Tech versus Georgia: This year it’s the duel of the dual duds
Georgia's Ben Jones after the upset of Tech last season. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Call this the season of dual lead balloons. Georgia was ranked No. 23 in the preseason Associated Press poll, dropped from the Top 25 on Sept. 12 and hasn’t received a vote since. Georgia Tech was ranked No. 16 in the preseason poll, dropped from the Top 25 on Sept. 12 and received its last votes on Sept. 19.
Add their records together and you get 11-11, which is the essence of mediocrity. Add their conference records together and you get 7-9. Add their road records together and you get 3-7 (or 3-8 if you count Georgia losing in Jacksonville, which was technically Florida’s home game this year).
Total the records of the teams they’ve beaten and you get 44-76, and that’s skewed by the 9-2 of South Carolina State, which Tech defeated on Sept. 4 and which will face Georgia Southern in Round 1 of the FCS playoffs today. Together, Tech and Georgia own victories over two FBS bowl-eligible opponents, and both North Carolina and Kentucky are 6-5. (And are, not to put too fine a point on it, basketball schools.)
And yet … all duds are not created equal. Our friends in Las Vegas favor Georgia, which has a losing record, by 13 points over Tech, which has a winning record, if just. Strange as it sounds, that line seems about right: To see Georgia play is to wonder how it lost six games; to view Tech is to wonder how it won that many.
Tech is 61st among 120 FBS teams in points scored, 59th in points yielded. It’s first in rushing offense, next-to-last in passing offense. Georgia has scored more points and yielded fewer and ranks 18th nationally in turnover margin and 36th in penalties — the Jackets are 54th and 87th in those key categories — but it has lost five times to Tech’s six. Part of this can be explained by noting that the SEC is stronger than the ACC. Part, but not all.
Georgia’s closest victory of the season was 44-31 over Kentucky. Tech has won four games by a narrower margin. Georgia clearly has better players — and Tech has been without its best man, quarterback Joshua Nesbitt, since the second quarter of the Virginia Tech game Nov. 4 — but the Bulldogs have developed the distressing habit of losing every losable game. You can say, “That’s just bad luck,” but is it luck when it happens all the time?
Two weeks ago Georgia led the nation’s No. 2 team by two touchdowns on the road. Auburn rallied to tie 51 seconds before halftime, whereupon the Bulldogs ran a draw play and let the clock expire, secure in the knowledge they’d get the ball to start the second half. Whoops. Auburn perpetrated a slick onside kick and took the lead without Georgia touching the ball. From 21-7 ahead, Georgia would lose 48-31 on a day when it didn’t turn the ball over. That wasn’t bad luck. That was bad coaching.
This will be Mark Richt’s 10th game against Tech; he has lost only once, wasting a 28-12 halftime lead in the wink of an eye two years ago. That was the game that made Paul Johnson the toast of Georgia Tech, the new coach having done in Year 1 what Chan Gailey couldn’t manage in six tries — he beat Georgia. But Richt upset the Jackets last season when Tech was ranked No. 7 and bound for the ACC championship game, and now there are questions about Johnson, too.
That ACC title was achieved largely due to the production of five Gailey signees, four of whom left early for the NFL. The fifth is Nesbitt, who’s a senior. Before the season Johnson hailed this as the deepest of his three Tech teams, but what the Jackets added in numbers they’ve lost in high-end quality. And early recruiting returns for 2011 aren’t glowing. (Scout.com has Tech 38th; Rivals.com doesn’t list the Jackets in its top 50.)
As we approach our latest installment of Clean Old-Fashioned Hate, so much is murk. It’s unclear if Richt, who has presided over three consecutive seasons of diminishing results, can again maximize Georgia’s resources. It’s unclear if Johnson, who has fallen from a conference championship to 6-5, can again find enough players to win big. Likewise unclear is when, or even if, this proud football state will again matter nationally.
