Georgia Tech will go 8-4, and here, game by game, is how
One losing season was quite enough for these folks. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
Paul Johnson has had two losing seasons as a head coach. The first was in his maiden voyage, so to speak, at Navy. The second came last year at Georgia Tech. A year after they went 2-10, his Midshipmen went 8-5. Don’t expect Tech, which went 6-7 in 2010, to improve by six victories — that would put the Jackets back in the Orange Bowl — but do expect a bounce.
Thursday, Western Carolina, 7:30 p.m.
The Catamounts were 2-9 in 2010. That would seem to make them the ideal opening opponent. Expect the Jackets to rush for their usual 500 yards and fumble the expected half-dozen times in this Thursday night tilt. Expect Tevin Washington to look good at quarterback. Expect freshman Vad Lee to look good enough to make people wonder how long it’ll take him to become the starter.
Prediction: Jackets win.
Sept. 10, at Middle Tennessee, 7 p.m.
The trip to Murfreesboro could be scary, and not because of the traffic on I-24. The Blue Raiders just graced the GoDaddy.com Bowl, which isn’t to be confused with the granddaddy of all bowls (which would be the Rose). Then again, MTSU finished only 6-7, beating nobody of consequence. A school from a BCS automatic-qualifier league has to be wary when it travels to play an opponent of lesser pedigree, but there’s still a difference in talent.
Prediction: Jackets win.
Sept. 17, Kansas, 12:30 p.m.
The worst loss of a not-very-good season came in Lawrence last September. The Jayhawks won only twice more. (Though they did beat Colorado, which beat Georgia.) Kansas has a skilled coach in Turner Gill, but his is a tough task. His team could well finish last in the Big 12, but that’s a bit misleading: The league is down to 10 schools.
Prediction: Jackets win.
Sept. 24, North Carolina
The Tar Heels couldn’t beat Tech last season in Chapel Hill, and that was with Butch Davis still in place. He’s out now, having been fired ahead of an NCAA committee-on-infractions hearing. Defensive coordinator Everett Withers is the interim coach, and he’s a rising star. That said, Carolina is in its second season of major flux, and there’s not yet an end in sight.
Prediction: Jackets win.
Oct. 1, at N.C. State
Quarterback Russell Wilson threw for 368 yards and three touchdowns at Bobby Dodd Stadium last season. The bad news for Tech: Wilson is still playing college football. The good news: He’s doing it at Wisconsin, having transferred after being released from his State scholarship. The Wolfpack still should be pretty good — they went 9-4 in 2010 — and there’s a good chance they will enter this game undefeated.
Prediction: Jackets lose.
Oct. 8, Maryland
The Terrapins finally got around to firing Ralph Friedgen, but not before dithering so long that coach-in-waiting James Franklin left for Vanderbilt. The new head Turtle is Randy Edsall (left), who was once Tech’s defensive coordinator and who took Connecticut to the 2010 Big East title. Given time, Edsall should do well in College Park. But coaching transitions are never seamless, and this one was messier than most.
Prediction: Jackets win.
Oct. 15, at Virginia
Mike London eventually will break through in Charlottesville, but to do it in Year 2 seems optimistic. The Cavaliers won only one ACC game last season, beating Miami — but losing to Duke. Virginia’s early schedule isn’t overly daunting, so there’s a chance it could have worked up some momentum by the time Tech arrives. But the Jackets will arrive having won five of six, so they’ll be riding pretty high themselves.
Prediction: Jackets win.
Oct. 22, at Miami
Here we pause to take stock — it’s not yet Halloween, and the Jackets have reached last season’s victory total. Can world domination be far behind? Alas, the schedule stiffens here. Miami fired Randy Shannon, whose teams never seemed well-coached, and hired Al Golden, who worked wonders at Temple. Because of ongoing NCAA investigations, these Hurricanes will have vacillating results. For the “U,” this will be a good day.
Prediction: Jackets lose.
Oct. 29, Clemson
The Tigers are thought to have recruited well. Still unclear is whether Dabo Swinney (left) is a real head coach or the ACC’s version of Ron Zook. Last season the Tigers were good enough to take Auburn to overtime at Jordan-Hare Stadium, but unfortunate enough to finish 6-7. This is something of a prove-it year for Dabo, and his team might still be a year away from ripening.
Prediction: Jackets win.
Nov. 10, Virginia Tech, 8 p.m.
The Jackets will enter with a chance to climb atop the Coastal Division. As Johnson is forever noting: “The winner of this game has won the ACC every year since I’ve been here.” But this figures to be the first year the talent gap is so pronounced. (Even last season, the Jackets had Joshua Nesbitt — for the first half of the game anyway.) It’s hard to see G-Tech beating No. 13 V-Tech anywhere anytime soon.
Prediction: Jackets lose.
Nov. 19, at Duke
A get-well game. A solidify-your-bowl-destination game. The only conference road game any ACC school actually relishes. Duke at Duke. The only issue here is whether David Cutcliffe, who has been fighting the uphill fight since 2009, will have had enough by the time the Jackets arrive. (He’s 12-24 over three seasons, pretty good by Duke standards.)
