You play like you practice, the old coaches' adage goes -- and it's mostly true. To know what's likely to happen on Saturday, you've got to know what's happening in the meeting rooms and on the practice fields during the week. That's why the college football practice report is here for you every Friday with the inside word on weekly preparations around the country.
We'll check in on depth charts, game plans, personnel and health; unmask practice standouts ready to break out; assess the quality of prep, the mood of the fans and the coaches' message for the week; and let you know who's distracted and who's dialed in. All so that you can make more educated wagers.
All odds from Caesars Sportsbook as of Thursday.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Duke Blue Devils (-17.5, 49.5)
Last year's Independence Bowl pitted David Cutcliffe's Blue Devils against Geoff Collins' old Temple team. Collins, though, left for Atlanta just four days after the invitation, which means that Cutcliffe has the advantage of an extra three weeks of December film study on a Collins-coached squad, while the latter hasn't studied the Devils until this week.