Georgia Tech jumps in polls to No. 13
One day after improving to 5-0 for the first time since 1990, Georgia Tech jumped eight spots in both polls to No. 13. It’s the highest the Yellow Jackets have been since finishing the 2009 season in the same spot.
After beating N.C. State 45-35 Saturday in Raleigh, Tech benefited from eight higher-ranked teams losing. Tech’s ascent has been swift. The Jackets didn’t receive any votes in the preseason Associated Press poll and only one vote, for 25th, in the USA Today coaches poll.
They cracked the top 25 in the Sept. 18 poll after defeating Kansas 66-24 to improve to 3-0 and moved to No. 21 last Sunday after beating North Carolina Sept. 24.
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208 comments Add your comment
Ben
October 3rd, 2011
8:29 am
Tech hasn’t played anyone really good yet… But other high ranked teams play bad teams, and none of them have the offensive numbers Tech has. 13th seems high, but as long as Tech keeps winning then they deserve accolades.
UGA = Yawn
October 3rd, 2011
8:32 am
Progno is a UGA fan. GT fans, disregard all the silly UGA comments. Don’t waste your time on them or their comments. Just stick to your great thoughts about our great school and team. Beat Maryland!!
ken
October 3rd, 2011
8:33 am
Tech alum and tech fan all my life. Scares me to death to be ranked so high so early. History shows we seem to get over confident and lose to someone we should beat easily. Hope Johnson keeps “the boys” grounded and we finish strong this year. Could this be the year we finally win a bowl game ??????
GT = Over Rated
October 3rd, 2011
8:59 am
Hey techies – feel like crunching some numbers? Check it out – you can find GT WAY down near the bottom http://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/ranking/strength-of-schedule-by-team
LOL GT # 13
GT will fall from the rankings as fast if not faster than they climbed.
DawginLex
October 3rd, 2011
9:01 am
I pick your games better than ours. I said 42-30 and it was 45-35. I thought NCSU would improve but you have to be concerned about your defense. Just calling it like I see it.
The good news is that VT is HORRIBLE. Clemson and UGA are the only 2 games left you can lose. Maryland, Miami and Virginia can’t get out of there own way.
Our defense is really getting a lot better. If Saturday was a coaching audition, Grantham won over Richt, Mullen and Bobo and it wasn’t even close.
DawginLex
October 3rd, 2011
9:02 am
Ken your filters got me again
@ Ken
October 3rd, 2011
9:02 am
Regarding a bowl victory – GT may win one but only if they drop out of the top 25 and get to play another ho-hum team.
Road Scholar
October 3rd, 2011
9:05 am
Could you at least provide a link to each poll, since the AJC sports section fails at this?
Macon Jacket
October 3rd, 2011
9:15 am
I know I’ll be glad when #96 graduates…
GT Fan
October 3rd, 2011
9:16 am
“We just have to keep going,” A-back Orwin Smith said. “Because in my mind, we haven’t played real competition to really test our skills.”
NOT a smart thing to say to a reporter Orwin! And Ken, what were you thinking to publish it?
RESPECT your opponents Orwin!!
Macon Jacket
October 3rd, 2011
9:21 am
@GT Fan
It’s the truth.
Our strength of schedule thus far, is pitiful. See link above.
Nothing wrong with calling a duck, a duck.
Buzzy
October 3rd, 2011
9:32 am
High school style offense, NFL style defense. Nice combination!!!!
1Jacket7
October 3rd, 2011
9:35 am
I was upset like the rest of us to see the game end up closer than it should have. BUT!!!! This is a different team than we have had in the past. We don’t play to the level of our competition we have elevated ourselves above that. The difference in the last two games is overconfidence which can kill pose and we have witnessed. I would rather have this problem than the problems we had in years past. Understand this, Tevin just needs to refocus and just have fun playing his game. Just set up and throw the ball to the receiver. Don’t think about it don’t over analyze. Just play football. This is the best advice going forward. This Team believes in its Coach and are believing in themselves. That to me with the return of composed execution will show us for the remainder of the season that this is a really good team.
Dawg Squeeze
October 3rd, 2011
9:39 am
GT = Over Rated…you are a moron. No one is here predicting national championships and undefeated seasons. You claim we’re over rated like some silly little 5 year old squeeling because he got the last poptart.
1Jacket7
October 3rd, 2011
9:40 am
GT is over rated. They are rated over the Flee bags. Don’t know what UGA’s strength of schedule is but I do know that in August your perception of Boise and USC was low and the other games you’ve played were perceived even lower. It is what it is. And you may think about building up TECH so when you lose to them in November you can always claim that they were just as good as you thought. Instead, of another Boise and USC scenario. THWG?
Harvey D. Pooka
October 3rd, 2011
9:54 am
Folks, expecially “Team”, keep your heads clear and stay grounded {no pun intended}. It’s still a long season with some tough opponents ahead —- just have to keep executing well and improving step-by-step. I’m not so sure a #13 ranking is justified just yet; but certainly top 20 is.
Wreckmaniac
October 3rd, 2011
9:55 am
Being ranked 13th is due to other team’s losses. This was not an impressive win in Raleigh.