Prediction: Jackets win.
Nov. 26, Georgia
If Georgia has had a tepid season, this could be Mark Richt’s last bow. The belief here, however, is that the Bulldogs will have won the SEC East and will be playing twice in Atlanta in the span of eight days. The game at Tech will essentially be the same as we saw last season in Athens: The Jackets gaining lots of yards, the Bulldogs prevailing on weight of numbers. That outcome would put Tech at 8-4, which wouldn’t be half bad.
Prediction: Jackets lose.
By Mark Bradley
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137 comments Add your comment
MightyQuinn
August 27th, 2011
6:43 pm
Could it be I’m….
James
August 27th, 2011
6:43 pm
First?
James
August 27th, 2011
6:43 pm
I’m first?
MightyQuinn
August 27th, 2011
6:44 pm
Blogger primero! Man, Mark, you’re spittin’ ‘em out today!
Mike
August 27th, 2011
6:44 pm
Mark, You could be correct, but I think you’re being optimistic. With each passing year, teams get more used to playing against Johnson’s offense. Johnson has not been able to recruit offensively nearly as well as Gailey either. All his offensive success came with Gailey’s NFL talent level recruits. The myth about systems like the triple option is that you can contend at a high level without high level talent. We saw this last year. I think Tech will struggle to score points.
The real question, like with Georgia, is defense. Will Tech’s D under Johnson finally step up to where it was under Gailey with Tenuta. If not, Tech could be in for another 6 win season. If
MightyQuinn
August 27th, 2011
6:45 pm
Now I can go read the blog!
I got one
August 27th, 2011
6:46 pm
Fair enough. Hope you’re wrong about the UGA game, Mark.
lanier
August 27th, 2011
6:47 pm
hope you are right I dont see it since I think this Off. has been figured out. .also the D is a question mark
hope im wrong
I got one
August 27th, 2011
6:48 pm
I would be happy with an 8-win season. I just hope one of those is against the dawgs.
Ray Rodson
August 27th, 2011
6:49 pm
Of course Bradley -
You’re an idiot. You should be at 680 the fan with the rest of them.
Mike
August 27th, 2011
6:51 pm
The big question in my mind is…what happens if UGA struggles this year and still beats Tech? Gailey got run out because he couldn’t beat the best UGA teams since the Hershel Walker era. How long does Johnson have losing to the worse UGA teams in over a decade?
Ray Rodson
August 27th, 2011
6:52 pm
Mike -
You’re as big of an idiot. Each year people get more used to playing Johnson’s offense? So? They get more used to giving up 500 yards on the ground? This offense has been around forever. If any football coach has only seen it when Paul Johnson comes to town they have bigger problems -
although i’ll agree…UGA’s D-Coordinator would appear to have never seen it.
Delbert D.
August 27th, 2011
6:54 pm
Miami is a big question mark. Maybe the 10 football players under investigation will include all of their 330 pound OL and DL in addition to Jacory Harris. 8-4 sounds pretty good, though.
MightyQuinn
August 27th, 2011
6:57 pm
Is that the new defensive coordinator standing next to CPJ? When did Doogie Howser give up medicine?
collegeballfan
August 27th, 2011
6:59 pm
OK, I will buy this.
The true Robert
August 27th, 2011
7:02 pm
We will win at least one more than Bradley forecasts, and that will be over Ugag. This Tech team is young but very talanted. No one has “figured out” Techs offense. You will be very surprised at how good Tech is on both sides of the ball. This is just the beginning for Tech, we will contend for the championship next year, and we very well may beat VT and go to the championship game this year.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 27th, 2011
7:03 pm
Mark, I am with you on all the picks except the UGA game. No way Tech loses that one this year. Grantham has no idea how to defend the TO, and Tech’s D will be at least good enough to slow the dawgs down. Time of possession will win the game for the Jackets. Also, no way UGA wins the SEC east.
Supersize that order, mutt
August 27th, 2011
7:07 pm
By the way, Mark, thanks for closing the comments on your other blog. It had gotten way out of hand. In fact it was out of hand by about the 3rd or 4th post on there. There were some real sickos commenting there, and we all know which school they represented and, I might add, embarrassed.
ACC Champs: my T-shirt doesn't lie!
August 27th, 2011
7:13 pm
It appears that the SEC has “figured out” the dog “O”. Has BS also?
BIG BEE
August 27th, 2011
7:14 pm
Hey Bradley, I still don’t think we know who won the game until it is over. If GT loses they will know it. If UGA loses CMR will tell them before church on Sunday morning.
Paul in NH (formerly RDU)
August 27th, 2011
7:23 pm
8-4 sounds about right to me – 5-3 in the ACC (loss to VT and a couple of others) and a loss to UGA
Brent
August 27th, 2011
7:27 pm
Wow! Bradley and Shultzie blogging about GT at the same time. What a red letter day.
Big time........not!
August 27th, 2011
7:33 pm
Four tickets, four hot dogs, four cokes.
