Will Georgia Tech be a Top 25 team in 2012? Some say yes
Here's how it ended for Georgia Tech in 2011: Utah scores to win in overtime. (AP photo)
The belief here is that Georgia Tech got good value from its season. No, 8-5 didn’t seem all that great when you consider the Jackets started 6-0, but 8-5 beat the heck out of 6-7, which is what Tech was in 2010. And now we turn to 2012, and some expect even bigger and better from the men of PJ.
Andy Staples of SI.com tabs Tech No. 25 in his lookahead, while Dave Miller of the National Football Post puts the Jackets at No. 20. That’s the good news. The bad: Similar early rankings from ESPN, CBS Sports and Yahoo! Sports do not include Georgia Tech in the Top 25.
I can see both sides. If guard Omoregie Uzzi chooses not to leave for the NFL, the Jackets will return 15 starters on offense and defense. That’s a goodly number. At the same time, I’m not sure how good those starters are. We take B-back David Sims as an example. He rushed for 698 yards in 2011. In both 2008 and 2008, B-back Jonathan Dwyer gained almost exactly twice that number of yards.
In Tech’s favor: The ACC, which had its usual dismal bowl showing, doesn’t look terribly imposing. (In a move not unlike the one made by Paul Johnson in January 2010, league champion Clemson just dumped its defensive coordinator.) That said, the Jackets have to play Clemson, Virginia Tech and Georgia on the road.
My early guess: Tech will be a better team, but the record might not reflect it. I can see the Jackets winning nine regular-season games in 2012. I’m not sure they can get to 10.
By Mark Bradley
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266 comments Add your comment
GTBob
January 13th, 2012
10:53 am
Id rather us be a low tier SEC team with a chance to play for the NC than a mid tier ACC team looking up at our confrence champ at #22.
Congrats on being the first GT fan (maybe) that I have ever heard that would ever want to go back to the SEC. I don’t think you are going to make it as a Tech fan. You might want to switch to Alabama. They win NC’s all the time. Less heartache for you.
WnE
January 13th, 2012
10:53 am
The FINAL Sagarin Computer Rankings for 2011 after the Bowl Games are added in:
GT went 8-5 vs. 76th toughest schedule
Muttville went 10-4 vs. the 23 toughest schedule.
It makes GT’s so-called fans look really uninformed when they come on these Blogs and continue to say things like “Muttville went 10-4 due to an easy schedule” .
IF GT had played the 23rd toughest schedule then Coach Fish Fry would have probably had a LOSING record for the 2nd consecutive yr.
Over the last 2 years CPJ is 14-12 vs. the 69th & 76th toughest schedules in 2010 & 2011
Over the last 2 years CPJ is 1-11 vs.TOP-50 defenses, not what you’d expect for a so-called Offensive Genius.
GT will be horribles next yr., but will be “saved” by a crappy OOC schedule and weak ACC.
Next yr. our DL will be made up of 2/3 undersized, SUB-STANDARD Recruits that couldn’t beat out this years crappy undersized SUB-STANDARD Recruits.
The DBs won’t be any better, and the LBs are over-rated and cannot cover TEs and RBs out of the backfield.
The overall TALENT LEVEL has dipped significantly after 4-yrs. of CPJ’s recruiting, and this yr. is no better, there are NO big-time DLs on the way, no big-time B-Backs on the way, no big-time WRs on the way, the OLs are undersized and don’t project to be good pass blockers.
CPJ is a program DESTROYER, put GT vs. schedule strengths in the 20s to 30s and GT is basically a 5-7 or 6-6 type of Program.
Mark you have to extrapolate what kind of FB Program GT is vs. real competition, GT has been saved by very weak OOC scheduling and a very weak ACC.
The Factor
January 13th, 2012
10:55 am
@JB,
I concur. Just read GT Engineer above. I know he doesn’t make as much as me, and I am sure you too….
