VCU vs. Georgia Tech Betting Line December 15
Carrie Stroup here with your VCU vs. Georgia Tech betting line for December 15 Georgia Tech -2, Total: 145
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH RAMS (5-3) at GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (6-2)
VCU travels to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech in a battle of two teams chomping at the bit to get back on the court after a week-long layoff.
Coach Will Wade’s Rams have had eight days off since losing to fellow ACC foe, Florida State, 76-71 (VCU +1) on Dec. 6, while coach Brian Gregory’s Yellow Jackets haven’t played a game since their eight point victory at Tulane on the 5th. How both clubs respond to the long layoff due to finals week; whether they respond as a well-prepared unit, or if rest equals rust, will go a long way to determining the fate of Tuesday evening’s game.
On 3+ day’s rest, Georgia Tech is 4-0 (4-0 ATS) while VCU is 2-2 (2-1 ATS). During a similar break for school finals last season, Georgia Tech (which ultimately finished the season 12-19) hosted Appalachian State after a nine day layoff and won 70-57 (but failed to cover at -17). Likewise, VCU responded after a seven day layoff last season, rebounding from a loss on Dec. 6 2014 at home to Virginia to defeat Northern Iowa, 93-87. VCU barely failed to cover as 6.5 point home favorites in that win almost a year ago.
Georgia Tech is 4-1 (3-2 ATS) at home this season, their one SU loss to Villanova, 69-52 (Villanova -11) on Nov. 27. After the loss to Villanova, Georgia Tech has rebounded to win and cover its last two games (a home win over Wofford and a road victory toppling Tulane).
VCU won their lone true road game this season, a 62-56 defeat of Middle Tennessee State (VCU -4.5). These two squads last faced off in Nov. 2011 with Georgia Tech defeating VCU, 73-60 in the Charleston Classic (Georgia Tech -1). The win was coach Gregory’s third win as the Yellow Jackets’ head man and takes a 62-75 overall record with him into this game. This is coach Wade’s first year at the helm of VCU, having been a right hand man of departed coach Shaka Smart before going 40-25 as the head coach of Chattanooga the past two seasons.
While VCU came up on the short end against Florida State, a game also played in Atlanta, coach Wade must’ve been encouraged at the way the Rams clawed back from a 40-29 halftime deficit. G Melvin Johnson (19.9 PPG, 47.8% 3PT, 1.6 SPG) went on a personal 16 point run to close the gap to one point with under a minute left against the Seminoles, but VCU ran out of gas. Johnson would score a career-high 36 points (8 threes) in the contest. Johnson has been unconscious this season from long range, as his 4.1 3PM/game is second in the nation.
The issue that VCU will run into against Georgia Tech is keeping the Yellow Jackets off the glass. Georgia Tech is elite in that regard, but VCU will counter with its trademark pressure defense (15.9% STL, 2nd NCAA; 17.5 TO/G forced, 14th NCAA).
Keeping Georgia Tech off the glass will fall on the shoulders of F Mo Allie-Cox (8.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.5 BPG), F Justin Tillman (5.8 RPG in 13 MPG), and G Korey Billbury (11 PPG, 5.5 RPG), who’s very physical and can guard both perimeter players and bigger post players.
G JeQuan Lewis (8.9 PPG, 4.4 APG, 2.1 SPG) mans the point for the Rams, but has seen his production slide in failing to hit five assists in any of his last five games. Lewis hit bottom in the loss to Florida State, turning the ball over 7 times.
On paper, Georgia Tech has the ability to mitigate VCU’s strengths. The Yellow Jackets take care of the ball (11.1 TO/G, 47th NCAA) and defend the three well enough (6 of 8 opponents at 35% or worse). The Yellow Jackets, not historically known as an offensive juggernaut in coach Gregory’s tenure, really turn it up a notch on the scoreboard when they’re at home (87 PPG). Georgia Tech does this by dominating the glass in a fashion that would make coach Gregory’s mentor (Tom Izzo) proud: The Yellow Jackets are 10th in the nation in rebound margin (+12.9) and hit the offensive glass particularly hard (16.1 ORPG, 5th NCAA). VCU was most recently outrebounded soundly in its defeat to Florida State, a guard-oriented squad.
Leading the charge on the boards will be wide-bodied F Charles Mitchell (14.5 PPG, 13 RPG), the nation’s 5th leading rebounder. Mitchell has a double-double in all eight of his games this season. Mitchell’s production has taken a quantum leap from the 9.8 points and 7 rebounds he averaged last season.
Along with Mitchell on the front line is fellow brutish 6’8” F Nick Jacobs (10.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.4 BPG). Jacobs has been struggling as of late, averaging less than 5 points per game in a three game stretch in late November due to foul woes, but averages 15.25 PPG, and 7.5 RPG when seeing 20+ minutes per game (four games).
G Josh Heath (4.1 APG, 1.3 TO/G) will most likely be needed more than his usual 21.9 minutes per game to handle VCU’s pressure and assist with main backcourt threats G Marcus Georges-Hunt (14.6 PPG, 2 APG) and G Adam Smith (12 PPG, 43.4% 3PT, 2.9 3PM). Georges-Hunt and Smith are both seniors and will hope to rely on their experience and home crowd to nullify VCU’s attempts to turn the Yellow Jackets over.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