Mike
August 27th, 2011
7:53 pm
@Ray – lol so Im an idiot and then you agree? I’ll take that I guess. The thing is, Tech will run yards up on Kansas and some of the lesser talented ACC defenses. They just dont have the type of athletes that will be disciplined enough and talented enough to not miss their assignments.
What Im talking about is exactly what you pointed out…teams like UGA, Va Tech, Clemson, Miami, FSU…the types of teams Tech has to beat to be considered better than average. The types of teams that are loaded with talent. They types of teams that Gailey was able to sneak up on and beat. You need better than average talent to run this offense and beat those defenses.
Mike
August 27th, 2011
7:57 pm
About UGA’s defense last year…they were missing a true NG for the new 3-4. Everyone was getting yards up the middle on them. They have a couple of NG’s this year, so that DE they had playing NG last year can go back to his natural position. I wouldn’t expect the same success.
Dawgman
August 27th, 2011
7:58 pm
I can actually see Tech winning 9 games, possibly even 10. Tech is loaded at the Back positions, most of them are young but should be very good. Tech has to work on the D though, offense has not been a problem for them, its the D that has been awful. Just my 2 cents.
Bulldog
August 27th, 2011
8:12 pm
If the Dogs were in the ACC they would go undefeated.
Paul in NH (formerly RDU)
August 27th, 2011
8:12 pm
@Mike
Gailey never beat UGA (0-7) or FSU (0-1), was 3-4 against Clemson, 1-3 against VT.
Johnson is 1-2 vs UGA, 2-0 vs FSU, 3-1 vs Clemson and 1-2 vs VT
Don’t let facts get in the way of your preconceptions about Johnson and Gailey
Worm
August 27th, 2011
8:14 pm
About right..Clemson could be the spoiler.
Joe 12-Pack
August 27th, 2011
8:19 pm
6-6
Western Carolina – yawn -Jackets win.
Middle Tennessee – zzz – Jackets win.
Kansas – snooze button – Jackets win.
North Carolina – “The Tar Heels couldn’t beat Tech last season in Chapel Hill” – that is exactly why Jackets lose.
N.C. State – still has a pretty good QB & coach. Plus, lots of returning juniors and seniors – Jackets lose.
Maryland – If Tech loses this game they need to shut down the football program – Jackets win.
Virginia – this is a game you would think Tech should win. But they are always good for a flopperino – Jackets lose.
Miami – Jackets lose.
Clemson – Jackets lose.
Virginia Tech – Jackets lose.
Duke – Jackets win.
Georgia – no matter what happens to UGA this season, they still hate Tech and always will – Jackets lose.
Not this year
August 27th, 2011
8:20 pm
Sorry guys, but there are two losses among NC, Va and Clemson. But 6-6 gets another bowl game loss.
Not this year
August 27th, 2011
8:23 pm
By the way, Joe 12 pack, add yours up again and its 5-7. Tech will be better than that, but not much.
Uh, Joe 12...
August 27th, 2011
8:24 pm
…wasn’t it Tech that “snoozed” last year when they played Kansas?
And did you guys hear about the THUGA b-ball player that killed that girl over some jewelry? Those THUGA guys just never will learn… uh, what, you mean it was a TECH guy that did that? Uh, never mind…
Ramblin' Reck
August 27th, 2011
8:25 pm
CPJ didn’t just fall off a turnip truck from Thomasville. This team has a chance to win every game on this schedule.
Sayin… Reck
MightyQuinn
August 27th, 2011
8:28 pm
At the risk of being mocked by the entire population of this blog, I am bummed at not getting the Mark Bradley Kudos Award. My life had little meaning before…now it has none. “AAAACCCCK!” (Sound of myself committing Hari-kari)
Realist
August 27th, 2011
8:30 pm
Ray Rodson – great arguments genius; so what if the TO offense has been around forever? obviously it is not a very successful offense to run, based on the fact that hardly ANY (successful) teams run it nowadays…outside of catching opponents off-guard based on lack of exposure to it, it is outdated and will never sustain high success over an extended period of time in Division 1 (yeah I know its FBS now, but I still refer to it as D-1).
The True Robert – no one has “figured out” Tech’s offense? Yeah, except the 7 teams that beat them last year, cuz its just SOOOO complex right? Truth is, no team has to “figure out” Tech’s offense, just wait for it to implode and in the meantime torch Tech’s D and let their slow, methodical offense try to play catch up (which we’ve all seen how successful they are at playing from behind, when they try to implement that pathetic passing game).
Supersize – There’s no way Tech loses to UGA, huh? First, see my above comment to “The True Robert.” Second, despite Grantham being unable to defend your “oh-so-complex” offense, it was enough for UGA to take care of business last year. Hell, even Willie Martinez (who was a terrible D-coordinator) was able to stop that joke of an offense enough for UGA to pull out the win in 2009. And congratulations, Tech was able to clip UGA by 3 points (!) to pull out their only victory against the Dawgs in the past DECADE….Tech fans drivel on every year about how they’re gonna beat the Dawgs, but considering that the “genius” CPJ has done it once in 3 years, and your best team in years couldn’t do it in 2009, I wouldn’t be getting my hopes up just yet if I were you.
