Football special: Predicting Georgia Tech, game by game
Paul Johnson's Jackets have a difficult opener at Virginia Tech. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
(This will run in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s football preview section. It’s my game-by-game prediction of Georgia Tech’s season. I have them losing at Virginia Tech, at Clemson and at Georgia. The only win I waffled on was at North Carolina. They should win all of their home games. — Jeff Schultz)
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Sept. 3, at Virginia Tech, 8 p.m.
It’s not quite a year ago, when the Jackets had the luxury of playing their first three games against non-conference dumplings Western Carolina, Middle Tennessee State and Kansas. Paul Johnson’s option offense may have trouble against what is expected to be one of the nation’s top defenses. Johnson is 1-3 against the Hokies, with his teams scoring 17, 28 (win), 21 and 26 points. Prediction: Jackets lose
Sept. 8, Presbyterian, 7 p.m.
Somewhere it is written: No BCS school ever should lose to a team called the Blue Hose. Clearly, somebody at Tech knows this because the Jackets have won the three meetings by a combined score of 147-0 (33-0, 55-0, 59-0). This will be a good week for quarterback Tevin Washington and the offense to figure some things out. Prediction: Jackets win
Sept. 15, Virginia, 3:30 p.m.
Second-year coach Mike London did a nice job turning things around last season (8-5 overall, 5-3 in the ACC) and was named ACC coach of the year. So the Al Groh hangover appears to be over. The Cavaliers’ defense stuffed the Tech offense last season (winning 24-21 in Charlottesville) and will be solid again up front. But points could be an issue. Prediction: Jackets win
Sept. 22, Miami, TBA
Everybody is waiting for the NCAA shoe to drop in Coral Gables. Johnson wouldn’t mind if it happens a week before this game, just for emotional impact. On- and off-field problems notwithstanding, the Hurricanes have figured out the Jackets’ offense. They’ve won three consecutive meetings while allowing decreasing point totals (33-17, 35-10, 24-7). Just a hunch that Johnson tries something different. Prediction: Jackets win
Sept. 29, Middle Tennessee State, 7 p.m.
It’s hard enough to get people not to laugh when you tell them, “We’re one of the best teams in the Sun Belt,” which Middle Tennessee State used to be. But last season the Blue Raiders morphed into a punchline (2-10). Tech won their meeting 49-21, scoring on a 73-yard touchdown pass 14 seconds into the game. Expect another rout. Prediction: Jackets win
Oct. 6, at Clemson, TBA
Thank goodness for the comic relief that only Clemson and Dabo Swinney can provide. The Tigers started 8-0 and climbed to No. 5 in the rankings, but then lost to the Jackets 31-17 and dropped four of its last six. Clemson is loaded with talent on offense, led by quarterback Tajh Boyd, running back Andre Ellington and receiver Sammy Watkins. But the defense is young and will give up points. Prediction: Jackets lose
Oct. 20, Boston College, TBA
The Eagles started last season losing six of seven (including to Duke) and finished only 4-8. The good news is they have 19 starters back – and the bad news is they have 19 starters back. Boston College is on its third offensive coordinator in three years. So much for stability. On defense, B.C. also should be pretty strong up front, so that could give Tech problems. Prediction: Jackets win
Oct. 27, Brigham Young, TBA
After getting shutout in conference expansion, BYU went 10-3 as an independent. Don’t get too excited. The Cougars lost to the only ranked team they played (Texas) and were crushed by rival Utah 54-10. So they’re not the fling-it-and-win bunch they used to be. But BYU can make this unique claim: The defensive line includes two seniors who are former missionaries (Ian Dulan and Russell Tialavea). Prediction: Jackets win
Nov. 3, at Maryland, TBA
