Georgia Tech vs UCF Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks

· Sep 22 - 4 minutes read

Georgia Tech’s season-opening schedule was rough, facing two teams in the AP Top 25 within its first three games. In the Yellow Jackets’ last game, they were shut out by now 16th-ranked Ole Miss, allowing 42 points.

UCF (2-1) beat Florida Atlantic 40-14 in a game in which the Knights were favored by 7½. It was a good get-right win after losing in Week 2.

Megan Briggs / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

For the Yellow Jackets (1-2), facing the Knights should feel like a relief from playing teams in the AP Top 25, but they still are underdogs by nearly three touchdowns.

Let’s check the latest NCAAF picks, stats, injury reports, and NCAAF odds for Georgia Tech vs UCF. We’ve plenty of NCAAF predictions for you to consider.

Georgia Tech: Passing Game Lacking

Starting a season against then-No. 4 Clemson was a challenging task and Georgia Tech lost 41-10. The Yellow Jackets managed to beat Western Carolina 37-17 in Week 2 before the game against Ole Miss.

The offense has been underwhelming, and a lot of that blame falls to quarterback Jeff Sims. Against Ole Miss, he threw for 161 yards on 32 attempts. In the win over Western Carolina, he only had 100 yards through the air with one interception. His lone touchdown pass was against Clemson.

Running back Dontae Smith has scored half of the team’s touchdowns, all against Western Carolina. He also had 102 of his 154 yards in that game, rushing for 22 last week.

The defensive stats are a little inflated by the two games against top teams, but 438.3 yards per game is not good. Georgia Tech allowed 390 in its only win.

UCF Offensive Revolves Around Plumlee

UCF has been favored in every game, losing once in Week 2 against Louisville. After being up 14-7 at halftime, the Knights did not score in the second half, giving up 13 points.

That loss was the worst game for UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee. He threw his first interception, attempting 34 passes for 131 yards and zero touchdowns. He added 83 yards rushing,

Against Florida Atlantic, Plumlee had 336 yards through the air, scrambled 22 times for 121 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, two on the ground. In both of the Knights’ wins, he was the clear star, passing for over 300 and rushing for more than 100.

The Knights’ rushing attack has been one of the best in the country, ranking fourth in yards per game. Plumlee’s ability to create plays with his legs has been complemented by running backs Johnny Richardson and Isaiah Bowser, who have 343 combined rushing yards.

Georgia Tech vs UCF Game Injuries

Georgia Tech vs UCF Head-to-Head

These teams have played four times, three between 1996-2000, Georgia Tech won all of them. They met again 20 years later, in 2020, and UCF won 49-21.

Georgia Tech vs UCF Game Information

Date: Saturday, Sept. 24
Time: 4 p.m. ET
Location: FBC Mortgage Stadium, Orlando, FL
How to watch Georgia Tech vs UCF?
Georgia Tech vs UCF Live Stream: ESPN

Georgia Tech vs UCF Betting Lines

Georgia Tech vs UCF Prediction

The 20½-point spread is substantial for UCF to cover. Georgia Tech has been playing poorly and it does not seem like anything will change soon. Still, it is a massive spread for the Knights, who are still unproven.

The key to the game may be the Yellow Jackets’ run defense, which allows 184.7 yards per game. If they can’t slow the Knights’ main source of offense, they will have a hard time covering the spread.

BET THIS PICK: UCF (-20½)