Final note: 61-37-5 is just domination, get used to it
Innocent Bystander
August 27th, 2011
8:34 pm
411 rushing yards and 101 passing yards last year with our backup QB, who had all of two plus games of experience.
Innocent Bystander
August 27th, 2011
8:36 pm
411 rushing yards and 101 passing yards last year by our backup QB, who had started all of two games.
Harvey D. Pooka
August 27th, 2011
8:58 pm
Actually, this GT team is in bit of transition year itself; in which 8-4 might be considered good. I don’t think they wil lose to Miami. Clemson, that could be another story – - – Clemson has habit of showing up with a top-flight game on ocassions when not expected, and this could be “one of those days”.
Get the offensive line to jell and reduce false-start penalties, an if the linebackers are as good as I think, 8-4 or better AND victory over UGA is obtainabe.
NRBQ
August 27th, 2011
9:07 pm
I suggest you read the papers, Mark.
Many of Miami’s players are currently in limbo as to eligibility to play football this year.
Realist...
August 27th, 2011
9:08 pm
You … are an idiot ! .. LOL.. why do I have doubts that you went to ANY college.
Coach Grohbo
August 27th, 2011
9:10 pm
Schedule sets up very well for us, especially at home.
I was concerned about the Miami game, but not anymore.
We will win them all.
Watsonone
August 27th, 2011
9:12 pm
We have a lot of dreamers here. GT runs a triple option attack with no passing game. I call that a formula for lots of loses – more than four…
Dirk Diggler
August 27th, 2011
9:19 pm
Your predictions make sense and might be on the optimistic side. Clemson always plays GT tough.
I hope you are correct.
Mike
August 27th, 2011
9:20 pm
I think I should explain my position of what a contender means for Tech. A contending team should look at this schedule and expect no less than 11 wins. No FSU, UGA down ( dont buy the East hype until their defense shows they can play at a championship level again…until then they are beatable by anyone), NC St lost their top QB, Clemson is average, Miami is average…that leaves Va Tech. That is where Tech should be if Johnson has truly elevated this past Gailey. Even under Gailey, an 8 win season on this schedule should be a disappointment. Im not playing favorites here…this is a light schedule compared to past years.
1eyedJack
August 27th, 2011
9:23 pm
Mark, I guess you drew the short straw and had to write the Tech article. Condolences.
Paul in NH (formerly RDU)
August 27th, 2011
9:47 pm
Gailey only won more than 7 games once in 7 years at GT – and don’t get me going about getting blown out at Duke
snoop a loop
August 27th, 2011
9:48 pm
i hope before i die , i get to see Tech vs Uga (both teams undefeated) playing for a spot in the National Championship game . Tech Wins defeats Uga !!! Lets Go Streaking !!! Bring yo green hat
Greg
August 27th, 2011
10:17 pm
Matt ryan is a total overhyped qb. Takes him 42 passes to get 6 more yards than ben roth who only threw 16. The falcons will win 6-7 games this year. ryan is not a nfl qb. 52% passer rating? Yeah nice job. Idiots who can’t see the obvious. Last year was a fluke winning 3-4 games on fluke plays or lucky calls. The bears will beat them by 10
Greg
August 27th, 2011
10:18 pm
Nice 65 passer rating ryan in a game you said was important! What a joke.
Dude
August 27th, 2011
10:21 pm
Johnson won’t lose 3 in a row to ugla. Tech goes 9-3 and i already bet the house on the 6 win total which is the biggest no brainer bet ever.
TomB
August 27th, 2011
10:24 pm
Wrong on Miami Mark, otherwise not bad. If Tech’s defense is even marginally better this year, they will beat UGA at home. Defense or lack thereof is the only reason they lost last year.
George
August 27th, 2011
10:30 pm
Mike – Paul Johnson recruits as well, if not better, than Chan Gailey:
http://coachesbythenumbers.com/the-paul-johnson-recruiting-myth/
NovaJacket
August 27th, 2011
10:30 pm
You overrate NC State, and the”U” is about to implode….
Rockies lose to Dodgers 7-6 in 11 innings – Atlanta Journal Constitution | CgPage
August 27th, 2011
11:00 pm
[...] Georgia Tech will go 8-4, and here, game by game, is how [...]
Tech Engineer
August 27th, 2011
11:11 pm
Tech should win 8 games with the easy schedule. With this schedule, it would be a shame not to win 8. Watch out for Duke. Over the years, Duke has had some upsets of Tech, and they will have a good passing attack which could cause problems for Tech’s young defenders.
Hey Wake up folks
August 27th, 2011
11:22 pm
If UGA had GT’s schedule they would likely run the table. If GT had UGA’s schedule they would be lucky to win 3 games.
One more thing – the TO is H.S. ball. I don’t care if you gain 1,000 yards a game – it sucks. Don’t believe me look at the record when teams have more than a week to prepare.
GT GRAD
August 27th, 2011
11:22 pm
All I know is that I agree with Coach PJ……..the GT football team is currently undefeated and I hope they remain undefeated!
