Hampton Pirates vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets prediction: Nasir Whitlock leads a rebuilt Georgia Tech into its Hampton opener
Scott Cross brings 13 newcomers into his first regular-season game in Atlanta, and Hampton's ability to make a jump shot may decide whether the new Yellow Jackets get a comfortable start.
| Spread | Georgia Tech -14 |
|---|---|
| Total (over/under) | 149 |
- Expect Georgia Tech's transfer guards to set the terms while Hampton, a poor shooting team last season, tries to win through fouls drawn and offensive rebounds.
- Nasir Whitlock's perimeter shooting against a Hampton defense that held opponents to 31.6% from three last season.
- No spread or total is posted yet. Last season's adjusted net ratings put Georgia Tech 156th and Hampton 272nd.
A new team in Atlanta
Almost nothing about Georgia Tech looks the way it did last spring. Scott Cross was named the program's 16th head coach on March 20, and the 15-man roster he takes into the regular season includes 13 newcomers: seven transfers and six freshmen.
The returning share is tiny. Players back from last season logged just 14.2% of the team's minutes, and only fifth-year forward Kam Craft and sophomore center Cole Kirouac remain. That makes last season's 11-20 record and its team stats a weak guide to this group.
The early look was rough. Maryland beat the Yellow Jackets 85-70 in an Oct. 11 exhibition, holding them to 11 points over the final eight minutes of the first half. Georgia Tech made 24.0 percent of its threes that day. One more exhibition, at Providence on Oct. 24, comes before this opener.
Whitlock and Garland carry it
Cross built the offense around two high-usage transfer guards. Whitlock averaged 20.5 points at Lehigh last season and made 43.3% of his threes on heavy volume. Colby Garland scored 20.3 per game at San José State with an offensive rating (points produced per 100 possessions used) of 122.7.
Both ran their old offenses, so the question is how quickly they share one ball. Whitlock and Courtland Muldrew, a Washington transfer, led the scoring in both of Georgia Tech's summer exhibitions in the Bahamas. Craft gives them a floor-spacing forward who hit 36.4% from deep last season.
The size gap runs against the hosts. Georgia Tech's minutes-weighted average height is 75.5 inches, while Hampton's is 77.2.
Hampton's jump-shot problem
Hampton's issue last season was simple: the ball didn't go in. The Pirates' effective field goal percentage (a shooting mark where threes count 1.5 times) was 47.0%, 348th in Division I. Their 29.4% from three ranked 357th, and they made just 48.7% of their twos.
The defense was sturdier than the offense, allowing 106.1 points per 100 possessions last season, 120th in Division I. Opponents still took plenty of threes against them, with an opponent 3-point attempt rate of 33.5%, 343rd in the rankings.
Third-year coach Ivan Thomas reshaped the roster through the portal, announcing eight or nine transfers depending on the release. The most productive is Njie, who averaged 12.4 points and 4.2 assists as an Iona freshman in 2024-25 before sitting out last season at Dayton. Jayme Mitchell III arrives from Jackson State. With that much change, last season's shooting numbers describe a different team.
Fouls and the offensive glass
Hampton found its points in other ways last season. Its free throw rate (attempts per field goal attempt) of 37.3% ranked 109th, and it grabbed 33.6% of its own misses, 95th nationally.
The flaw came on the other end: Hampton put opponents on the line far too often, with an opponent free throw rate of 44.2%, 350th. Georgia Tech's new guards should be eager to attack that. Whitlock shot 78.8% from the line last season and Garland 84.8%.
No injuries had been reported for either team as of mid-October, and no line has been posted.
Hampton Pirates vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets line movement and odds
| Book | Pirates ML | Jackets ML | Pirates spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | +875 | -1600 | +15.5 (-110) | o149.5 (-105) |
| BetRivers | +650 | -1250 | +15.5 (-115) | o148.5 (-107) |
| DraftKings | +850 | -1450 | +15.5 (-115) | o148.5 (-115) |
| ESPN BET | +1000 | -2000 | +15.5 (-115) | o149.5 (-110) |
| Fanatics | +1000 | -1800 | +15 (-105) | o149 (-115) |
| FanDuel | +1160 | -2800 | +15.5 (-102) | o149.5 (-110) |
| Caesars | — | — | +15.5 (-110) | o149 (-110) |
Where the money is on Hampton Pirates vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
On the Kalshi moneyline: Hampton Pirates: 55% of bets, 14% of the money; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: 46% of bets, 86% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets -15.5: 50% of bets, 19% of the money; Hampton Pirates +15.5: 50% of bets, 81% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 149.5: 0% of bets, 0% of the money; Under 149.5: 100% of bets, 100% of the money.
Hampton Pirates vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets stats (this season)
| Stat | Hampton Pirates | Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Adjusted offensive efficiency | 102.0 (295th of 365) | 107.6 (197th of 365) |
| Adjusted defensive efficiency | 111.9 (233rd of 365) | 106.5 (122nd of 365) |
| Adjusted net efficiency | -9.9 (272nd of 365) | 1.1 (156th of 365) |
Key players
- Nasir Whitlock (Georgia Tech): Averaged 20.5 points and shot 43.3% from three at Lehigh last season.
- Colby Garland (Georgia Tech): Scored 20.3 points per game last season with a 122.7 offensive rating.
- Kam Craft (Georgia Tech): The top returner averaged 7.3 points and hit 36.4% from three last season.
- Njie (Hampton): Averaged 12.4 points and 4.2 assists as a freshman at Iona in 2024-25.
Numbers that matter
| Georgia Tech returning minutes | 14.2% | Almost the whole rotation is new, so last season's team stats say little about this group. |
|---|---|---|
| Hampton 3-point % last season | 29.4% | Ranked 357th nationally, the core of a bottom-tier offense. |
| Hampton opponent free throw rate last season | 44.2% | Ranked 350th, an opening for Georgia Tech's guards to attack and get to the line. |
| Whitlock 3-point % at Lehigh | 43.3% | He shot that on high volume, against a Hampton defense that held opponents to 31.6% from deep. |
Hampton Pirates vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: quick answers
Who is favored in Hampton Pirates vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets?
Georgia Tech is favored by 14 points (Georgia Tech -14).
What is the over/under for Hampton Pirates vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets?
The total is 149 points.
When is Hampton Pirates vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets?
Tuesday, November 3, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET.
Where is Hampton Pirates vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets played?
McCamish Pavilion, Atlanta, GA.
Has the line moved for Hampton Pirates vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets?
Yes: Hampton Pirates opened +14.5 and is now +15.5, and the total is still 149.5 (consensus of the regulated US sportsbooks since we first saw the game).
Where is the money on Hampton Pirates vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets?
On the Kalshi moneyline: Hampton Pirates: 55% of bets, 14% of the money; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: 46% of bets, 86% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets -15.5: 50% of bets, 19% of the money; Hampton Pirates +15.5: 50% of bets, 81% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 149.5: 0% of bets, 0% of the money; Under 149.5: 100% of bets, 100% of the money.