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403 comments Add your comment
FormerDawg newJacket
November 26th, 2010
1:06 pm
JB,
I think you will find that he said omit engineering. Then you will find that UGA does have better sciences, bio and chem anyways. As for every other part of the school UGA wins out. Business, it is no longer the management school at tech, and liberal arts. The only one Tech is better at is IT management, which is why I go to tech for that. Also UGA does get more funding, because it has double the students and department.
No one is arguing that tech doesn’t destroy UGA at anything engineering related, but it is the bigger picture they are talking about.
Also, having gone to every Tech home game this season there is no way the Jackets can pull this one off. It is sad but true. The experience Washington is getting will be great for next year though.
Top Dawg
November 26th, 2010
1:08 pm
The nerds will lose, but it will be a very hollow victory for the Dawgs. However, at least we will be then be bowl eligible and will get to practice for an extra month to prepare for next season. I think playing in the Kickoff Classic next year is a great decision, but I do fear the final score.
Conan
November 26th, 2010
1:08 pm
Georgia Tech should win by 70.
New rookie QB who’s just terrible when it counts.
New 3-4 defense without the body types to run it.
Never thought Richt is 1st year of 3-4, would be as bad as Saban’s 1st year in the 3-4, but it looks like Richt won’t even finish 7-6 like Saban, more like 5-7.
Red Panties Rick
November 26th, 2010
1:13 pm
Ah the irony, the dawgs fighting to get to .500 and still yelping about how great their program is. If Colorado can beat georgie, Tech can too. Even if they don’t, I’d still rather be a Tech fan and maintain some sense of personal dignity.
I mean, c’mon. Red panties?
how2fish
November 26th, 2010
1:16 pm
Red Panties Rick you threw away any semblance of personal dignity when you admitted to being a Bug..sorry that’s just the way it is..and Conan the Bugs by 70? Please put down the pipe..and get help!
FloridaStateinDC
November 26th, 2010
1:18 pm
UGA wins this one 34-17 or worse…tech is even worse than uga this year….
JB
November 26th, 2010
1:20 pm
FormerDawg newJacket – your comments are simply wrong about the academics. PLEASE just check the national rankings and then come back with the facts. You’ll see the points I made. For example, try Chemistry. Here are the national rankings for Chemistry:
Georgia Tech: #26
UGA: #53
Yellow Fuzz
November 26th, 2010
1:26 pm
Hahahahaha. Ben Jones should have just bought a commemorative ring or something instead of literally trying to eat some of the turf we play and uga tinkles on. THIS gives linemen a bad name! But I understand the passion. We hate you all too. I guess that really was the dogs “signature win” last season. Hahahaha. Congratulations.
JB
November 26th, 2010
1:27 pm
…that’s just Chemistry by the way, NOT Chemical Engineering. You wouldn’t want to compare ChE at Tech.
Conan
November 26th, 2010
1:28 pm
This team has the worst record of any team Richt has ever coaches in 24 years.
If Paul Johnson can’t beat Richt’s worst team by 70, should PJ be fired?
dude
November 26th, 2010
1:28 pm
This game has the feel of 2008. Tech had no chance of winnging that year either. Remember how that one turned out?
CHDawg
November 26th, 2010
1:30 pm
Fred @ 1219…you need some help, man! Lighten up; it is just a game. If Tech wins, it doesn’t affect your manliness, or lack thereof one bit. Same if they lose. They are kids on both sides of the ball; how about saluting the talent level of all of them and wishing them well. Most of us have family members rooting on both sides, so GLTA on this one, and of course–Go Dawgs!
JB
November 26th, 2010
1:32 pm
Conan – “If Paul Johnson can’t beat Richt’s worst team by 70, should PJ be fired?”
…no, CPJ just needs to beat Richt by one point any year. That’s a win by the way.
Thanks for a paper for my puppies to poop on
November 26th, 2010
1:32 pm
Really?
A battle of the duds? Kind of like the daily battle of the duds in the AJC: Bradley vs Schultz
Yellow Fuzz
November 26th, 2010
1:33 pm
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(((((((((((((((((((( 45-42 )))))))))))))))))))) HAHAHAHAHAHA
FormerDawg newJacket
November 26th, 2010
1:34 pm
Ok sorry I was looking at old fact, I apologies for that one. Again we aren’t bringing Engineering in to this or we would then have to bring in everything else that UGA does that Tech doesn’t, I don’t count UGA’s “engineering” course as a real program yet.