Try to win ‘em all and let’s just see what happens.
Whopper Dawg
August 27th, 2011
11:34 pm
With a nothing OOC schedule excepting UGA and playing a woefully weak ACC conference, if Paul “The Genius” can only summon 8 wins, he should be summarily dismissed.
If the Dawgs played that schedule, the only game that would cause a moment of concern would be VaTech. The remainder of the schedule is a joke.
GIVE ME A BREAK
August 27th, 2011
11:51 pm
8-4 isn’t bad, but 9-3 would be sweet. Pick up the ninth win over UGA. ” GO JACKETS “
Saban
August 27th, 2011
11:58 pm
Tech will have a great year. Just the beginning.
Dawgs, well after the Boise State beatdown and South Carolina putting no. 1 in the hospital, Richt will be throwing his purse at everyone, and Grantham will eat himself to death with krispy kreme`s.
GT Fan
August 28th, 2011
12:37 am
MB, what in THE H-LL are you thinking with 8-4?!?!?
Haven’t you heard of this guy named “headley lamar” (I know, what tool would claim to be such a tool movie character unless he was himself a … tool)???
Well headley’s got this guy named “Vegas” that says GT only wins 6 games this year, and he [Vegas] is never wrong. Headley’s gonna be pissed at you MB!!
Danks goes distance as White Sox top Mariners 3-0 – Atlanta Journal Constitution | CgPage
August 28th, 2011
1:02 am
[...] Georgia Tech will go 8-4, and here, game by game, is how [...]
Gt/Fl footbal fan
August 28th, 2011
1:02 am
Hey wake up folks if you had georgia tech’s schedule your losses would be to North Carolina, virginia tech, Miami, Fl, and Maryland. Now if georgia tech had your schedule, they would have losses to Florida, Boise st, and South Carolina none of the other teams on your schedule scare georgia tech.
230gr Full Metal Jacket
August 28th, 2011
1:57 am
8-4??? Not too far off. I predicted 9-3, with 10-2 a real possibility if they show up ready to play at NC State. We’ll beat Miami, and probably UGA but Clemson makes me nervous. If we somehow pull off the upset against V-Tech we’ll be back in the ACCCG against FSU. I don’t see a single game on the schedule that this squad isn’t talented enough to win, but I think 8-4 or 9-3 is reasonable for this season. Now NEXT year, I’ll be disappointed with losing ANY game because I expect a championship run in 2012 and 2013 (and maybe 2014 also, if nobody leaves early as Juniors).
gtfanfrom1951
August 28th, 2011
2:06 am
Mark have youever been right about anything?
Archives
August 28th, 2011
3:39 am
I predict the Falcons will start the pre-season 0-3.
duece coupe
August 28th, 2011
3:58 am
Georgia Tech wlll win at least 11 games.
Stinger2
August 28th, 2011
4:58 am
Mark: I hope you are right with your picks. An 8-4 season would be great. However, I believe you are being too optimistic. I see us also losing to Clemson and possibly being upset by either NC or Duke.
11-2
August 28th, 2011
6:36 am
Mark: I hope you are wrong with your picks.
Go Jackets.
11-2
August 28th, 2011
6:38 am
11-2 includes the ACC Championship game.
brent cunningham
August 28th, 2011
6:58 am
everybody sell all that you can, mortgage your homes, borrow from the bank ,and bet on gt to win the conf. and the orange bowl to finish #5 in the country. jackets will beat vt, which they would have last year , if not for joshuas injury. They will also beat the humpers in atlanta, with a 45 yd. pass and run to Tony Zenon with 35 seconds to play.
ToeMeetsLeather
August 28th, 2011
6:59 am
With the exception of Jones, Peters & Walls, these are CPJ and Groh’s recruits plugged into their systems. We should really start to see things click this year. Twentysix wins over the last three years was not bad, but I think the next three will bring even more. Mark, you are way off base on the talent gap with VaTech.
Paddy
August 28th, 2011
7:43 am
Mark, GT should beat UM. Not much left in those guys by the time GT gets to them. Hard to lose 10 starters and have a new coach. Never have liked UM but I do think their new coach is a stand up guy and deserves a better fate than Shannon and Company left him. But 8-4 sounds right to me!
Gorilla Biscuit
August 28th, 2011
7:49 am
Thank you Tech fans. I read through this blog and never laughed so hard in my life. You guys claim UGA fans are delusional, but ya’ll have left the atmosphere and are now speeding past Neptune.
Gorilla Biscuit
August 28th, 2011
7:51 am
After reading this blog I must say I’ve never laughed so hard in all my life. Ya’ll have left the atmosphere and are speeding past Uranus.
11-2 Baby
August 28th, 2011
7:53 am
GT only loses to UVA and VT. GT will beat LSU in a rematch in the Chickfila Bowl.
wombat
August 28th, 2011
8:14 am
Every one of those is the “safe” pick. My dog could’ve written this article.
Gorilla Biscuit
August 28th, 2011
8:21 am
Al Groh will have burned the fish for CPJ by the midpoint of the season. Nothing to play for. Dawgs in a walk.