JB
January 13th, 2012
10:57 am
You to Factor…..And Go Dawgs
Kramer
January 13th, 2012
11:00 am
Sure, put them in the top 25. It is always fun to watch CPJ crash & burn. You bank on the fact that it will happen this coming season.
Please, please, please extend his contract. Grohs as well.
Sean
January 13th, 2012
11:02 am
wne
And you think the sagarin ratings are accurate? LOL
The sec teams get a boost from the conference they play in. That is obvious.
GT is ranked 56th! Are you kidding? And UF is 29th! Miss st at 31??? with a 7-6 record! Vandy is 42th! How many teams are ahead of gt that we beat. hmmm Clemson North Carolina Nc state heck VT 11-3 is 27th! Huh? And michigan who they took to OT is 11th! And you rely on this garbage? I prefer the eyeball test. Uga played 4 good teams this year. The two they started with and the two they finished with. Aub and Uf were schizo and could play up one game or two but were below avg most of the season. And the rest of your sec comp was weak weak weak. Yet you always lose a game every other year to one of them.
Ghost,
January 13th, 2012
11:06 am
Enter your comments here
Walker, Texas Ranger
January 13th, 2012
11:07 am
Tech will be top 20 going into the Georgia Game and top 25 going into the bowl game and out of the top 25 in the final ranking
GT Man
January 13th, 2012
11:08 am
GT Bob –
Just not satisfied competing for ACC championships. Stating the facts and as long as our fans, coaches, and administration is satisfied with just competing in our confrence, we will not be an elite confrence/team.
hate to say it but you sound like a dawg fan that is happy with winning the first half of a SEC championship game…. the first half.
GT Man
January 13th, 2012
11:10 am
Our confrence champ gets or earns no more recognition that #22! Comon man… what kind of competitor is happy with that?
GTBob
January 13th, 2012
11:11 am
WnE, Sagarin also has the following rankings for SOS in 2011:
1. Kansas
2. Iowa St
3. Ok St
4. Texas A&M
5. Texas
6. Oklahoma
7. LSU
8. Kansas St
9. Ole Miss
10. Baylor
According to Sagarin, the Big 12 was easily the toughest conference in football. Do you agree with him?
GT Man
January 13th, 2012
11:15 am
And I cant realistically argue with the ranking. Not perfect, but is fairly accurate. Look, out step child up the road is probably the 4th to 5th best team in their confrence (some claim 2nd …I call BS)..yet they are ranked higher that our confrence winner. And I cant make to much of an argument? 5 teams better than our winner.
Ghost,
January 13th, 2012
11:15 am
The only way tech is a top 25 team is if the ACC continues to mire around at its current level. When the conference Champs and runner up finish #21 and 22 in final AP pol you can’t expect a much higher ranking. VT only ACC team to finish in Top Ten since 2005.@ Sean, If tech were to play an SEC schedule they would have a losing record. Fla and Auburn , Vandy and Miss State would have all beaten Tech last year.
Sean
January 13th, 2012
11:17 am
Btw Texas am with a 7-6 record is 14th??? Yeah that Sagarin knows how to rank them. Oklahoma at 4 is a joke too. Cincy at 30 who lost to nc state and nc state is where gt is. Ok. Yep you rely on that site. What a load of crap.
