HERE ARE SOME GAME NOTES...
The 24th-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets appear to be serious ACC contenders this season, and they will take on the North Carolina State Wolfpack in front of what promises to be a capacity crowd Thursday night. NC State is desperate for a win, as it enters this contest with a 1-2 record, including an 0-2 mark in ACC play. It should be pointed out, however, that the club lost by just four points to national powerhouse Virginia Tech in the opener, proof that head coach Chuck Amato's team is capable of hanging with top-notch competition. The Wolfpack has been idle since September 24th when it dropped a 31-24 decision to North Carolina. As for Georgia Tech, it won its first three games of the season to set up a battle of undefeated teams with Virginia Tech. That game turned out to be completely one-sided, as the Hokies rolled to a 51-7 triumph in Blacksburg. At 1-1 in league play, the Yellow Jackets need to win this weekend to remain in the ACC title race. Georgia Tech holds a 16-8 lead in the all-time series with NC State, including four straight wins over the Wolfpack.
NC State is averaging 31.3 ppg and 394.3 total ypg through the first three outings, but those impressive numbers are due in large part to the team's 54- point outburst against Eastern Kentucky in the second week of the season. Otherwise, the Wolfpack offense has been fairly average. Running the ball has proven to be a problem area, as NC State is averaging only 109.7 ypg and 3.3 ypc on the ground. Toney Baker paces the rushing attack with 148 yards and four touchdowns, and he has the potential to put up big numbers if given the opportunity. The team's top quarterback is Jay Davis, and the coaches have to be happy with what they have seen out of him. Davis has completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 802 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Tramain Hall tops the receivers with 16 grabs for 180 yards, and T.J. Williams has caught 14 balls for 178 yards. In the recent loss to North Carolina, NC State finished with a paltry 13 rushing yards on 28 attempts, and the fact that the team surrendered 50 yards on six sacks obviously hurt the ground totals. Still, there wasn't much room to roam. Baker did have a pair of touchdowns, but he only carried the ball 15 times. As for Davis, he completed 21-of-35 passes for 257 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. Williams caught that scoring strike and finished with six grabs for 77 yards.
NC State has been one of the toughest defensive teams in the nation in recent years, and the group is off to a strong start despite its record. The Wolfpack is surrendering 20.3 ppg on only 260.3 total ypg, and the group has come up with seven takeaways to date. The team's total of 10 sacks is also impressive, as is the 22 percent success rate that the Pack is holding opponents to on third-down conversion attempts. Opposing ball carries are averaging a meager 2.6 ypc, and quarterbacks have completed just 33-of-81 passes against the defense. Stephen Tulloch has been nothing short of sensational thus far, as the standout NCSU defender has made 40 tackles, 12 of which have come behind the line of scrimmage. Manny Lawson has registered four sacks already. In the North Carolina game, the Tar Heels scored one of their touchdowns on a blocked punt and another after a fumble deep in Wolfpack territory. With that in mind, it is obvious that the defense played much better than the 31 points surrendered would suggest.
Aside from an 11-yard touchdown pass from Reggie Ball to Calvin Johnson in the third quarter, Georgia Tech was blanked by Virginia Tech last time out. The Yellow Jackets finished with 217 total yards and turned the ball over three times, poor numbers to say the least. They were 2-of-16 on third-down conversion attempts, one of the game's most telling stats. Aside from one 29- yard run, tailback P.J. Daniels was pretty much bottled up by the Hokies. As for Ball, he was picked off twice and completed only 11-of-27 passes for 143 yards. Both of the interceptions were returned for touchdowns, helping to make the score as lopsided as it was. Johnson was clearly Ball's top target, and he finished with five catches for 123 yards. Through four games, GT is averaging 21.2 ppg and 328.0 ypg, mediocre numbers that can certainly be improved. Ball has completed only 47.3 percent of his throws for 637 yards with four scores and three picks, and Johnson has made 18 grabs for 378 yards and three touchdowns. As for Daniels, he has racked up 376 rushing yards.
Georgia Tech did not play too bad defensively against Virginia Tech despite the fact that the Hokies finished with 51 points. In addition to the two defensive touchdowns scored by VaTech, the team also managed a touchdown on a blocked field goal. Yes, the Hokies did score three offensive touchdowns, but the fact that Ball and company couldn't move the ball didn't help the GaTech defense at all. The Hokies finished with 320 yards and 15 first downs, numbers that the Jackets would likely have been happy with heading into the contest. Dawan Landry and Gerris Wilkinson had eight tackles apiece in the loss. Opponents are averaging 24.9 ppg and 312.2 total ypg against the Jackets, and that scoring number was obviously much lower before the VaTech game. Teams are gaining just 2.7 ypc and 84.2 ypg on the ground against Georgia Tech, and the team has also picked off 10 balls while holding opposing quarterbacks to under 50 percent on completions.
*Tech are 8-18 ATS coming off a bye week since 1991*
*The Wolfpack are 8-2 ATS last 10 games after a bye week*
Let`s take a shot with the Wolfpack to cover as a Thursday night dog.
