The Notre Dame Fighting Irish host the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Saturday as they try to stay in the hunt for a College Football Playoff berth. The Irish (9-1) are eighth in the CFP rankings and have made the playoff two of the past three years. Their only loss is to Cincinnati, and they have won five straight since then. The Yellow Jackets (3-7) have lost four in a row but have had some success against some of the better teams on their schedule. They come in off a 41-30 loss to Boston College last Saturday, while the Irish cruised to a 28-3 victory against Virginia the same day.

Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. ET at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. The Irish are 18-point favorites in Caesars Sportsbook's latest Georgia Tech vs. Notre Dame odds, and the over-under for total points scored is set at 58. Before making any Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech picks, be sure to check out the college football predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It also enters Week 12 of the 2021 season on a 36-23 run on all top-rated college football side picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has locked in on Georgia Tech vs. Notre Dame and just revealed its coveted picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college football odds and trends for Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech:  

  • Georgia Tech vs. Notre Dame spread: Fighting Irish -18
  • Georgia Tech vs. Notre Dame over-under: 58 points 
  • Georgia Tech vs. Notre Dame money line: Yellow Jackets +600, Fighting Irish -900
  • GT: It is 9-11 as a road underdog since 2019 
  • ND: It is 11-8 ATS as the home team since 2019

Why Notre Dame can cover

Notre Dame is 7-1 against the spread in its past eight, covering in five straight, and has won 19 of its last 20 straight-up at home. The Irish dominated last season's matchup in Atlanta, holding the Yellow Jackets to 238 yards in a 31-13 victory. The Notre Dame defense has looked similar in its recent weeks, allowing 278 yards last Saturday and not conceding a TD in consecutive games. The unit has 31 sacks, led by Isaiah Foskey with nine, and 14 interceptions. DJ Brown and Kyle Hamilton, who is unlikely to play due to a knee injury, have three picks apiece, and Cam Hart has two.

Running back Kyren Williams is the workhorse of the offense. He has 872 rushing yards and 10 TDs and has caught 36 passes for 308 yards and three more scores. Quarterback Jack Coan (2,011 passing yards, 16 TDs) is a steady leader for an offense that scores 32.3 points per game (40th in FBS). He should find open receivers Saturday against a Georgia Tech defense that ranks 118th in the nation against the pass (272 yards per game). Coan relies on tight end Michael Mayer, who has 52 catches for 577 yards, and Kevin Austin has 569 yards and six TDs.

Why Georgia Tech can cover

Georgia Tech has struggled in recent weeks, but it beat then-No. 21 North Carolina and hung tough with Clemson and Miami. It held then-No. 6 Clemson to 126 passing yards and 248 overall in a 14-8 loss. The Yellow Jackets offense averages more than 400 yards per game, and the quarterbacks can make plays. Jeff Sims could return from injury, but Jordan Yates also has proven to be capable. Sims has 1,468 passing yards and 372 on the ground, with 16 combined TDs. Yates (739 yards, six TDs) started last week and threw for 126 yards and ran for 47.

Running back Jahmyr Gibbs is the engine of a rushing attack that averages 181.5 yards. He had a game-high 96 yards last week and has 687 and four TDs on the season. Gibbs is also the team's leading receiver with 34 catches for 469 yards, one of three Yellow Jackets with at least 400 yards. Malachi Carter is the top wideout with 35 catches for 465 yards, and Kyric McGowan has seven TDs. Linebackers Quez Jackson (96 tackles, two fumble recoveries) and Charlie Thomas (three sacks) are playmakers on defense, and Coan has been sacked 26 times.

How to make Georgia Tech vs. Notre Dame picks

The model is projecting under for the point total, projecting the teams combine for 54 points. The model also has generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the model's Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech pick at SportsLine

So who wins Saturday's Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech matchup? And which side of the spread is hitting 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side of the Georgia Tech vs. Notre Dame spread to back Saturday, all from the advanced model on a 36-23 run on its top-rated college football picks, and find out.