Georgia Tech vs. Miami Prediction, Game Preview
Georgia Tech vs. Miami prediction and game preview. The Yellow Jackets look to win their third straight game, while the Hurricanes look to bounce back from their road loss to Louisville.
Georgia Tech vs. Miami prediction and game preview. The Yellow Jackets look to win their third straight game, while the Hurricanes look to bounce back from their road loss to Louisville.
Georgia Tech vs. Miami Game Preview
When: Wednesday, Feb. 15 – 8 p.m. ET
Where: Watsco Center, Coral Gables, FL
TV Broadcast: ACC Network
Josh Pastner and the Yellow Jackets (15-10, 6-6 ACC) kept their NCAA Tournament hopes alive this past Saturday at home when they came back from a horrific start and big first-half deficit to beat Boston College, 65-54. Tadric Jackson scored a career-high 29 points, while Ben Lammers and Josh Okogie each had a double-double. The win snapped a two-game ACC losing streak for the Jackets.
Meanwhile, Jim Larrañaga and the Hurricanes (16-8, 6-6) could not complete the upset at Louisville on Saturday, as Cardinals point guard Quentin Snider returned after nearly a month away to hit a big 3-pointer with 41 seconds remaining to help rally the Cards to a 71-66 victory. Miami held a 14-point lead in the first half. The ‘Canes shot just 36 percent in the second half, missing several shots down the stretch.
In 2015, when GT last visited Coral Gables, Marcus Georges-Hunt helped the Yellow Jackets pull off a 20-point upset of then-No. 23 Miami. Two years before that win, Georges-Hunt’s lay-up at the buzzer knocked off the then-No. 6 Hurricanes. Can the Jackets continue the South Florida magic?
Georgia Tech Wins If …
… The Yellow Jackets get off to a much better start than they did against the Eagles last weekend. GT missed 22 of its first 24 shots and had 10 turnovers before Lammers cut the deficit to 22-10 late in the first half with a jumper. Lammers and Okogie combined to go 1-of-12 in the first half. But after Justin Moore’s 3-pointer made it 34-32 GT with 12:28 remaining in the game, Pastner’s squad never trailed again.
The Jackets have very little room for error offensively, as Pastner has stressed throughout the season. Miami is solid both offensively and defensively, so that balance will cause problems. While GT will bring its defensive prowess, its offense isn’t equipped to get into a shootout. So Pastner and Co. will want to take the air out of the ball a little bit and keep it a low-scoring affair.
Miami Wins If …
… Freshman guard Bruce Brown is able to complement senior guard Davon Reed, who is one of the better shooters in the ACC. Reed is dependable and steady, and he’s shooting 41.1 percent from downtown. Meanwhile, Brown is the third-leading scorer (11.7 points per game) on the team and is averaging 6.4 boards per contest. He is also a good passer. Brown does a little bit of everything to help make this offense click, so he will be a challenge for this GT defense. He also can ‘D’ up as well. Despite seemingly hitting a bit of a freshman wall as of late, he needs to be someone that GT has eyes on the entire game.
The Hurricanes had Louisville on the ropes on the road, but they let the lead slip away down the stretch. That cannot happen at home against the Jackets.
Matchup To Watch
GT rebounding vs. Miami rebounding
The Yellow Jackets and Hurricanes both average 37.5 rebounds per game. In a contest that could come down to the closing minutes, Miami’s prowess on the offensive boards could be the difference. It will be especially difficult for GT if forward Quinton Stephens is unavailable. The senior has been dealing with a bum ankle, which made him miss most of the BC game. While Stephens expects to play, his presence on the defensive glass would be missed if he is at all limited.
Betting Odds
Spread: Miami -10
Over/Under: 129.5
Georgia Tech vs. Miami Prediction
This is a huge game for both squads as they look to polish up their tourney résumés. Georgia Tech has shown great resiliency all season, whether it has been coming off of tough losses or fighting back from in-game deficits. The balance of Miami will prove a little too much to overcome in this one, though, as the Jackets’ Coral Gables magic comes to an end.
Georgia Tech vs. Miami final score prediction: Miami 68, Georgia Tech 61