BET ID=124935564
Straight Wager 10/05/05 23:37 ET
200.00/181.82 Result: Pending
NCState
GaTech 10/06/05 (19:35 ET)
NCState +4
The 24th-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets appear to be serious ACC contenders this season, and they will take on the North Carolina State Wolfpack in front of what promises to be a capacity crowd Thursday night. NC State is desperate for a win, as it enters this contest with a 1-2 record, including an 0-2 mark in ACC play. It should be pointed out, however, that the club lost by just four points to national powerhouse Virginia Tech in the opener, proof that head coach Chuck Amato's team is capable of hanging with top-notch competition. The Wolfpack has been idle since September 24th when it dropped a 31-24 decision to North Carolina. As for Georgia Tech, it won its first three games of the season to set up a battle of undefeated teams with Virginia Tech. That game turned out to be completely one-sided, as the Hokies rolled to a 51-7 triumph in Blacksburg. At 1-1 in league play, the Yellow Jackets need to win this weekend to remain in the ACC title race. Georgia Tech holds a 16-8 lead in the all-time series with NC State, including four straight wins over the Wolfpack.
NC State is averaging 31.3 ppg and 394.3 total ypg through the first three outings, but those impressive numbers are due in large part to the team's 54- point outburst against Eastern Kentucky in the second week of the season. Otherwise, the Wolfpack offense has been fairly average. Running the ball has proven to be a problem area, as NC State is averaging only 109.7 ypg and 3.3 ypc on the ground. Toney Baker paces the rushing attack with 148 yards and four touchdowns, and he has the potential to put up big numbers if given the opportunity. The team's top quarterback is Jay Davis, and the coaches have to be happy with what they have seen out of him. Davis has completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 802 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Tramain Hall tops the receivers with 16 grabs for 180 yards, and T.J. Williams has caught 14 balls for 178 yards. In the recent loss to North Carolina, NC State finished with a paltry 13 rushing yards on 28 attempts, and the fact that the team surrendered 50 yards on six sacks obviously hurt the ground totals. Still, there wasn't much room to roam. Baker did have a pair of touchdowns, but he only carried the ball 15 times. As for Davis, he completed 21-of-35 passes for 257 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. Williams caught that scoring strike and finished with six grabs for 77 yards.
NC State has been one of the toughest defensive teams in the nation in recent years, and the group is off to a strong start despite its record. The Wolfpack is surrendering 20.3 ppg on only 260.3 total ypg, and the group has come up with seven takeaways to date. The team's total of 10 sacks is also impressive, as is the 22 percent success rate that the Pack is holding opponents to on third-down conversion attempts. Opposing ball carries are averaging a meager 2.6 ypc, and quarterbacks have completed just 33-of-81 passes against the defense. Stephen Tulloch has been nothing short of sensational thus far, as the standout NCSU defender has made 40 tackles, 12 of which have come behind the line of scrimmage. Manny Lawson has registered four sacks already. In the North Carolina game, the Tar Heels scored one of their touchdowns on a blocked punt and another after a fumble deep in Wolfpack territory. With that in mind, it is obvious that the defense played much better than the 31 points surrendered would suggest.
Aside from an 11-yard touchdown pass from Reggie Ball to Calvin Johnson in the third quarter, Georgia Tech was blanked by Virginia Tech last time out. The Yellow Jackets finished with 217 total yards and turned the ball over three times, poor numbers to say the least. They were 2-of-16 on third-down conversion attempts, one of the game's most telling stats. Aside from one 29- yard run, tailback P.J. Daniels was pretty much bottled up by the Hokies. As for Ball, he was picked off twice and completed only 11-of-27 passes for 143 yards. Both of the interceptions were returned for touchdowns, helping to make the score as lopsided as it was. Johnson was clearly Ball's top target, and he finished with five catches for 123 yards. Through four games, GT is averaging 21.2 ppg and 328.0 ypg, mediocre numbers that can certainly be improved. Ball has completed only 47.3 percent of his throws for 637 yards with four scores and three picks, and Johnson has made 18 grabs for 378 yards and three touchdowns. As for Daniels, he has racked up 376 rushing yards.
Georgia Tech did not play too bad defensively against Virginia Tech despite the fact that the Hokies finished with 51 points. In addition to the two defensive touchdowns scored by VaTech, the team also managed a touchdown on a blocked field goal. Yes, the Hokies did score three offensive touchdowns, but the fact that Ball and company couldn't move the ball didn't help the GaTech defense at all. The Hokies finished with 320 yards and 15 first downs, numbers that the Jackets would likely have been happy with heading into the contest. Dawan Landry and Gerris Wilkinson had eight tackles apiece in the loss. Opponents are averaging 24.9 ppg and 312.2 total ypg against the Jackets, and that scoring number was obviously much lower before the VaTech game. Teams are gaining just 2.7 ypc and 84.2 ypg on the ground against Georgia Tech, and the team has also picked off 10 balls while holding opposing quarterbacks to under 50 percent on completions.
*Tech are 8-18 ATS coming off a bye week since 1991*
*The Wolfpack are 8-2 ATS last 10 games after a bye week*
Let`s take a shot with the Wolfpack to cover as a Thursday night dog.
BET ID=124935564
Straight Wager 10/05/05 23:37 ET
200.00/181.82 Result: Pending
NCState
GaTech 10/06/05 (19:35 ET)
NCState +4