After going 2-10 in his first season, Randy Edsall did what any scapegoating head coach would do: He fired both of his coordinators. Edsall also led the top 10 list of “Most Overpaid Coaches” in college football by the website Lost Letterman (his $2 million salary equated to $1 million per win). It won’t get better this year. The Terrapins have a great defensive tackle (Joe Vellano) and not much else. Prediction: Jackets win
Nov. 10, at North Carolina, TBA
Larry Fedora was a solid choice as head coach – head coach at Southern Miss; offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State and Florida – but there’s a hangover on campus from NCAA probation. UNC always has talent, but the Tar Heels’ transition to a quicker, no-huddle offense will take some time. Note: This will be Tech’s second consecutive road game and won’t be easy. Prediction: Jackets win
Nov. 17, Duke, TBA
David Cutcliffe can coach quarterbacks, and he has a good one in Sean Renfree. What he doesn’t have is a defense. The Blue Devils ranked 92nd in total defense last season and 90th in points allowed (31.2 per game). But worth noting: The fact Duke that has a bye the week before and Tech plays Georgia the following week means this has the makings of a trap game. Prediction: Jackets win
Nov. 24, at Georgia, TBA
Tech’s upset in Athens in Johnson’s first season remains one of the highlights of his tenure. But the Jackets have lost three consecutive in this rivalry since, and Todd Grantham’s defense defended the option far better last season (355 yards allowed, 243 rushing) than the year before (512, 411). Prediction: Jackets lose
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103 comments Add your comment
Gt fan
August 26th, 2012
12:32 pm
GT’s over/under was one of Vegas’ gimme bets in 2011. Heck, I bought a 1/2 game to 6.5, and boosted my winnings.
2012’s a different story ……. Vegas has a good # on the over/under this season.
On Sept. 30th, if GT is 4-1 or 5-0, then over 8 will be the # of Ws. 3-2 on 9/30, and 8-9 Ws is doable with BC, BYU, Maryland, Duke, and UNC on the back half of the schedule.
UGA game in 2012, IMO, will be GT’s toughest game vs the Dawgs under PJ, b/c McGarity scheduled GA Southern the week before GT giving his troops 2 weeks and 1 game of preparation vs. the TO.
Needless to say, a win over UGA in 2012 would be hilariously sweeeeeeeeet.
Paul in NH
August 26th, 2012
12:36 pm
GT has had some surprises over the last few years – including under CPJ
2008 Surprise loss UVA surprise win @UGA
2010 Surprise loss @Kansas – one week later – surprise win @UNC
2011 Surprise loss @UVA surprise win Clemson
Paul in NH
August 26th, 2012
12:39 pm
@GT fan
Since GT covered the o/u on wins in 2011, how the heck did you “boost your winnings” by paying the line down to 6.5?
Gt fan
August 26th, 2012
12:54 pm
B-back in 2012 needs to return to JD or AA level. The quartet of BBs in 2011 finished with a dismal 1,163yds & 10 tds, after 3 consecutive seasons of a single BB rushing for: 1,316 (AA), 1,395 (JD), 1,395 (JD)
Gt fan
August 26th, 2012
12:58 pm
Paul, Vegas had the 2011 o/u at 6. I “juiced” my bet UP to 6.5, and instead of my $100 bet paying me an even-money $200 return, I won and extra $150 for a $350 return.
I also had an $85 bet (the amount need for the bet’s maximum payout), to win $2,000, that GT would win the Coastal. JA’s personal foul penalty vs. the Hokies is still a thorn I can’t get out of my side – LOL!
SoCal Jacket
August 26th, 2012
1:30 pm
Way to go out on a limb, Jeff. Pick GT in the 9 games they are favored to win and pick against them in the 3 they are expected to lose – what a waste of an opportunity to provide some meaningful analysis or explore an angle your readers may have not considered. Same old lazy and boring work on your part!
Paul in NH
August 26th, 2012
1:32 pm
@GT fan
Thanks for the explanation. I thought the o/u was 7 last year, I didn’t realize it was 6. Congrats on a very smart wager!
Gt fan
August 26th, 2012
1:45 pm
SoCal …. kinda like the “experts” picks, AGAIN, for the ACC Champ game to be a FSU-VT matchup!