Though as we all love ranks Tech was ranked #7 best public school in the nation and UGA was ranked #18. As much as we Jackets hate to admit it UGA is becoming a very good school.
JT
November 26th, 2010
1:34 pm
Is that yellow fuzz I see all around Ben Jones’ mouth?
Saint Marys
November 26th, 2010
1:36 pm
(((((( 45-42 )))))) Hahahahahahahahahahahaha
edumacated
November 26th, 2010
1:37 pm
Why does Tech even have a football program anymore, and why does Georgia waste a good game playing them.
Dalton Dawg (the original)
November 26th, 2010
1:38 pm
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(((((((((( 8 OUT OF 9))))))))))
Conan
November 26th, 2010
1:39 pm
Georgia Tech is 6-5, Georgia is 5-6.
Murray’s only won 1 game against teams with a winning record.
Tech has a winning record.
Tech wins.
Conan
November 26th, 2010
1:41 pm
Tech fans better hope PJ figures out how to win this game, if he can’t beat Georgia with a freshman QB who has a 5-6 record as a starter, there’s really no hope he’ll ever beat Georgia again.
Tech does have the #1 rushing offense in the nation.
Don’t be fooled.
JB
November 26th, 2010
1:45 pm
Yellow Fuzz – really?
FormerDawg newJacket – the two schools are vastly different on the national academic stage. Those are facts. Yes, UGA’s students have higher SAT’s than previous generations of Dawgs, but that’s only recently and it still does not affect the curriculum or the reputation of the faculty. As a result, UGA’s rankings are not changing very much because the faculty is not changing that much. It is the faculty that provides the majority of a school’s academic ranking and reputation, not the students that are there for the education! Bringing brighter students into an average or above average program only provides an average or above average education.
edumacated
November 26th, 2010
1:45 pm
Same old crap on here. Tech fans know another beat down is coming so they gotta start throwing academic rankings around. Hope it makes you feel better guys.
Pat
November 26th, 2010
1:46 pm
38-10 Dawgs
Yellow Fuzz
November 26th, 2010
1:46 pm
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will beat the georgia bulldogs on heart alone! And CPJ will take CTG to school. Wait and see.
Prediction: 45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
roughrider
November 26th, 2010
1:47 pm
JB, your statements are false. Re-read my post and you will see that I said science. UGA has more research grants and more world class professors than Tech. Then add in the Ag department and Tech is left in the dust. UGA owns more land devoted to research than Tech has in it’s entire campus.
Yellow Fuzz
November 26th, 2010
1:48 pm
educastrated,
You are in for a big suprise little man.
JB
November 26th, 2010
1:48 pm
edumacated – thanks, it does, since that’s the reason we went to Tech to begin with.
Conan
November 26th, 2010
1:50 pm
Ga Tech better beat Murray, because next year, they’ll be facing QB phonom Christian Lemay, so this is their last chance for a win. Even Colorado beat Murray, how hard is THAT? But in 34 days, Lemay will be here, to save the program from Murray’s disastrous 5-7 year.
Yellow Fuzz
November 26th, 2010
1:50 pm
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
roughrider
November 26th, 2010
1:50 pm
Some research for you JB: ” UGA is tied for 18th in U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 list of the 50 top public universities in America”
Yellow Fuzz
November 26th, 2010
1:51 pm
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
45-42 Tech (but no spotting the dogs 16 at halftime like last time)
rough rider's an idiot
November 26th, 2010
1:52 pm
Tech doesn’t have an ag department you idiot. You point is not valid again. Tech is a much better school throughout. Yes, we have engineering and ya’ll dont have that yet, but even our business school is much better than uga’s.