This team has a lot of issues to resolve if they are to remain 13th. One person, Russell Wilson, allowed this win Saturday. However, I remain hopeful that our defense can get it together. Although
Washington had more incomplete than complete passes, he threw no interceptions and thats a big plus.
DawginLex
October 3rd, 2011
10:03 am
Some things learned over the weekend
GT defense is still not where it needs to be
GT offense is very good
UGA defense is very good and getting better
UGA offense does just enough to win. When will Richt go back to playcalling?
Clemson will be the only ACC game that will be a challenge for GT
UGA will be the best team y’all will play this year
VT is horrible
Maryland, Miami and UVA are horrible
I predict Tech and Clemson will meet twice
I predict Tech games better than my own team
42-30 prediction with 45-35 outcome
Congrats on the ranking
Wreckmaniac
October 3rd, 2011
10:04 am
I continue to be amazed at how the great Calvin Johnson was wasted at Tech. Sad.
DawginLex
October 3rd, 2011
10:05 am
It took a DAWG to bring out the talent in him!!!
fan of shorter passes & longer runs
October 3rd, 2011
10:09 am
Tech #1 in O
Mary #last in D.
Sounds like fun.
Ramblin Man
October 3rd, 2011
10:18 am
Good one dawginlex, though I guess I could say the same for Stafford. Always hated the fact that at that time GT had a good RB in Choice and probably the best WR in Johnson but only a so so QB. How a coach can’t get a quality QB to commit with Johnson to throw to speaks volumes.
IE78
October 3rd, 2011
10:29 am
Having watche the game, I think that is too big of a move. A little more consistency would be in order.
I hope that this doesn’t distract them from beating Maryland. Remember, even Ralph Friedgen is pulling for Tech to win that game.
DawginLex
October 3rd, 2011
10:31 am
stafford with an actual defense is a scary thing.
Dang Martinez
juvenal
October 3rd, 2011
10:37 am
Macon, have not seen the replay, but agree there seems to be no walls to stop a running game…
Gr8 2B aFuzzyB
October 3rd, 2011
10:40 am
Good points DawginLex, hard to dispute them.
Let’s go Tech. Win this next one for the FRIDGE!!!
gt4ever
October 3rd, 2011
10:45 am
GT Fan,
Orwin was just being HONEST…. We have NOT played anybody yet….. Our schedule really gives us a chance to have a special year…. We play Clemson, VT, Miami and UGA. Those teams are truly the only good teams we have on our schedule… We could lose to anybody on the schedule because of our soft defense, but it looks really promising for the rest of the year… Maryland should be a win, and we should blow them out… Time will tell..
Buckhead Bulldog
October 3rd, 2011
10:50 am
Congrats! I hope y’all smack CU and VT in the mouth! See ya in ATL Nov. 25th.
Taco
October 3rd, 2011
10:50 am
I believe we are ranked a little too high, but let me ask, who have you seen that is really that good? I am most concerned about #45 JA? How bad is he hurt? He is the key man on defense. UGA played one good team and got waxed! Am I hearing now Boise would win the SEC East without a challenge? Winning that side of the bracket is like being the cutest pig at the fair. Roll Tide!
We_Run_This_Country
October 3rd, 2011
10:52 am
Things we ACTUALLY learned this weekend:
1. GT’s offense is the real deal
2. GT’s defense is doing just fine….1st string D allowed 14 pts in 3.5 quarters of play.
3. UGA’s offense is pitiful still…no surprise with a QB like Murray.
4. UGA’s defense is playing pretty good football right now.
5. SEC East barely has a pulse….USCe is BAD, VERY BAD….FL is subpar compared to most years (they have a backup QB now!)….and UGA is UGA, subpar and mediocre.
6. Clemson and GT will both be top 10 teams when they play each other in a few weeks. They will meet again in the ACC Championship.
7. Clemson is GT’s only competition this year.
Gr8 2B aFuzzyB
October 3rd, 2011
10:53 am
While it’s true our “weakness” of schedule rates very high, in the past it seems we have never been given much benefit of the doubt as far as the rankings go. For example what did FSU really do to deserve a top 5 preaseason ranking. We didn’t get that in 2010 after winning the ACC CGM. So I’ll take the generous move up in the polls.
GT FANatic
October 3rd, 2011
10:54 am
No FEAR. You think your assessment of GT compared to all the teams in FBS is more accurate than all the coaches out there?
They should make you a head coach somewhere…
GT = Over Rated
October 3rd, 2011
10:54 am
Hey squeeze guess what – GT is overrated. Look at the other teams in the top 20. Now pick one and tell me you would bet the farm on GT beating any one of them. Don’t worry the truth will soon be revealed and the Bee’s will tumble from the top 25.
Supersize that ordar mutt
October 3rd, 2011
10:57 am
We are likely to go undefeated and kill the mutts – my mom told me so. Nothing can stop this juggernaut.
GT FANatic
October 3rd, 2011
10:58 am
GT = Over Rated:
Let’s do it the other way around. How about you bet the farm on every team in the top 20 beating Tech straight up.
That’s right, you wouldn’t b/c you know there is a VERY good probability GT would beat at least one or more of these teams.