But, on the College GameDay preview show the other day Desmond Howard & Herbstreet both have FSU winning the BCS NC, Howard has FSU over OU, and “Herbie” has FSU over USC. (Corson has USC over OU)
SEC fans hate College GameDay right now.
blackandwhitestripes
August 26th, 2012
2:02 pm
What is Mark Richt’s biggest concern this year?
Does the NCAA count bail money as a recruiting violation.
Froggy The Gremlin
August 26th, 2012
2:39 pm
My thoughts exactly, SoCal. Schultz really sticks his neck out, huh? Tech will will win 1 or 2 of the 3 as underdogs & lose 1 or 2 as favorites. GSU Dud is ashamed of being a doggie & who can blame him?
SoCal Jacket
August 26th, 2012
2:48 pm
Anyone see the update of 2011 Bulldog dream team?? From a recent AJC post about Crowell…”We’ve seen no shortage of skilled but misguided youth in college athletics. Those “stars” on national signing day don’t account for deficiencies in maturity and intelligence. Crowell was the center jewel of Georgia’s prematurely celebrated 2011 recruiting class that already has lost seven of 26 players.”
Probably going to be hard to maintain depth when you lose 27% of your class before they can finish being redshirted…. Anyone wanna keep baggin on the recruiting being done at GaTech… should reference the above… Richt is a man of faith but blind as a bat when it comes to looking at someones character…
bgloyd17
August 26th, 2012
3:19 pm
Why dont we just be like UGA fans and say we have a chance to win the N.C. every year.
1982 Tech Grad
August 26th, 2012
3:21 pm
ylojkt…more passing? Only if Vad Lee plays. In the second half of the season (against tougher opponents) TW had what, one TD and 7 INTs? People keep expecting CPJ to pass more, forgetting his career run/pass ratio. QB TW can run the option better than anyone (even Nesbitt) but teams are taking away the fullback dive, then pounding Tevin. If your don’t like the option, you better hitch your wagon to another horse.
Slap yo granny
August 26th, 2012
3:52 pm
I like the numbers but will swap the VT loss with Miami. God willin and the creek dont rise, VT starts slow as usual……remember James Madison?
Doug the Jacket
August 26th, 2012
3:56 pm
Wrong on at least 3 predictions.
bobby dyer
August 26th, 2012
4:16 pm
Enter your comments herega tech will not loose to vpi!
Oh That Guy
August 26th, 2012
4:18 pm
Miami will not be good this year, they lost to much and have nothing to replace it with and they just lost Armstrong too. Clemson still has NO defense and lost a lot off that O-Line. VT replaces a lot on offense and it is the same D that we put up 26 on last year. Also, we tend to play well in Blacksburg. UGA will probably beat us but I’m still confused as to where their running game is going to come from. Sure, GT can’t throw the ball so we are one dimensional, but if UGA can’t run the ball then so are they and the strength of GT’s D is the secondary this year. Oh and James Madson was the second game of the year for VT after they lost to Boise, not their first. Do you guys even watch or understand football?
Oh That Guy
August 26th, 2012
4:25 pm
Tech won 8 last year and we have everybody besides Hill and Jones back on offense, Jones didn’t play a big role at all last year and Hill was sketchy at best. We got another tall fast guy that can stretch the field. We actually have two. Sure our D-Line is a question but it’s not like they were good last year so it really can’t be worse. Our LB core is going to be better than last year and our secondary will be good to great, especially with our safety back. So a team that won 8 last year and has gotten better wins less this year according to people on here. Makes no sense to predict that.
Ramblnwrek
August 26th, 2012
4:37 pm
Well I guess if a lot of “Jacket fans” have low expectations then they can only be surprised by the out comes.
Let me propose this to all the CPJ haters that are GT fans: Presume GT does so horrible this year, that we pick up our pitchforks and torches and take to the streets and demand his replacement. Who would be his likely successor that would come in and right the ship? I ask that we be some what realistic in your answer. Also who the same for UGA? I’ll admit I dont know that much when I look to these types of things so I am curious if there are those who think someone else can do better, Realistically.