JB
November 26th, 2010
1:53 pm
roughrider – wrong, wrong, and wrong. How does comparing “more land devoted to research than Tech has in it’s entire campus” compare the two research programs? And you’re right, it’s not even close, Tech has a much larger endowment and research program than UGA’s. Don’t believe it? Give us the facts roughrider. I gave you facts, all you have provided is opinion based upon bias and not facts. Please, do tell us what the rankings are roughrider. Please do a little research and then come back with some facts next time. But we know you won’t do that because the facts will make you look foolish.
45-42
November 26th, 2010
1:57 pm
(((((((((( DawgInLace )))))))))) Hahahahahahaha
JB
November 26th, 2010
1:57 pm
roughrider – :Some research for you JB: ” UGA is tied for 18th in U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 list of the 50 top public universities in America”
…you conveniently left out what Georgia Tech is ranked roughrider. Since you didn’t have the guts to admit it I will tell you anyway:
Georgia Tech: #7
UGA: #18
…not even close roughridger! Let’s see some more “facts” that UGA is superior! LMAO You’re only making yourself look foolish. You might want to quit while you’re behind.
Paul in RDU
November 26th, 2010
1:58 pm
UGA and GT are both fine schools – and it’s an apples to oranges comparison when comapring them as a whole. There was a post that UGA is superior to GT in Chemistry and as a chemistry grad of GT, I have to throw in a comment.
According to the latest US News and World Report rankings, GT’s chemistry school comes in at 26, Emory is 38, UGA is 53
http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-chemistry-schools/rankings/page+2
Conan
November 26th, 2010
2:03 pm
Mark-
Throw the past record 8-1 out the window. Doesn’t matter. Why?
richt was 5-0 against Ark? Lost
Richt was 4-0 against AUburn? Lost
Richt was 7-2 against SC? Lost
This is just one of those LOST years when Richt LOSES ot EVERYBODY he normally beats.
Blackberry Pie
November 26th, 2010
2:05 pm
Anybody seen my georgia blanket?? My dog loves taking a sh*t on it.
GO JACKETS
JB
November 26th, 2010
2:05 pm
Paul in RDU – yes, you are right and I posted something similar above. Of course, many Dawg fans didn’t actually go to college so they know almost nothing about the academics of either university.
Jason
November 26th, 2010
2:05 pm
I really do think that is yellow fuzz around Ben Jones mouth in the picture above. Or uga pee
Paul in RDU
November 26th, 2010
2:05 pm
Back to football
UGA wins by 8 – 12, AJ and Houston go pro in January, Christian LeMay and Vad Lee get redshirted as freshmen
Dawglasville
November 26th, 2010
2:06 pm
JB – I’m sure that we are both satisfied with our degrees and where we are at in our careers. Poking fun of our academics is just an advanced form of the redneck jab. I know you were responding to another blogger. I probably should have stayed out of it. I have a few friends who graduated from Tech, and believe me, they are no better off than the guys I graduated with from UGA.
Ditto
November 26th, 2010
2:07 pm
Blackberry Pie:
I wipe my dogs a$$ with my georgia blanket.
Sorry Dogs
November 26th, 2010
2:07 pm
What’s the difference between a picnic table and a UGA grad?
A picnic table can support a family.
CHDawg
November 26th, 2010
2:08 pm
I’m surprised little has been said about the biggest issue in this game: Nesbitt is hurt! (At least I think he is still out). Nesbitt is a genius at running CPJ’s offense. His ball skills are incredible. I haven’t seen Washington, and he could be great too for all I know, but I think this likely helps the Dawgs immensely.
Paul in RDU
November 26th, 2010
2:08 pm
JB
Both UGA and GT fans post nonsense at times – spouting off “facts” without checking. I guess they only know how to open one tab in Internet Explorer and don’t know how to use Google
Sorry Dogs
November 26th, 2010
2:09 pm
How many UGA freshmen does it take to screw in a light bulb?
Zero, that’s a sophmore level class.
Paul in RDU
November 26th, 2010
2:11 pm
CHDawg – Nesbitt is definitely out for the game and you are absolutely correct that losing him is a blow. If GT is in 4th and 1, I have a much higher confidence level in Nesbitt to get the 1st down than Washington. He always seems to get a yard or so after contact.