DawginLex
October 3rd, 2011
10:58 am
we run this country
If you don’t think Tech doesn’t have issues with its run defense, you have not been paying attention
UGA is now 7th nationally in total defense.
Yes SC blows. We gave them that game. No do overs
doc
October 3rd, 2011
11:02 am
we are not the no. 13 team in the nation. i only hope they continue to get better and deserve it at the end of the season. way too early to celebrate.
BigTimeTechFan
October 3rd, 2011
11:04 am
I think I would rank Kansas St over Tech – They beat Miami and Baylor back to back and are undefeated. If they beat Mizzu this week they may jump ahead of Tech even if Tech wins.
I would also rank Clemson ahead of Boise St, they have beat 3 ranked teams yet Boise St has not even played anyone good yet. I think Boise is for real but at some point they have to prove it.
Also Clemson ahead of Stanford who only played Az, who is ok team.
Also Texas beat UCLA a lot better then Stanford did.
So I would rank:
1. LSU
2. Bama
3. Oklahoma St
4. Oklahoma
5. Clemson
6. Texas
7. Wisconsin
8. Kansas St
9. Stanford
10. I11inois
11. Michigan
12. Georgia Tech
GT Joe
October 3rd, 2011
11:20 am
UM, #13 is NOT overrated. We are right where we should be. Sure the comp has been so-so, but we destroyed so-so competition, which is what we are supposed to do.
And yes, there are some people thinking national title, undefeated etc….. ME. We will be favored in every game remaining this season. INCLUDING Clemson, it’s a home game.
We left 3 TDs on the field Saturday. Should have been 66-21. Now Maryland gets to bear the brunt of CPJ’s anger.
2011, GT’s 5th National Title. Time to start believing folks.
GT Joe
October 3rd, 2011
11:23 am
GT wins its 5th national title in 2011. Time to start believing.
We will be favored in every game this season, INCLUDING Clemson, it’s a home game…. If we do our job, we run the table. Been saying this since after Kansas.
GT Joe
October 3rd, 2011
11:24 am
And yes, we DO deserve our ranking. Sure the comp has been so-so, but we have destroyed this so-so competition. And we’ve been doing it with Tevin sitting most 4th quarters.
Coaches know what they see, and they see an unstoppable offense. Should have scored 66 saturday. Now Maryland gets to bear the brunt of CPJ’s anger.
GT Joe
October 3rd, 2011
11:26 am
And yes, we DO deserve our ranking. Sure, the comp has been so-so, but we have destroyed this so-so comp. Should have scored 66 yesterday.
Now Maryland gets to bear the brunt of CPJ’s anger. Not going to be pretty.
GT Joe
October 3rd, 2011
11:26 am
And yes, we DO deserve our ranking. Sure, the comp has been so-so, but we have destroyed this so-so comp. Should have scored 66 yesterday.
Now Maryland gets to bear the brunt of CPJ’s anger.
JM
October 3rd, 2011
11:30 am
Never a fan of preseason rankings and always skeptical of early season rankings. This ranking just seems too high. Still too many questions to be answered. Maybe that’s where GT will end the season, but its much too early. Let’s see how the teams look after a few more conference games.
UGA = Yawn
October 3rd, 2011
11:38 am
Concentrate on beating Maryland. We can worry about the other games later. 6-0 sure sounds better than 5-0!
fuzzybee78
October 3rd, 2011
11:41 am
This team is good and wants to get better. I do believe we are a year or two from being a BEAST on both sides of the ball. The schedule has been weak but we are blowing folks out thanks to CPJ play calling and pretty good execution/blocking.
Rankings are weighted to much on record and not enough on strength of schedule, ask FSU, I still think they are clearly a top 20 team and likely not to lose again.
We clearly have issues on run D and the kicking game. That can be improved some but it will boil down to whether CPJ and the O can continue to put up more points than the other guys.
There are very few teams who “have it all” — see TOP 5. The rest coach up what ya got. And BTW, I’ll take our 5 star coach.
GO Jackets!!!
GTpak
October 3rd, 2011
11:47 am
13 is not right, at least not yet, we are not yet proven. Still got the big boys to deal with.
Frontman
October 3rd, 2011
12:26 pm
And another example…
After beating N.C. State 45-35 Saturday in Raleigh, Tech benefited from eight higher-ranked teams losing. Tech’s ascent has been swift. The Jackets didn’t receive any votes in the preseason Associated Press poll and only one vote, for 25th, in the USA Today coaches poll.
Although the 1st sentence is true, it’s the nature of rankings. When all the teams in front of Tech win, and Tech wins, will you say that they would have moved up if only teams in front of them had lost? I doubt it. The 3rd sentence actually almost sounds like a dig, and, of course, contains negative stuff (you weren’t even ranked in the preseason). Come on, man… at least try and be somewhat supportive.
gt4ever
October 3rd, 2011
12:34 pm
GT Joe,
Please lay off the bottle….. A mind is a terrible thing to waste….
gt4ever
October 3rd, 2011
12:54 pm
This team will be SCARY good when we have a Dominating D…… Here’s to GT Joe being right on his MNC call for 2011….