I think I will hear James Franklin’s name a lot but, again, just curious if people know of others that are good recruiters/good coaches that would come to GT.
The Floor is yours……
SansWorld
August 26th, 2012
4:51 pm
“Middle Tennessee: I can see GT behind behind until at least halfway through the fourth”
Is there anyway I can get some action on this?
How about $100 for every point GT is up/down at 7:30 to go in the fourth.
Oh That Guy
August 26th, 2012
4:52 pm
rambin, what a lot of GT fans do not realize is that Paul Johnson has been loyal to Tech. He has received two SEC offers while he has been at Tech that I know of to be factual. Ole Miss offered him the job when they were looking for a new HC and Kentucky has called and asked if he would be interested on multiple occasions. There was a rumor that Tenn also wanted to offer him the job but I’m not sure that is factual. The other two I know to be factual and I also know for a fact that UT has called this year to see if he would be interested if Dooley is ousted. Paul Johnson has said no to all of them.
SansWorld
August 26th, 2012
4:56 pm
“Our LB core is going to be better than last year”
Well there is Julian Burnett missing. I think all the other elements of the defence will be better, but Burnett will be missed.
Oh That Guy
August 26th, 2012
5:00 pm
The comment about the LB core is an overall statement. JB will def be missed but as a whole they will be better. More depth and more athleticism as an entire group.
SansWorld
August 26th, 2012
5:11 pm
Guess another way to look at it Virginia Tech
I suspect we will win 0 or 1 of these games:
Virginia Tech
Clemson
Georgia
GT will win 3 or 4 of thes games
Virginia
Miami (Fla.)
BYU
@North Carolina
I suspect we win all five of these games:
Presbyterian
M. Tenn. St.
Boston College
@Maryland
Duke
List Mama » Football special: Predicting Georgia Tech, game by game – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
August 26th, 2012
5:13 pm
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List Mama » Football special: Predicting Georgia Tech, game by game – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
August 26th, 2012
5:13 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
List Mama » Football special: Predicting Georgia Tech, game by game – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
August 26th, 2012
5:13 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
List Mama » Football special: Predicting Georgia Tech, game by game – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
August 26th, 2012
5:13 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Mike
August 26th, 2012
6:17 pm
10-2
Losses to clemson and uga
College football, Week 1: Somehow it keeps getting better | Education Help
August 26th, 2012
7:11 pm
[...] feast finally comes to an finish Monday night when Georgia Tech visits No. 16 Virginia Tech, simply a many formidable opener in manager Paul Johnson’s [...]
Gt fan
August 26th, 2012
8:13 pm
Most people on the GT blogs, especially UGA fans, would say the Dawgs are consistently the deepest, most talented team GT has on its schedule each season. I agree with that assessment.
With that in mind, shouldn’t UGA be THE ONE team GT hasn’t beaten, or has little to no chance of beating any time they play??
Of all the teams PJ has lead the Jackets against … which is the one that has surrendered more than one 400yd rushing performance to the “high school offense?”
PJ, even with a bad D, keeps GT in 90+% of their games. Even vs. the “unbeatable, SEC opponents”.
Gt fan
August 26th, 2012
8:16 pm
P.S. …………
I like GT to win 8+ in 2012.
Beat VT on 9/3, and I see the Jackets winning 9+ and the Coastal.
GT Girl
August 26th, 2012
8:39 pm
Did anyone go to the kickoff luncheon on Friday? I sat next to a GT player and asked him if we had anyone who could catch the ball this year and he said yes-3 players! He said the team has worked hard and they are ready to play! GO JACKETS! We will beat VT in the opener.
Wal-Mart Retards
August 26th, 2012
8:47 pm
@GT Girl – wished I could have gone. Do you think he was including Orwin Smith? Expect the A-backs to catch more passes this year – a la Tevin to Zenon at MTSU last year.
Birmingham Jacket
August 26th, 2012
8:49 pm
Gents, I don’t mean to be a buzz-kill..