ToeMeetsLeather
August 28th, 2011
8:30 am
Hey Biscuit, you need to lay off the gravy this early in the AM, bad for your gut. It may hang out the bottom of that Red G-t’shirt. If you haven’t laughed this hard before, you may want to catch “Planes, Trains, & Automobiles” with Candy and Martin, now that’s funny stuff!
dawgmatic
August 28th, 2011
8:32 am
That is a generous prediction. The NERDS will probably blow the first three games and the fanbase, all 40 of them, will choke on their free hotdog and Coke. 4 wins at most, and the yearly shelacking by the Dawgs.
GDBurdell
August 28th, 2011
8:45 am
I love how none of the redneck “engineers” from tek even catch a whiff of the pandering that this article reeks of.
8-4? riiiiiiiiight
tek will have 6 wins OR LESS this season, most likely 5 wins.
1.) Same system (6 wins last year, remember?)
2.) Less talent
enjoy your free hotdog and coke!!!
ToeMeetsLeather
August 28th, 2011
9:07 am
Hey “Nadlickermatic”, there may only be forty of us but we all have dental plans. Can’t say the same for the “DawgNation”.
George O'Leary
August 28th, 2011
9:34 am
Two field goals and a cloud of Bobo
was all the dawgs could muster, last trip out.
Denny
August 28th, 2011
9:57 am
what is really dumb is gt does not even get a receiving vote in the ap poll so they are placed somewhere around the 50th best team. does anyone really think they are that bad? no. which is why preseason polls are dumb. what is really screwed up with the way it is is tech could go undefeated and not play in the nat champ game because they are so far down. there would always ben 3-4 one loss teams, ahead of them. maybe even a 2 loss if it’s alabama or ok
sam
August 28th, 2011
10:02 am
gt fan, not that you are one,, obviously you don’t realize that the 6 win is not a straight up bet. let me explain since you are obviously a moron, you have to put up 1.5 of your money to win. or 150 would get you 100. so you think with that in play, the true number is 6? oh and if you want to take the under, you put up less than straight up. get it now idiot?
John NJ
August 28th, 2011
10:03 am
test
John NJ
August 28th, 2011
10:05 am
gt fan–aka uga fan–just so you know, that 6 win total is not an even bet. you gotta put up 150 to win 100 at the casinos. i know simple math is hard for you but come on. this isn’t that complicated.
The Truth
August 28th, 2011
11:00 am
You heard it here first. 11-1
The difference is the defense. Miami or NC State will not beat this team. I think Tech will lose either the VT or UGA game but not both.
RedandBlackDAWG
August 28th, 2011
11:22 am
Everybody keeps saying how UGA has a easy schedule, but look at the cupcake that TECH. has. If they can’t pull out ten wins this year, playing this schedule, Tech. fans will have to be content as they usually are, insulting the UGA team, fans and Athens, and calling themselves the winner of the annual beat down, at least on paper. I don’t see Tech. losong to Miami though, because their NCAA problems are threatening to gut the team with suspensions and serious penalties. Miami is already in deep damage control and the season has not even begun. I think that Clemson will be a tougher game than is predicted, but it is hard to say, since they, like UGA have not played up to their potential the last few years. 8-4 sounds about right though.
Good luck Tech.
Eaassyy
August 28th, 2011
11:31 am
One thing is for CERTAIN: Tech will get smoked in their bowl game. What are you guys like 2-8 over the last 10 years in bowl games? Turkey neck is 0-3. You guys stink. Supersize that jerks.
kb
August 28th, 2011
1:17 pm
Mark, Only see 6 wins on this schedule for Tech, the least talented Tech football team in a couple of decades. Middle Tennessee is a trap game, the talent level isn’t that much different, they recruit many of the same players.The Georgia game at years end will be ugly if Georgia enters the game healthy.
kb
August 28th, 2011
1:26 pm
4-5 wins for Tech, least talented tech team in past 15 years. Losses, NCarolina, Nc State, Miami, Clemson, Maryland, VT, UGA. Vt and UGA will be beat downs of epic proportions.Trap games Middle Tennessee (techs better but not by much), Duke.
GT does not win vs Tigers
August 28th, 2011
2:13 pm
I do not see GT with a defense to stop a spread they have not seen. How is GT supposed to be so much better than last year? Clemson lost a subpar QB, so we can at least stay the same. RBs = improved. WRs = much improvement as we have more than one. OL = experienced and good. Better OC = better offense. Offense for Clemson will be better than last year = min 2 extra wins. One will be GT.
Clemson D = lost several pro players, but reloads every year. LBs are much better.
Kevin Steele figured out PJ’s option last year. Expect a new wrinkle this year.
I do not see GT beating Clemson, but you do. We shall see.
JoeFan
August 28th, 2011
2:27 pm
A minimum of 8 wins is very doable. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Tech sneak up on one or two others and finish 9-3 or 10-2.
