Opening up on the road in a hostile environment can be tough to evaluate ATS. Georgia Tech likely will need to overcome a couple of drives of failure, and possibly a full quarter to adjust in their first game at Colorado. Kaidon Salter did have a second half of the season dip last year at Liberty, with four touchdowns to four interceptions over his final five games. That inconsistency I expect to flip this game in the second half. Take the Yellow Jackets.
I love what coach Brent Key has built at Georgia Tech. He has turned the program into a tough, physical team capable of going toe-to-toe with the likes of Georgia. QB Haynes King, who was the heart and soul of the offense last season, is back. Meanwhile Colorado has massive holes to fill, including Heisman Trophy winner and two-way star Travis Hunter and QB Shedeur Sanders. And, during the Deion Sanders era, the Buffaloes have yet to show they can pass block. Give me the Yellowjackets on the road.
Now that the hook has appeared, we shall do it as we win if it's 31-27; that's the favored exact score, but I'll never play that type of thing or the like. I honestly have no idea what to expect from Colorado and I don't think anyone does. Tough place to play, though, and not like Georgia Tech is all that. Also, I get to argue with my father-in-law all night. He's a GT alum.
This pick comes down to continuity for me. Georgia Tech returns QB Haynes King and RB Jamal Haynes, who were both standouts in the ACC in 2024. Colorado has a roster that boasts plenty of experience, but this is another team that was pieced together through the portal and doesn't have experience playing with each other. Things broke perfectly for the Buffs in 2024, and that was when they had Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, and multiple other NFL-caliber WRs. I expect CU to take a step back in 2025, and this team will need time to gel. Add in the potential QB controversy with JuJu Lewis sitting behind transfer Kaidon Salter and I think you have the makings of some potential locker room dysfunction.
Georgia Tech’s Haynes King is a proven QB — at Tech. Colorado’s Kaidon Salter is a proven QB — at Liberty. That’s a significant difference, with King comfortable in the Yellow Jackets’ option offense and Salter a newcomer to the Buffaloes. The transfer works behind a revamped line, which might not be a negative given that the Buffs handed out sacks galore last year. Still, Tech sports the better O, with RB Jamal Haynes operating behind the other Haynes. Colorado, minus its top four receivers from a season ago, simply has more vacancies to fill. The host team might be favored if this matchup took place in two months. For now, the experienced side is the play.
