Eastern Kentucky Colonels vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Prediction, Odds, Best Bets - Week 2

Eastern Kentucky has scored 211 points in two games, against lower-division opponents. Georgia Tech is laying 16.5 at McCamish Pavilion anyway, after its own 2-0 start.

The Matchup

Eastern Kentucky visits Georgia Tech on Tuesday night at McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, on ACCNX, with Georgia Tech a 16.5-point favorite, a total of 159.5, and the Yellow Jackets priced at -2,400 on the moneyline against Eastern Kentucky at +1,200. Both teams are 2-0.

Eastern Kentucky's start needs an honest label. The Colonels beat Kentucky Christian 105-54 and Midway 106-68, scoring 105.5 points a game and allowing 61.0, and both opponents are lower-division programs. Jackson Holt leads Eastern Kentucky at 12.5 points a game, Omer Hamama hands out 4.5 assists a game, and Yvens Paul pulls down 9.0 rebounds a game. Holt, Hamama, and Paul are all active with no injury designations.

Georgia Tech has beaten real competition. The Yellow Jackets beat Hampton 75-55 and Georgia Southern 95-83, scoring 85.0 points a game and allowing 69.0. Nasir Whitlock leads Georgia Tech at 16.5 points a game, Colby Garland hands out 5.0 assists a game, and Tylis Jordan leads the Jackets on the glass at 6.0 rebounds a game.

Last season, neither team was good, and that matters for a spread this big. Georgia Tech went 11-20, scoring 73.8 points a game and allowing 77.4. Eastern Kentucky went 11-21, scoring 80.3 and allowing 81.8, but the Colonels could score on anybody when their offense clicked. Georgia Tech's first week has been better than its last season, yet a program that won 11 games a year ago is being asked to win by 17 against a team whose whole identity is putting points up.

Key Factors

The total of 159.5 is the tell. This is lined as a high-possession game, and high-possession games are hard to blow open, because the underdog gets more chances to trade baskets. Eastern Kentucky scored 80.3 points a game last season against a full Division I schedule, not just in this month's exhibitions in all but name, and Paul at 9.0 rebounds a game gives the Colonels second chances that shorten the favorite's margin for error.

Georgia Tech's path to a cover runs through Whitlock and Garland pushing the pace without turning it into a track meet the Colonels enjoy. The Jackets allowed 83 points to Georgia Southern at home, so their defense has already shown it will give up points in this building. If Eastern Kentucky scores anywhere near the 80s, Georgia Tech needs the mid 90s to cover, and that is a lot to ask of an offense led by Whitlock at 16.5 a game.

The honest counterpoint is the Colonels' schedule. Kentucky Christian and Midway tell us nothing about how Eastern Kentucky defends an ACC athlete, and Georgia Tech just put 95 on a decent Georgia Southern team. If the Jackets' size overwhelms Paul inside and the Colonels' shots stop falling on their first real road trip, this can get away from them. The bet is that 16.5 is simply too many points between two teams that were separated by very little last season.

Every pick is published with its line before the game. Odds via consensus sportsbooks at time of writing and move constantly. Must be 21+. If gambling is a problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.