Free College Football Picks Today: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs Duke Blue Devils 10/8/22

The Duke University Blue Devils (4-1, 1-0 ACC) travel to face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-3, 1-1 ACC) at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field on Saturday for a matchup that pits one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s top rushing offenses against one of its toughest ground defenses. The Blue Devils are 3.5-point favorites, and the total is 54. Duke is coming off a dominant 38-17 win over Virginia at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium last Saturday. Riley Leonard threw for 129 yards and a touchdown. Jaylen Coleman ran 19 times for 97 yards. Jalon Calhoun caught six passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. Georgia Tech beat No. 24 Pittsburgh 26-21 at Acrisure Stadium last Saturday. Jeff Sims was 11 of 26 for 102 yards and a touchdown. Hassan Hall carried 20 times for 157 yards. E.J. Jenkins scored once. He caught two receptions for 54 yards.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Yellow Jackets won the only game between the teams last season, a 31-27 victory in October. Jeff Sims threw three touchdowns and ran for another one for Georgia Tech. Gunnar Holmberg tossed two touchdowns for Duke.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Blue Devils are averaging 35.0 points per game for the season, 38th in FBS, and they are facing a Yellow Jackets defense that has surrendered 29.6 PPG (92nd). Meanwhile, Georgia Tech has scored 16.2 points a game this season, 123rd in the nation, and Duke is allowing 19.0 PPG (28th). The Blue Devils rank 71st in the nation in passing yards per game (243.8) and 27th in rushing (200.4), while the Yellow Jackets are 63rd in passing yards allowed per game (223.0) and 109th against the run (188.8).Georgia Tech has been one of the nation’s least successful passing teams, averaging 168.2 passing yards per game (115th), while ranking 77th in rushing yards (147.8). The Blue Devils are allowing 242.4 passing yards (86th) and 131.0 rushing yards per game (56th).

TOP PERFORMERS

Through five games, Riley Leonard has thrown for seven touchdowns (2 INT) and 235.2 yards per game to lead Duke in passing. In two away games this season, he has two TDs (1 INT) and an average of 282.0 yards passing. Jaylen Coleman leads the team in rushing with an average of 61.6 yards a game over five games. He has four touchdowns on the ground. Jalon Calhoun is the Blue Devils’ leading receiver with 71.2 yards a game and two TDs. Jeff Sims has three passing touchdowns (2 INT) with 168.2 yards per game through five games to lead Georgia Tech. In three home games this season, he has thrown for one TD (2 INT) and an average of 141.7 yards. Hassan Hall has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 52.0 yards a game through five games. Nate McCollum has been the primary target in the Yellow Jackets’ passing game, averaging 36.4 yards per game through five appearances.