Bulldogs face Hokies in Atlanta

NCAA Football Betting Lines

12/27/2006 - Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A couple of schools that have not met in over 70 years hook up in the 2006 Chick-fil-A Bowl, as the Georgia Bulldogs tangle with the 14th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies from the Georgia Dome.

The Bulldogs' regular season was up and down, but they finished on a strong note, defeating a a pair of top tier teams in Auburn (37-15) and Georgia Tech (15-12) in their final two games. The wins pushed the team to 8-4 overall and landed it in its 10th straight bowl game. Overall, this will be Georgia's 42nd bowl game, which ranks as the sixth most of any team in the country. The Bulldogs own a 22-16-3 record all-time in bowl games, including an even 2-2 mark in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

As for Virginia Tech, it comes into the contest red-hot, having closed out the regular season with six straight wins. During that stretch, the Hokies beat the likes of Clemson (24-7), Miami-Florida (17-10) and ACC champion Wake Forest (27-6). Having already notched their third straight 10-win season, Virginia Tech is now set to make its 14th consecutive bowl appearance. Overall, the Hokies have made 19 previous bowl appearances, going just 7-12 all-time, including 1-1 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Virginia Tech and Georgia have met just two times previously, with the last encounter occurring during the 1932 season. The Hokies won that meeting by a score of 7-6, while Georgia posted a 40-0 shutout the year before.

The Bulldogs have struggled to move the ball on offense at times this season and that shows in the mediocre 321.1 total ypg they are currently averaging. The biggest problem for this unit is passing the ball, as Georgia is throwing for just 189.0 ypg with only 11 touchdowns against 15 interceptions. Freshman Matthew Stafford has struggled with consistency this season, but he has shown flashes of brilliance at times. Still, Stafford has completed only 53.6 percent of his throws for 1,620 yards with 12 interceptions and a mere six touchdowns. However, he does have a team-best seven rushing touchdowns to his credit. One player that must step up to take some of the pressure off Stafford is tailback Kregg Lumpkin, who leads the team with 759 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Lumpkin is averaging a solid 5.1 ypc, and is also a decent receiver, ranking third on the team with 17 catches.

On the defensive side of the ball is where Georgia has excelled this season, holding its opponents to just 17.1 ppg and meager 264.0 total ypg. The unit has been especially tough against the pass, yielding only 150.2 ypg and 10 touchdowns through the air. The defense has even posted 16 interceptions, while sacking opposing quarterbacks 30 times. Tony Taylor has had himself quite a season up to this point, and he leads the team in tackles (87) to go along with three sacks and five interceptions. Tra Battle and Charles Johnson are two more players to keep a look out for, as Battle leads the squad with six interceptions, while Johnson's 16 TFLs and 7.5 sacks are the most of any player on the roster.

The Hokies' offense has benefited greatly from the field position their defense has provided them, and that is illustrated in the fact they are averaging a solid 26.0 ppg despite gaining only 304.0 total ypg. Tailback Branden Ore however, is a big time player and he is the key to this unit's success. In 11 games, Ore has amassed 1,095 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, while averaging a solid 5.0 ypg. Under center, Virginia Tech relies on Sean Glennon to manage the offense. Glennon has had a solid campaign thus far, completing 56.9 percent of his throws for 2,097 yards with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He hasn't favored any one receiver, as no one player has more than 33 catches on the roster.

Defensively, there aren't many teams around as good as the Hokies are, as they are holding their opponents to a miniscule 9.3 ppg and a nation's best 221.1 total ypg. The defense has been simply outstanding against the pass this season, giving up just 128.2 ypg and five touchdowns through the air. The unit has also picked off 16 passes to go along with 28 sacks. Vince Hall heads this balanced and talented defense with 115 tackles and 10 TFLs. Xavier Adibi has also had a fine year and he has 78 stops, three sacks and three interceptions to his credit.

This should be a close one, as both teams rely heavily on their defenses to win games. Virginia Tech is not only the better defensive team, but it also has a difference maker on offense in Ore and that is why it should come out on top.

Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Virginia Tech 20, Georgia 13