Steve
August 28th, 2011
2:46 pm
I would wait to see a GT quarterback complete a forward pass before predicting their season. But maybe that’s just me.
playmeortrademe
August 28th, 2011
3:11 pm
Wow, what a pathetic schedule. If Tech does not go at least 10-2 with that sked, I don’t think P.J. will ever do anything at Tech. 3 of the 4 toughest games at home, and NC State doesn’t exactly strike fear into anybody. I don’t even count Miami anymore. Miami is or will be a shell of its former self. Jackets should realistically split against Va Tech and Clemson, and probably lose to UGA, but that should be it….but again, losing 2 of your three biggest home games, and again to your biggest rival, and no ACCCG?
This year’s UGA/Tech game should be called “The Pink Slip Bowl” if the AJC writer’s picks actually happen.
George O'Leary
August 28th, 2011
3:13 pm
I would wait to see UGA score at touchdown
before predicting their season.
Cupcake City
August 28th, 2011
3:16 pm
Coastal Carolina and New Mexico strikes fear.
playmeortrademe
August 28th, 2011
3:48 pm
Geez, and Tech has a bye week before the Hokies? C’mon! Honestly, Tech should go into that game unbeaten if there is any talent at all on that team. Any losses would be entirely on the coaches.
If Vandy was in the ACC, would they be an annual contender?
techfan
August 28th, 2011
3:56 pm
If Vandy was in the ACC, would they be an annual contender?
Vandy got destroyed by the worst team in the ACC last year.
Steve
August 28th, 2011
4:08 pm
Tech still has a football team?
Steve
August 28th, 2011
4:10 pm
“The Truth” = MORON.
SecFan
August 28th, 2011
4:29 pm
Mark, can you at least explain why you think Spurrier, who has the best talent he’s ever had at SC, won’t beat the Dawgs. You think Richt is the better coach? Seem like you just forgot about analysis and history and either mailed it in, or just wanted to throw your annual bone to the dawgs.
GT
August 28th, 2011
5:01 pm
flip a coin
juice sourcer
August 28th, 2011
5:09 pm
That’s an amazingly easy schedule for a major conference team. Their non conference schedule is a joke. And their conference schedule does not have the best team…Florida State. They still will not go 8 and 4…and will not beat Clemson..so 7-5.
10-2
August 28th, 2011
5:10 pm
Loses to NC State and bowl game.
Goodbye Mark Richt! NCAA investigation is at UGA in 3 years…Richt Gts away squeaky clean.
GA Sandlapper
August 28th, 2011
5:17 pm
Spot the ball! I am tired of all these predictions!! Less than a week away!!
Bill W.
August 28th, 2011
5:58 pm
They are going to win 7.
MICHAEL
August 28th, 2011
6:23 pm
please be uga and win a bowl game……………….
hmmm
August 28th, 2011
6:34 pm
i disagree on the following. i believe we will:
lose to Maryland
beat Miami
lose to Clemson
that would put us at 7-5 in my book. i believe 8-4 is a best-case scenario for us this season
KJ
August 28th, 2011
7:55 pm
“please be uga”
Yeah, you wish.
Move it!
August 28th, 2011
8:29 pm
why is paul johnson pimping in front of an aaron’s rent sign? Shoudn’t a “big time” program like Tech have their own banner with just their name and logo??? At UGA, the Dawgs don’t have to give away their name for cheap money.
Atlantalex
August 28th, 2011
8:43 pm
What is with the “I’m first” weirdos on this blog? Is that really the highlight of your day? Sure the Jackets will always have a tough time beating UGA; Tech has to recruit at least semi-smart athletes to play ball when UGA only needs to get some of the big dummy pool the SEC shares. This pool mostly consists of poor black athletes who play for redneck fans who would otherwise hate the same kids if they saw them on the street.
Jfreak13713
August 28th, 2011
8:47 pm
Huge GT fan here but 8-4 seems a bit high to me? I don’t think Tech beats Miami and the NC game is in doubt. 7-5 or 6-6 seems more likely? I hope I’m wrong but I think the other teams have figured out this spread offense and unless Tech can get a QB who can toss the ball a little bit better I think Tech and Paul Johnson will be average??
Truth
August 28th, 2011
9:48 pm
Pathetic schedule
RamboDog
August 28th, 2011
10:08 pm
“Supersize” posted this :
Mark, I am with you on all the picks except the UGA game. No way Tech loses that one this year. Grantham has no idea how to defend the TO, and Tech’s D will be at least good enough to slow the dawgs down. Time of possession will win the game for the Jackets. Also, no way UGA wins the SEC east.
Supersize, UGA DC did have problems adjusting to GT’s “Triple Option” offense for 2 reasons. #1) the NFL doesn’t use gimmick offenses. #2) He kept thinking that one of the options was the forward pass, but it was actually “the fumble”.
As for Tech slowing us down, you’ll need 48 points to beat UGA…and no credit will be given for yards gained, etc,etc,etc. This will NOT be like your tests were when you were in school..there will be no grading on the curve because you were not capable of learning the work.
CPJ will be so upset after the game , that he will be arrested for domestic violence for punching his spouse.
