Georgia Tech +7 over Virginia

Yellow Jackets are playing great of late having won four of their last five games.  The only loss in that span was a Thursday night home game vs Virginia Tech in which they led for 3+ quarters before falling apart with some defensive breakdowns late.  It was easily a game they could have won.  The Jackets are now bowl eligible following last weeks impressive 30-10 win over UConn.  Tech QB Reggie Ball threw for a career high 288 yards and stud freshman receiver Calvin Johnson was on the receiving end for a career high 131 of those yards.  The Georgia Tech defense continues to sparkle.  They held the high powered UConn offense to just 225 total yards last week and now rank 12th nationally in total defense.  Virginia blew a major opportunity to win the ACC by losing to Miami, Fla at home last week.  The Cavaliers passing game is almost nonexistent in big games.  After scoring only 3 points vs FSU earlier in the year, Virginia passed for just 94 yards last week vs Miami despite the Hurricanes playing without all-American DB Rolle.  That is just not going to get it done in major college football.  Under Al Groh, Virginia is 18-7 ATS at home but just 8-12 ATS away.  In last years meeting, Virginia won by 8 but was at home and had the help of +2 turnovers.  It is senior day for the Yellow Jackets and they head into this game in much better shape.  Take the inflated points.

 

Iowa -3 over Wisconsin

Hawkeye head coach Ferentz definitely deserves Big 10 coach of the year honors.  Iowa has now won six games in a row despite returning just two offensive starters, breaking in a new QB, and suffering multiple injuries at running back.  Things did not look good after back to back double digit losses to Arizona State and Michigan, but boy did Ferentz get things turned around.  There was never a question the defense had talent, Iowa boasts one of the best front seven's in the country with stud LB's Hodge and Greenway.  However, it is sophomore Drew Tate and the offense that has really turned the corner.  Tate has averaged 275 passing yards per game during the win streak.  He is playing with a high level of confidence right now.  A night and day difference from early in the season.  He is making better decisions, is very comfortable in the pocket, and is proving more and more to be an elusive scrambler.  Sophomore WR Clinton Solomon has emerged as a go to target and has three 100+ yard receiving games this year.  WR's Hinkel and Chandler have each gone over the 100 yard mark once themselves.  All three are dependable targets.  Wisconsin comes in deflated after seeing their hopes of an undefeated season, BCS bowl, and outside shot at a national championship go out the window in blowout loss at Michigan State last week.  The Badgers are another team who lacks a dependable passing game.  That can spell trouble vs good teams, especially on the road and in come from behind situations.  Wisconsin ranks 95th nationally in passing yards heading into this game.  They will be trying to run into the strength of the Iowa defense, the front seven.  Wisconsin has not performed well at all on the road this year.  They are now 3-1 straight up and 2-2 ATS, but easily could have lost at Arizona, should have lost at Purdue, had things go their way at Ohio State, and were blown out last week at Michigan State.  Iowa is a sick 19-5 ATS as a home favorite under Ferentz and 11-1 ATS in last 12 senior days.

 

Wisconsin vs Iowa (UNDER 41.5)

The Badger defense should return much closer to form this week and the senior laden Iowa front seven will be the best Wisconsin has faced all season.  Both teams still have a lot on the line.  Rain is in the early forecast.  This figures to be a low scoring game.   

 

Tennessee -12.5 over Vanderbilt

The Vols have had time to think about their loss to Notre Dame two weeks ago and are now ready for their annual beating of instate rival Vanderbilt.  Tennessee has not allowed a single point to Vandy in the past three meetings winning by an average score of 36.6 to 0.  Vanderbilt has only scored more than 10 points once in the last 10 meetings.  It has been a terribly disappointing season for the Commodores. It only got worse last week as they blew a 13-0 4th quarter lead and lost by 1 to hapless Kentucky.  This was a year that many people, myself included, thought Vandy would compete for a bowl birth.  It is not that big of a surprise that they did not succeed, but how bad they have been is.  Head coach Bobby Johnson just has not gotten it done.  His play calling has been very suspect all season long.  The teams focus and intensity has been repeatedly called into question.  It will be interesting to see if he gets another chance to coach this team next year.  Vandy star LB Osemwegie has 34 more tackles than anyone else on the team.  He left last weeks game with an apparent ankle injury and is listed as questionable for this.  My guess is he will give it a go, but if he does not the Vandy defense is in for an even longer day.  Check for his status later in the week.  Tennessee will have a lot of fans in the stands anyway, but the Vols have been a great bet on the road of late.  They are 9-2 ATS in last 11 away games including 5-1 ATS in the favorite role.  They have also finished the season strongly going 9-1 ATS in final two regular season games over the past 5 years.