165 via bet365)

"Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King did a terrific job protecting the football last season, throwing just two interceptions in 11 games (269 pass attempts). Those two picks came in the Yellow Jackets’ second game of the season on Aug. 31 and their final contest against Vanderbilt in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 27.

Yep, King went three full months - and threw nearly 200 passes - without getting intercepted. So I’ll take my chances with King to play a clean opening game at Colorado, especially given the juicy +165 odds at bet365 (the only sportsbook that offers this particular market)."


Kaidon Salter to score anytime touchdown vs. Georgia Tech (+200 at DraftKings)

"Senior quarterback Kaidon Salter takes a big step up in class with his move from Liberty in Conference USA to Colorado in the Big 12. And while I’m skeptical about Salter’s ability to elevate his mediocre passing skills, there’s no denying that the guy has a nose for the end zone.

Salter closed out last season with five rushing touchdowns in his final four games, crossing the goal line in each contest. In all, the product of Cedar Hill, Texas, compiled 21 rushing touchdowns in two seasons as Liberty’s starting quarterback.

In this contest, Salter will be facing a Georgia Tech defense that surrendered seven rushing TDs to quarterbacks in the final seven games last year. You'll want to bet this at DraftKings, which is offering easily the best value at 2/1 odds."