Ya’ll suck…. be ready to go to 1 and 10 vs Dawgs and STILL piling up. GT can’t stop us…
Paul in NH (formerly RDU)
August 28th, 2011
10:13 pm
GT does not win vs Tigers
August 28th, 2011
2:13 pm
… Offense for Clemson will be better than last year = min 2 extra wins. One will be GT.
—
I must have hallucinated last year. I swear I saw Clemson beat GT.
QB/DB
August 28th, 2011
11:38 pm
If things go good GT will go 8-4. I think they will beat Miami and N.C. State but lose to talent laden Clemson. If things go badd GT will lose to someone who isn’t suppose to beat them will.
Gt
August 29th, 2011
12:48 am
The dawgs have been around a 100 years more the gt, and gt still has dominated them in national titles. No one cares about wins head to head when you win titles
Stinger2
August 29th, 2011
5:24 am
Move it is wrong. UGA has a corporate sponsor whose name an logo is displayed in the background during media conferences. Check it out and see who it is.
Jingle Dingle
August 29th, 2011
7:46 am
I agree for the most part. I am calling a “W” against ThugU though. As much as it hurts (gulp), I have to agree with the UGA pick. While I am pretty sure UGA loses 4 or 5, I still think this is one they take down the Bees in that one.
UGA = Yawn
August 29th, 2011
8:09 am
Not sure why we would lose to NC St. I think we can win that one too. Why not!?
UGA = Yawn
August 29th, 2011
8:15 am
How can UGA win the SEC when they have to play South Carolina and Spurrier every year!!?? You writers can’t figure anything out. Spurrier will beat UGA every year just like he did when at UF. He should have 2 years ago and last year he finally got ‘over the hump’. It will continue.
Spike
August 29th, 2011
8:36 am
What is it now? Nine out of ten and counting? Give it up Tech. You will not beat UGA this year and you know it.
Five players who shined in August | Georgia Tech
August 29th, 2011
8:37 am
[...] Bradley predicts an 8-4 season for the [...]
BG
August 29th, 2011
8:57 am
There is no way Tech will win 8 games Mark. I think they will be lucky to win 6.
coco
August 29th, 2011
8:57 am
I would switch NC State and Miami…with all of Miami’s problems they are probably going to get young fast…
T3
August 29th, 2011
9:02 am
GT wil be MUCH BETTER than ANYONE is expecting.
I stand my predcition from 8 weeks ago: GT goes 10-2, with a win over UGA.
redandblack
August 29th, 2011
9:20 am
I miss Reggie Ball…..talk about wasting a scholarship…..
GTVegas
August 29th, 2011
10:58 am
I don’t think this is too far off, but I think it could be a game or two worse or a game or two better. The team has the talent to win each and every one of these games, if they execute. They also have the potential to fall on their face. Which will it be? That, folks, is why we play the games.
As for UGA, last I checked, I will not be eating turkey this Thursday, so I really don’t care. Too much can happen between now and then. My wife went to UGA. so I sincerely hope that both teams meet with unblemished schedules the weekend after Thanksgiving. To my respeted UGA friends, that means that neither team has lost or tied a game up until that point.
And to those that think this offense is only the T.O. Keep thinking that, but I am sure your respective coaching staffs know a bit better. Once we are able to pass a bit more effectively, and that means blocking, this offense will be quite a bit harder to defend. The players know it, the coaches (both sides) know it, but, obviously some the “fans” have no clue.
This offense can be unstoppable if it executes, no matter who the defense is. The problem we have is execution.
slobberknock
August 29th, 2011
3:08 pm
Have to agree with this prediction.
Heat Check: UGA's Boykin doesn't let sleeping Broncos lie | Mark Bradley
August 30th, 2011
7:54 am
[...] made many for the coming season. To review: Georgia to go 10-2 and win the SEC East, Tech to go 8-4 and run third in the ACC Coastal, the Falcons to go 12-4, grab a wild card and play for the NFC title. Haven’t missed anything [...]
Fair and Balanced
August 30th, 2011
8:43 am
Ray Rodson is right. The Tech offense is not new – it is only a revival of something from the past that made Johnson look smart. The Tech offense is not a triple option, it is only a double option. If it truly become a triple – then Tech could play well and beat good teams and not just the mediocre ones of the ACC.
5 things that could go wrong for Tech: One involves talent | Mark Bradley
August 31st, 2011
12:05 pm
[...] With such a team — and Georgia is also such a team — there can be no givens. I’ve picked the Jackets to go 8-4, and with NCAA winds swirling around Miami and North Carolina it’s possible Tech could rise [...]
Dunwoody Jacket
August 31st, 2011
3:18 pm
Mark, I think your predictions are pretty accurate. We have to be able to pass the ball though. I am still convinced that Paul Johnson is going to have a long, successful run at GT.
Now to change subjects, if the SEC does expand and they pick off an ACC school to go with A&M for 14, who do you think the ACC would go after to get to 14? Would Louisville, Pittsburg, Cincinnatti, or Syracuse make good candidates?
Loyal Fan
September 1st, 2011
2:27 pm
What a weak schedule, oh wait, that’s the ACC nevermind.