gbal
January 13th, 2012
11:19 am
Enter your comments here
Sean
January 13th, 2012
11:21 am
Sagarin has texas tech who was 5-7 ranked 3 places ahead of gt. He has rutgers 36th toledo 40th tulsa 35th 7-6 miss st at 31 and all these teams ahead of gt. what a crock of u know what. this site is useless
41 Arizona State A = 74.94 6 7 73.86( 34) 0 2 | 2 2 | 71.28 59 | 77.62 32
42 Vanderbilt A = 74.94 6 7 74.12( 27) 0 3 | 0 6 | 71.83 54 | 77.07 36
43 Iowa State A = 74.64 6 7 80.40( 2) 1 1 | 1 6 | 78.49 31 | 71.89 59
44 Washington A = 74.52 7 6 74.54( 24) 0 2 | 0 5 | 75.41 41 | 73.48 50
45 Iowa A = 74.51 7 6 72.32( 39) 0 1 | 1 4 | 74.28 46 | 74.24 46
46 Temple A = 74.50 9 4 61.52( 119) 0 0 | 0 1 | 69.86 64 | 78.19 30
47 Northern Illinois A = 74.46 11 3 64.52( 103) 0 1 | 0 1 | 76.41 37 | 72.75 54
48 Louisiana Tech A = 74.34 8 5 68.39( 74) 0 0 | 0 3 | 71.29 58 | 76.41 39
49 Ohio State A = 74.19 6 7 74.06( 30) 1 0 | 1 5 | 71.58 56 | 75.85 43
50 Tennessee A = 74.09 5 7 77.83( 12) 0 4 | 1 6 | 74.32 44 | 73.49 49
FINAL College Football 2011 through games of 2012 January 9 Monday the BCS uses the ELO_CHESS from here
RATING W L SCHEDL(RANK) VS top 10 | VS top 30 | ELO_CHESS | PREDICTOR
HOME ADVANTAGE=[ 2.87] [ 2.31] [ 2.79]
51 SMU A = 73.88 8 5 68.59( 70) 0 0 | 1 3 | 74.55 43 | 72.98 51
52 Miami-Florida A = 73.61 6 6 69.86( 61) 0 0 | 0 3 | 69.56 66 | 76.63 38
53 Texas Tech A = 73.17 5 7 77.99( 11) 1 1 | 1 6 | 76.77 36 | 70.52 65
54 North Carolina A = 72.86 7 6 70.96( 51) 0 0 | 0 2 | 72.33 50 | 72.80 53
55 Illinois A = 72.80 7 6 70.52( 53) 0 1 | 0 3 | 72.33 51 | 72.70 55
56 Georgia Tech A = 72.31 8 5 68.05( 76) 0 0 | 0 2 | 72.15 53 | 71.98 58
GTBob
January 13th, 2012
11:26 am
Our confrence champ gets or earns no more recognition that #22! Comon man… what kind of competitor is happy with that?
If you want the ACC to perform better then go talk to Clemson, FSU, VT, and Miami. They are supposed to be the football teams of the conference and they aren’t exactly pulling their weight. Personally, I think you are better off not worrying about what other teams do and worrying about your own. If GT goes undefeated and gets snubbed for a NC then this discussion might have more meaning. Right now we are 8-5 and can’t beat Utah.
DawgMax
January 13th, 2012
11:36 am
tech will be lucky to win 8 games in 2012 with all that 2-3 star talent on the roster. The Dawgs will blow them out again on the way to the SEC title. Dawgs go 11-1====mark it down!
GTBob
January 13th, 2012
11:39 am
Dawgs go 11-1====mark it down!
Who do you think they will lose to? Everyone says 11-1 because they are scared to put 12-0. Its kinda humorous.
Mike
January 13th, 2012
11:41 am
I haven’t looked at the schedule, but it doesn’t look like one Tech can win more than 9 games on, not this team unless it gets decidedly better on both sides of the ball:
1) Road games at Va Tech, Clemson, and UGA should likely be losses.
2) Road game at UNC should not be counted as a guaranteed win. They have a good new coach who might actually finally bring focus to a very talented team. Neither should the road game against Maryland which was a close game at home.
3) Miami has owned Paul Johnson since 2008. The 2011 loss was no fluke. Until Johnson actually shows he can beat them again, this should be counted as a loss.
4) BYU is the other big non-conference opponent. BYU isnt that great right now, but like Utah, they have seen the option a lot. This could be a tough game. It will be far tougher than Kansas.
5) Is Virginia for real, or a one year wonder? They were good enough to keep Johnson’s offense off the field in 2011. They might be good enough to do the same in 2012.
Overall, the 2011 schedule was easier considering most tough games were at home. 2012 brings a lot of tough road games plus BYU replaces Kansas. I predict 8 wins with a good chance at less.
