Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech Recap: Late TD Lands GT +13.5

Virginia Tech beat Georgia Tech 34-24, but the Yellow Jackets scored last, and that touchdown is why both of our plays on this game landed. Virginia Tech led 24-3 at halftime behind three Ethan Grunkemeyer touchdowns, Georgia Tech pulled within 24-17 in the third quarter, and Alberto Mendoza's 6-yard touchdown pass to Jaiven Plummer with 5:20 left set the final. Two DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

ALT: Georgia Tech +13.5 (-177 DraftKings / -180 FanDuel): CASHED - Our read: Georgia Tech would have covered +13.5 in 8 of its last 10 and 6 of 6 on the road, and its team total of 20.5+ had hit in 8 of 10. - What happened: Georgia Tech lost by 10 and covered by 3.5. At 34-17 deep into the fourth quarter, the alt was losing. The Plummer touchdown flipped it. - Worth watching: Georgia Tech threw for 335 yards and kept attacking late. A team that keeps throwing when trailing gives big-number alt spreads a real chance at a backdoor cover.

ALT: Georgia Tech over 20.5 team total points (-170 DraftKings / -172 FanDuel): CASHED - Our read: Georgia Tech had scored 21+ in 6 of its last 6 road games and averaged 28.6 over its last 10, with DraftKings implying 24. - What happened: Georgia Tech scored 24 and cleared by 3.5. It sat at 17 for most of the second half until the same late touchdown drive pushed it over. - Worth watching: These two plays were tied together: one late score decided both. Pairing an alt spread with the same team's team total is correlated, so size them knowing they tend to win or lose together.

How the game played out

Grunkemeyer was 15-of-22 passing with 250 yards and 3 touchdowns and ran for another. Que'Sean Brown caught 6 passes for 182 yards, including a 60-yard score in the opening minutes. Georgia Tech answered after halftime with a 42-yard Trelain Maddox run and a 33-yard Mendoza pass to Dalen Penson, but a Jeffrey Overton Jr. touchdown catch and a John Love field goal rebuilt a 17-point lead. Mendoza finished 29-of-38 passing with 335 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception.

Trends to watch

• Jordan Allen caught 10 passes for 120 yards and is Mendoza's volume target. His reception and yardage props are worth a look.
• Maddox carried 12 times for 96 yards (8.0 per carry). His workload is light, but the efficiency is there.
• Georgia Tech ran only 21 times. When it trails, the offense leans hard on Mendoza's arm.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. Learn more about the point spread and same-game parlays, or see today's college football board.