Georgia Tech Vs. Mississippi State Betting Lines And Pick Can Jackets Run To Orange Bowl Upset

Line: Miss State -7 (even), Total: 62

Line movement: The Wynn opened the Bulldogs at -7 (-110), and while it didn’t get off the key number in early wagering, John Avello’s sports book did tweak the vig to -7 (+100). Other bet shops have moved to -6.5. Totals range from 61 to 62.5. Visit our live odds page for updated point spreads and totals.

Trends that matter: MSU lost two of its last three to close out the season, but those games were at Alabama and Ole Miss. …The Bulldogs are just 1-4 against the spread in their last five games as a favorite. …The UNDER was 3-0 in the Bulldogs’ last three games. … Georgia Tech won five in a row before falling to Florida State in the ACC Championship. The Yellow Jackets are on a six-game cover streak heading into this matchup.

Defending the triple-option: The strength of Georgia Tech is the triple-option, an offense responsible for the nation’s No. 3 rushing attack (333.6 YPG). Since Paul Johnson’s first season as head coach in 2008, the Yellow Jackets have made it to a bowl game every season. That’s the good news. The bad news is the triple-option becomes much easier to defend when teams have an extended amount of time to prepare for it. Johnson’s 1-5 bowl record (1-5 ATS, including three losses as favorites) as Tech’s head coach offers supporting evidence. Mississippi State, already boasting the nation’s No. 9 scoring defense, had had over a month to prepare and practice with a focus of stopping Tech’s triple-option offense.

Early Heisman campaign: Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott is one of the game’s most dynamic offensive weapons, and the 6-2, 235-pound junior has a chance to nominate himself as the early favorite for the Heisman in 2015 with a strong performance in the Orange Bowl. Prescott accounted for 3,970 yards from scrimmage and 38 total touchdowns in 2014, and was in the thick of the Heisman race until a couple of late-season stumbles set the Bulldogs back. Look for him to make a lot of good things happen against a challenged Georgia Tech defense.

Injuries (visit donbest.com for injury updates)

Weather: The forecast is calling for temperatures in the low 70s with a 20 percent chance of rain. Visit Weather Underground for an updated forecast.

HANDICAPPING TOOLS: Matchup analysis | Power ratings | GT page | MSU page

The Linemakers’ lean: According to our power ratings, the line here is vastly inflated, as Mississippi State should be just a 2-point favorite over Georgia Tech on a neutral field. We’re seeing plenty of value on the Yellow Jackets, who are 5-1 ATS as an underdog this season. If you’re on board, shop around for +7.