GT Man
January 13th, 2012
11:45 am
OK – Your satisfied.
Started with you saying ranking mean nothing? If your not concerned with playing in meaniningful bowls or competing for NC’s We dont need you on here posting as a GT fan. You embarass us and our program.
Rankings do me nothing if you’re satisfied with our status.
Like a kid loosing a little league game and saying I really didnt care if we won or not. Makes you feel better.
GT
January 13th, 2012
11:47 am
They really need a new quarterback. Washington is just not clever enough nor does he run the ball well enough. You have got to sale the play in the option. Washington does a better job than LSU’s Jefferson who kept pitching it to the back when the back was being keyed on by two defenders instead of running it himself. Lyons had a good day in Sim’s spot against Utah. He hits that hole and not allowing the defense time to react, he is good at slanting back through the hole too. A lot of momentum was heading the same way Washington was moving I was really surprised Johnson didn’t take advantage of that aggressive defense with some counters.
Mike
January 13th, 2012
11:47 am
@GTBob – its sort of unknown about UGA. I think people are scared to put 12-0 because of how they have shown the ability to blow ball games the last two years. At the very least, they’ve been screwing up enough to keep teams in the game. If they cut that out, particularly on offense, they should go 12-0 on that schedule.
KJ
January 13th, 2012
11:53 am
“The ACC…doesn’t look terribly imposing.”
Groundbreaking observation, imo.
GT
January 13th, 2012
11:54 am
Mike Georgia could lose to South Carolina and in reality not even call it an upset, why do you think 12 and 0.
DP
January 13th, 2012
11:57 am
It’s almost noon. Should be about time for Bradley to post another love letter to Mark Richt and Georgia.
GTBob
January 13th, 2012
11:57 am
Like a kid loosing a little league game and saying I really didnt care if we won or not. Makes you feel better.
No, all I care about is if GT wins or loses. I don’t care about where or if they are ranked. We were ranked as high as 12th this season. It got us absolutely nothing and you should really do more research if you think ranking is what decides what bowl game you go to. You seem to be obsessed with Clemson’s ranking. I don’t care about Clemson or their ranking. Is that more clear?
Ghost,
January 13th, 2012
12:00 pm
Sean, NC State Lost to Cincinnati 44-14, Tennessee beat Cincy 45-23.
StoneMtn
January 13th, 2012
12:10 pm
The CPJ regime is starting to wear a bit thin on The Flats. I can honestly say that I think I’ve seen the best that the triple option can offer and while it has some effectiveness, it also has very noticeable limits. The best I think that we can hope for w/ this system is to win ACC Championships — something that is easily done with as many as 3 losses these days — but we will never be able to ascend to the very top of the college football world. To do that we would literally need a D that has the ability to yield less than 14pts per game on average throughout the entire year and in the most important of games.
Call me a hater if you want, but you also have to call me a realist.
GTBob
January 13th, 2012
12:14 pm
To do that we would literally need a D that has the ability to yield less than 14pts per game on average throughout the entire year and in the most important of games.
Only three teams in the country pulled this off in 2011. That’s an awfully lofty expectation. Plus, if you think Tevin is as good as it gets for the offense then you have a pretty down outlook on things.
Sean
January 13th, 2012
12:15 pm
I meant Louisville
KJ
January 13th, 2012
12:16 pm
DP confirmed butthurt.
BigTimeTechFan
January 13th, 2012
12:17 pm
I think GT should be unranked.
I think no teams sould be ranked until week 6 so you have a good ideal of how that years team is.
You never know, next year could be a real big year for Tech, Their defense should be real good, they we young last year. Offense will be fine, always good with coach Johnson, just need QB to make a few more plays on his own when the play is not there.
Then again if all the if’s don’t pan out I expect pretty much the same, 8-4, 7-5, which is still pretty good in my book.
