Saturday, December 31, 2016

TaxSlayer Bowl

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets take on the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, December 31, 2016 in the TaxSlayer Bowl. The opening line for this game has Georgia Tech as 5 point favorites. This season the Yellow Jackets are 6-4-1 against the spread and their over/under record is 6-4-1. The Wildcats have an over/under record of 7-5-0 and they are 7-5-0 against the spread.

Justin Thomas finished with 164 yards through the air for Georgia Tech in his last game. He completed 6 passes out of 10 attempts for a 60% completion percentage. The Yellow Jackets were led in rushing by Clinton Lynch, who finished with 59 yards on 4 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 15 yards per carry. Brad Stewart was the team leader in receiving with a total of 87 yards and 2 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 44 yards per reception. As a team in that game Georgia Tech got a total of 15 first downs. Of those first downs, 10 came on the ground while 5 came through the air. They ran 52 total plays for 390 yards for the game. The Yellow Jackets ran for 226 yards on 42 attempts.

Stephen Johnson finished with 338 yards passing for Kentucky in his last contest. He went 16 for 27, resulting in a 59% completion percentage. The Wildcats were led on the ground by Stephen Johnson, who finished with 83 yards on 8 carries. He ended the game with an average of 10 yards per rush. Garrett Johnson led the team in receiving with 164 yards and 5 catches. He finished the game with an average of 33 yards per reception. Kentucky had 24 first downs total. 10 came from running the ball and 11 came from a pass. They ran 72 total plays for 581 yards for the contest. The Wildcats ran for 229 yards on 43 carries as a team.

Georgia Tech scores 27.8 points per game on offense this season, which ranks 69th in Division 1. In the passing department, they average 6.5 passes on 12.3 attempts for a 53.1 percent completion percentage this season. They throw for a total of 134.5 yards per game through the air as well, which ranks them 123rd in college football. The Yellow Jackets run for an average of 254.1 yards per game on 46.6 attempts for an average of 5.5 yards per carry. That ranks them 11th in the nation. They also run 58.8 plays per contest and average 6.6 yards per play for an average of 388.6 yards per game, ranking their offense 82nd overall this season. The Yellow Jackets average 17.5 first downs per game which ranks them 118th in the country. They accumulate 35.6 penalty yards per game via 4.1 penalties, which ranks 122nd in the nation.

Georgia Tech allows 233.9 passing yards per game, ranking 73rd in D-1, and they allow 25 points per contest on defense, which ranks 47th. They give up 20.9 completions on 33.3 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 62.8. The Yellow Jackets allow 174.2 rushing yards per game on 36.4 carries for an average of 4.8 yards per carry, which ranks their rush defense 64th in the country. Georgia Tech allows 408.1 total yards per game including 5.9 yards per play, which ranks their overall defense 63rd in terms of yards per game. They force 1.5 turnovers per contest and get flagged for 5 penalties for 39.5 yards per game, ranking them 10th among D-1 teams.

Kentucky averages 31 points per game this season on offense, which ranks them 54th in the country. In the passing department, they complete 12.6 passes per game on 23.2 attempts for a 54.3 percent completion percentage. They throw for 187 yards through the air per game, ranking them 102nd in Division 1. The Wildcats run for an average of 244.1 yards per game on 43.7 attempts for an average of 5.6 yards per carry this season, which ranks them 15th on the ground. They also run 66.8 plays per game and average 6.5 yards per play for a total of 431.1 yards per game, ranking them 56th in the country on offense. The Wildcats get an average of 20 first downs per game, which ranks 88th in the nation. They average 45.3 penalty yards per game via 5 penalties, ranking them 99th in college football.

Kentucky allows an average of 214.5 passing yards per game, which ranks 48th in Division 1. Their defense overall allows 31.2 points per contest, which has them ranked 87th in the nation. They give up 16.3 completions on 28.2 attempts for a completion percentage of 58 per game. The Wildcats allow 227.8 rushing yards per contest on 43.7 carries for a 5.2 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 109th in the country. Kentucky allows 442.3 total yards per game for an average of 6.2 yards per play, which ranks 89th in D-1. They force 1.8 turnovers per contest and 6.3 penalties for 49.5 yards in each contest, ranking 46th in the nation.

Georgia Tech Betting Trends

Georgia Tech is 6-4-1 against the over/under this season

Georgia Tech has an ATS record of 6-4-1 this season

Kentucky Betting Trends

Kentucky is 7-5-0 against the over/under this season

Kentucky has an ATS record of 7-5-0 this season

Injuries to Watch

Georgia Tech

11/04/16 DB Christian Campbell Suspension out indefinitely
11/04/16 DB Jalen Johnson Suspension out indefinitely

Kentucky

11/15/16 WR Alexander Montgomery Knee out for season
10/21/16 LB De'Niro Laster Knee out for season
10/21/16 LB Kobie Walker Shoulder out for season
09/28/16 RB Mikel Horton None has left team
09/20/16 QB Drew Barker Back out indefinitely
08/28/16 DL Regie Meant Personal has left team
08/19/16 DB Darius West Knee out for season

Tony's Pick: Take Kentucky +5

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