But I’m just being realistic.
Paul Johnson, et. al. Isn’t signing the talent to compete for an ACC Championship, let alone, a NC.
We’ve got to get a coach that can recruit, and is willing to to go to war against the egg-head faculty and administrators that keep us down.
O’Leary and Boss Ross did that.
Wake UP!!! and run Paul Johnson out of town!!!!
GT Girl
August 26th, 2012
9:07 pm
Wish you could have been there too Wal-Mart; it was a fun event. The player next to me was talking about our receivers. He says we have 3 who can catch the ball. Orwin was there, he got the biggest reception. It was a fun event, all the speakers were good. The players there each answered a question from Wes.
College football, Week 1: Somehow it keeps getting better | Pack for College
August 26th, 2012
9:13 pm
[...] feast finally comes to an finish Monday night when Georgia Tech visits No. 16 Virginia Tech, simply a many formidable opener in manager Paul Johnson’s [...]
College football, Week 1: Somehow it keeps getting better |
August 26th, 2012
9:16 pm
[...] feast finally comes to an finish Monday night when Georgia Tech visits No. 16 Virginia Tech, simply a many formidable opener in manager Paul Johnson’s [...]
Damon Hynes
August 26th, 2012
10:32 pm
Sansworld, I can’t sell enough blood to raise the $ for the earnest money, lol.
College football, Week 1: Somehow it keeps getting better | FOOTBALL
August 26th, 2012
10:46 pm
[...] feast finally comes to an finish Monday night when Georgia Tech visits No. 16 Virginia Tech, simply a many formidable opener in manager Paul Johnson’s [...]
damngoodawg
August 27th, 2012
9:24 am
Are you ready for some football?????? As I always do, I want to say best of luck to my feudin’ friends at Tech. I hope you have a good season and stay free from injuries. See ya the last game of the regular season.
damngoodawg
August 27th, 2012
9:24 am
Are you ready for some football?????? As I always do, I want to say best of luck to my feudin’ friends at Tech. I hope you have a good season and stay free from injuries. See ya the last game of the regular season.
damngoodawg
August 27th, 2012
9:27 am
See? I said it twice to shoe my sincerity… Not really…I hit the submit button twice…but I’m sincere anyway….even if I am electronically challenged.
damngoodawg
August 27th, 2012
9:27 am
Shoe??? Dang!
Eagle fan
August 27th, 2012
11:23 am
If I was a betting man, I’d put serious $$$ on Ga to easily cover any point spread against Tech simply because they will see the spread option two weeks in a row with a very fast but undersized Ga Southern team the week before seeing Tech.
Dawgswin
August 27th, 2012
12:25 pm
The problem with tech fans is that they always think they are better then what they really are. The option style offense is out dated by decades and teams have learned how to stop it. We learned that year that techs passing game is awful. Tech might win 6 games.
Leave it to a neck to .....
August 27th, 2012
12:36 pm
say something stupid! Oh, Dwagswin (intentionally misspelled, btw), and Dwags fans don’t? Every year we hear you necks are going to win 11,12 games & the NC! Show me who has stopped it? It’s sure not the Dwags!
DawginLex
August 27th, 2012
3:55 pm
Tech is a hard bunch to gauge.
My $.02
10-3
Losses at Clemson, at UNC and at UGA. They beat VT on opening night. VT OL is young and GT defense is better this year but still will have issues as the year goes on.
Tech finally wins a bowl game too
Unjacket
August 27th, 2012
3:56 pm
Win the TO war = 10 wins; Lose the TO war = 8 wins, bet on it!
DawgNole
August 27th, 2012
9:23 pm
mtraininjax
August 26th, 2012
5:18 am
Johnson needs to win against UGA, period. This is his make or break season, he is 1-3 against UGA, and all the losses were embarrassing. Tech fans know we cannot always win against UGA, but for the rivalry to remain, we need to win more than once in 5 years.
_____________________
You might want to try for once in 10 years first.