ACC Affair in College Football Thursday

Miami is going to need every one of the nine days off to get ready for Georgia Tech after thriller in Tallahassee, outlasting Florida State 38-34 as six point underdogs. Quarterback Jacory Harris was magnificent throwing for 386 yards and running back Kraig Cooper was a versatile all-around performer in running the ball, catching passes and returning kicks. The defense gave up 404 yards and was especially vulnerable to routes over the middle 10-18 yards down the field.

However, coach Randy Shannon is going to leave the details for the practice field and focus in on the bigger picture. “I’m confident in this football team,” Shannon said. “From what we had to go through three years ago to where we’re at now, it’s a totally different team, totally different mentality.”

The 20th ranked Hurricanes can further enhance their image of yesteryear with a win over No. 14 Georgia Tech Thursday night at LandShark Stadium. Miami has spent a great deal of practice time on improving all areas of special teams, which could described as giving the “golden parachute” of field position, as they allowed the Seminoles average starting at its own 43-yard line following Canes kicks, and three times started drives on Miami’s side of the 50. Miami is only 6-13-1 ATS off a straight up win.

For their home opener, the Hurricanes will have to play assignment football to control Georgia Tech’s option and they are 12-1 on Thursday night’s with cheerless 4-8 ATS record.

This will be the Yellow Jackets second straight Thursday encounter after surviving against Clemson last week 30-27 as five-point favorites. This is Georgia Tech’s first road game of 2009 and they’ll have to clean up the fumbling bugaboo that cost them a couple of wins last year and has returned again. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt has put the pigskin on the ground, though his passing has looked better on occasion to start the year. Last year’s ACC rushing leader Jonathan Dwyer looks like he’s in for another big year and the addition of transfer A-back Anthony Allen adds another dimension to offense. Georgia Tech is only 13-10 ATS the first half of the season the last four years.

Georgia Tech’s defensive front had three players chosen in the NFL draft, with defensive end Derrick Morgan the only holdover. Morgan has been an absolute terror with five sacks in the first two games and has been backed up by a solid group behind him. Expect Yellow Jackets coaches to bring linebackers and safeties to disrupt Harris and keep him from getting comfortable in the pocket for club that is 15-6-1 ATS off a spread loss.

Bookmaker.com has Miami as five-point favorites with total of 54. The Hurricanes are despicable 0-6 ATS as a home favorite of 3.5-10.0 points and are 15-5 UNDER in home games off a road win against a conference rival. Georgia Tech is 19-6 ATS after playing a Thursday game and 12-3 UNDER after a win by six or less points.

The Yellow Jackets are 4-0 straight up and against the spread in four ACC meetings with Miami, including two outright road upsets. The Canes are 1-6 SU and ATS versus Georgia Tech dating back 32 years and are 0-6 against the spread at home when playing with revenge. The Hurricanes are only 17-24 ATS since joining the ACC in conference play.