I really see Tech having a real good year, in fact I think the UGA/Tech game will have BCS bowl impact
Brian 98
January 13th, 2012
12:18 pm
Stonemtn you are clueless. PJ has had two qbs so far at tech and neither were suited to run his offense. He now has the recruits coming in to run it and you will see the difference. A passing game and fast runners who can break away through a hole. That’s what this offense depends on. With it and gt can win 10-11 games.
Peadawg
January 13th, 2012
12:19 pm
Tech winning 9 games is as likely as UGA winning the BCS title.
Peadawg
January 13th, 2012
12:20 pm
“A passing game” – Huh? At Tech?
PJ needs to stop recruiting glorified running backs to play the qb position.
GTBob
January 13th, 2012
12:22 pm
PJ needs to stop recruiting glorified running backs to play the qb position
So you think we need to recruit Andrew Luck like QB’s?
Wreckmaniac
January 13th, 2012
12:26 pm
This team is going nowhere until it gets a defense and competes with Georgia. Its been 10 days since our last bowl blowup and no one has been fired. Disgusting.
Peadawg
January 13th, 2012
12:28 pm
No, GTBob…but good grief there’s has to be a happy medium.
GT Alum
January 13th, 2012
12:28 pm
Not sure why this is such a surprising possibility. Tech was a couple of mistakes away from a 10 win season this year. There were about 5 things that if they had done any of them right, they would’ve won the bowl game. And there were a couple of other games during the regular season that turned on mistakes. Clean up the mistakes, and this team is a 9+ win team that has a chance of breaking into the rankings.
JMac1220
January 13th, 2012
12:30 pm
GT will win at least 9 next season, and yes, UGA should go at least 11-1, but will wind up 9-3. The pee-wee schedule is so soft, and CMR is such a poor gameday coach, they will lose at least 3. Watch out for Mizzou, a rebounding Florida and Auburn, Vandy, and USCe. GT will lose to Va. Tech, Clemson, and probably someone else, but not sure who. Miami maybe?
Peadawg
January 13th, 2012
12:31 pm
Also, PJ will never have another Demaryous Thomas (sorry…spelling?). No good wide receive who wants to make it in the NFL is going to come to Tech to block and occasionally catch a 60 yard pass.
DawginLex
January 13th, 2012
12:32 pm
Commings, Washington, Smith and Hutson Mason to speak at 3 pm press conference today
Rumor is Mason has decided to stay.
Other 3 are announcing NFL intentions/staying at UGA
GT Man
January 13th, 2012
12:34 pm
GT Bob – So you saying 12-0 for UGA? Thats humorous. I thought you would say is was humorous that UGA fans would predict 12-0. I think you might actually be a UGA fan.
1 4 GT
January 13th, 2012
12:35 pm
The Factor. If posting here is nonsense, then why are you here dweeb?
GTBob
January 13th, 2012
12:36 pm
Also, PJ will never have another Demaryous Thomas (sorry…spelling?).
Bay Bay wasn’t a highly rated recruit, he just performed better then expected. Why wouldn’t CPJ ever be able to do that again?
Brian 98
January 13th, 2012
12:36 pm
Yeah whateverpea dawg. Who would want to go to tech and get 6-8 pass attempts a game with a td potential due to the offense we run or go to a pro style school and be lucky to get 2-4 a game because they have 4 receivers a tight end and rbs to pass too. Fact is not many teams ever get a dem thomas or aj green type. getting a receiver with half the skills of them is great. uga has maybe one right now.
GT Alum
January 13th, 2012
12:39 pm
Stephen Hill thinks he’s another Bay Bay.
Peadawg
January 13th, 2012
12:41 pm
“Why wouldn’t CPJ ever be able to do that again?” – PJ didn’t recruit Thomas, did he? Could be wrong but I didn’t think he did.
Peadawg
January 13th, 2012
12:43 pm
“Who would want to go to tech and get 6-8 pass attempts a game with a td potential due to the offense we run or go to a pro style school and be lucky to get 2-4 a game because they have 4 receivers a tight end and rbs to pass too.”
What good receiver only gets 2-4 passes thrown his way a game?