The winner of the last three regular-season matchups between Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech has gone on to win the ACC. That streak could certainly grow to four this year with both teams in contention. However, if the Jackets – the defending ACC champs – don’t win on Thursday night then you can all but hand the Coastal Division to the Hokies.

Virginia Tech is in command right now at 4-0 in the conference, while Georgia Tech is tied with Miami in second in the division at 3-2 – the Canes still play both the Jackets and Hokies.

Georgia Tech enters off a disappointing effort, losing 27-13 at Clemson. The Yellow Jackets national-leading rushing attack was held to 242 yards, nearly 100 fewer than their average. Georgia Tech's point total was its lowest of the season. QB Josh Nesbitt was held to two yards on 15 carries. The Yellow Jackets had won five consecutive ACC road games before that one.

The Hokies have been rolling. They beat Duke back on Oct. 23, 44-7, as Tyrod Taylor threw for 280 yards and tied a career-high with three touchdown passes. The Hokies have won six straight, scoring at least 41 points in the past four games (for the first time since 2006). They are seeking their first seven-game winning streak since the 2005 season.

Virginia Tech leads the all-time series, 4-3. Georgia Tech won last year's meeting, 28-23, in Atlanta. Nesbitt completed just one pass in that one but ran for 122 yards, including the clinching 39-yard TD with three minutes left.

College Football Predictions: Team breakdowns

Expect a lot of running since Georgia Tech leads the ACC in rushing and Virginia Tech is No. 2. But the fact that the Hokies had 11 days to prepare for this one as opposed to if they had played last Saturday certainly helps them prepare a little better for the triple option. A year ago, the Yellow Jackets ran for 272 second-half yards in their win.

Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster said it obviously would help to get an early lead and force Nesbitt to have to throw. Nesbitt runs the ball more than any Jacket at 20 times per game for a 4.1 average. Otherwise, Anthony Allen (14.5 carries per game, 5.9 yards per carry) is usually the backfield workhorse. Allen and Nesbitt rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in the ACC in rushing. Nesbitt needs 42 rushing yards to become the most prolific rushing quarterback in ACC history.

The passing matchup isn’t even close as the Hokies’ Taylor is having his best season, ranking third nationally in pass efficiency. He is completing 63.9 percent of his passes for 200.3 yards per game and 15 touchdowns -- all career-best numbers. He has thrown just three interceptions -- and none in the past three-plus games. Since his last pick, he has completed 55-of-87 passes for 10 touchdowns. Taylor also leads the Hokies with 527 rushing yards.

Meanwhile, Georgia Tech ranks second-to-last in the nation in passing yards per game and Nesbitt is completing just 38.2 percent of his passes and has had double-digit completions just once this season.

Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech betting odds

The Hokies are 12-point favorites with the total at 56, with about a 55 percent lean on Virginia Tech. The line opened as high as 14.5 and the total has pretty much not moved. Georgia Tech is 3-5 ATS and 1-3 on the road. The Hokies are 6-2 ATS and 4-2 at home.

Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech betting trends

The underdog is 4-0 ATS in the past four meetings
The ‘over’ is 6-1 ATS in Virginia Tech’s past seven home games
Virginia Tech is a whopping 17-4 ATS in its past 21 November games
Georgia Tech is 13-5 ATS in its past 18 road games

Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech Betting Predictions and Football Picks

Virginia Tech is 16-5 in ESPN Thursday night games, including 2-0 against Georgia Tech. The Hokies are 20-2 in November games since joining the ACC.  But the Yellow Jackets haven't lost back-to-back games in three seasons under Johnson.

The Hokies should get a lot more from Ryan Williams, who has slowly been working back from an injury and that just makes their backfield that much more stacked. Williams got six carries against Duke but had missed the previous four games.

I would have been all over Georgia Tech when this line opened at 14.5. But now I think it is just too one-dimensional and like a two-touchdown Hokies win. I also love the ‘under’.

Looking for a premier college football handicapper for winning college football picks? Look no further than Jason Sharpe. Sharpe has already picked up nearly $7,000 for his football clients and he has another big card this weekend (including a 6-Unit College Football Underdog Game of the Year as he has shown a profit in nine of 10 football weeks thus far as well as a 7-2 record for picks 6-units or higher. Find out why this professional Vegas bettor is terrifying the bookies in Sin City and across the globe. Call Doc’s Sports toll-free at 1-866-238-6696 to get a free week of Sharpe’s picks or any of the other fine college football handicappers at Doc’s Sports (new customers only).