Georgia Tech as Coastal champion? Yep, it could happen
It was a stretch to think the Jackets could be in such a position, but here they are. (AP photo)
With one conference game remaining, Georgia Tech stands a real chance of winning the Coastal Division. This development is so outrageous as to shock someone who picked Georgia Tech to win the Coastal Division. Namely, me.
Know how bettors at the horse track turn losing tickets into a cascade of confetti? That’s what I’d done, albeit figuratively, with that prediction. Tech was 2-4 halfway through the season, 1-3 in ACC play. No way, I figured, that Virginia Tech and/or Miami — they’d beaten the Yellow Jackets in overtime — would lose the four conference games needed for Georgia Tech to finish ahead of both. Well, the Hokies have, and Miami might, and even if the Hurricanes don’t, the Jackets could still play for the conference championship. (More on this in a bit.)
There’s also the likelihood that Georgia Tech, should it squeeze into the title game in Charlotte, will do so at 6-6. (Assuming a victory over Duke on Saturday and a loss at Georgia on Nov. 24.) This wouldn’t be the greatest advertisement for ACC football, but the last great advertisement for ACC football came in the 20th Century. Somebody has to win this crazy league, and who better than these Jackets?
Georgia Tech is 68th among 120 FBS teams in total defense, 83rd in scoring defense. It dumped its defensive coordinator in midstream and has actually seen its points-against average rise since the change — from 30.17 under Al Groh to 30.25 under the interim Charles Kelly. The Jackets are still yielding 40-plus points every other game (three times in six with Groh, two in four without), and somehow they have a chance to be champions of one of the Big Six conferences.
Cold numbers don’t quite capture the degree of improbability. Tech needed three big things to happen last week, and all three did: Florida State scored with 40 seconds remaining to beat Virginia Tech on Thursday; Virginia scored with six seconds remaining to beat Miami on Saturday, and the Jackets won at North Carolina on a day when they yielded 50 points but scored 68.
If the Jackets beat Duke — they’re a double-digit favorite, which might not be a great thing — they’ll finish 5-3 in league play. Miami must win at Duke on Nov. 24 to get to 5-3. If Tech and Miami tie for first, the Hurricanes win the tiebreaker. (Thanks to their 42-36 victory here Sept. 22, a game the Jackets led by 17 points entering the fourth quarter.)
There’s another way Tech can make it, but it has nothing to do with Tech. Miami is facing NCAA sanctions, and the school is trying to decide if, in the attempt to lessen those penalties, it should impose a postseason ban on itself. The ACC will not allow Miami to represent the Coastal in the title game and then decide to skip a bowl; the conference has made it known that the Hurricanes must declare their intentions before the conference-championship match is made.
There’s no consensus as to what Miami will do. Given that the program has never played in an ACC title game, some believe the school will see this opportunity as too prime to punt. Others believe that the Hurricanes, who figure to be very good next season, don’t want to find themselves in 2013 occupying the space Ohio State does now — having a team capable of playing in a BCS bowl but being hamstrung by a postseason ban.
Miami hasn’t been forced to declare: At 5-5, it’s not yet bowl-eligible. But we could see something like this: The Hurricanes beat South Florida on Saturday for their sixth win, Georgia Tech beats Duke and then, on Monday, Miami announces that will forgo postseason play, thereby ceding the Coastal title to Tech. How might the Jackets celebrate this bizarre achievement? By tearing down the goalposts in an empty Bobby Dodd Stadium before practice on Day 1 of Georgia Week?
On Sept. 29, Georgia Tech was beaten at home by a Sun Belt opponent. Today Georgia Tech faces the possibility of becoming the first team ever to lose to Middle Tennessee by 21 points and then play in the Orange Bowl. Crazy league. Crazy season.
By Mark Bradley
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211 comments Add your comment
dawg4u
November 12th, 2012
6:39 pm
It is not is is!
Money Don't Lie
November 12th, 2012
6:42 pm
Who really is the best? Great poll. And yes, Vegas believes that is an ACC team at #3….
http://pregame.com/pregame-forums/f/12/p/404780/1672991.aspx
GT1990
November 12th, 2012
6:42 pm
Sure is great not to be UGA fan! Any other tech fans here agree?????
Mike S.
November 12th, 2012
6:48 pm
That’s because the ACC is pathetic. Va Tech and Virginia collapsed, so now you have Miami filtering to the top by default. They really arent any better than previous years, nor is Tech. Someone has to win the division. haha.
Billyho55
November 12th, 2012
6:49 pm
GT1990,
I AGREE!!!
Mike S.
November 12th, 2012
6:50 pm
The ACC is as bad as I’ve seen it since the 90’s when it was FSU and no one else. You trade a top 5 FSU team for two solid top 15 teams in Clemson and FSU. That’s the only difference.
ignition
November 12th, 2012
6:51 pm
UGA will have played Georgia Southern a week prior..
And while they are extremely undisciplined, the talent superiority will be too overwhelming..
I like GT but I’m a realist.. NO WAY
Nativebird
November 12th, 2012
6:52 pm
Firstly, coming in first of a division is not a winning a “championship”. Please. And…..there is no way no how this idiot of a college football coach is ever going to win anything of consequence ever again.
JustinSyder
November 12th, 2012
7:00 pm
igniton, have you watched UGA over the couse of the past 20 years? They have “overwhelming” talent every single year. So why do teams like Buffalo, Tennessee, Missouri, and Kentucky (who have far less talent) give them trouble?
lotsa poetic stuff here
November 12th, 2012
7:10 pm
would be poetic to win the acc championship with a D that got worse point wise after groh was canned.
would be poetic justice for tech to beat duke and its former tech recruit at qb. yes duke’s current qb, renfro, was a recruit that cpj didnt want when he was hired due to different offense philosophy.
would be poetic justice that the acc championship once again went through vt and gt. gt needing vt to LOSE to uv saturday for gt to be declared champion of the coastal.
would be poetic justice for gt to win back that coastal and ACC championship trophy that the ncaa harshly took away over a mere jersey
would be poetic justice for a so far mediocre heavily underdogged gt team to stroll into athens and come away with a win. exactly in reverse de ja vu to what the dwags did to a ranked gt teams a few years back. if i remember right uga ran the ball down our throats that game. last time i looked ….. ball control can be the best cure for a bad d. we have a habit of controlling the clock at times.
on another note…. while i like coach kelly i dont think that he is the answer for us as d coordin
he is young. he is a good d coordinator. he could be had for a mere pittance. he knows the acc and HE IS ONE HELL OF A RECRUITER!
4 Natl Chmpshps
November 12th, 2012
7:11 pm
@Nativebird – I assume that “bird” in your name is CROW….open up and get ready for a mouth full of it from the coach you jealously disrespect. And after you’re full of CROW, you can cram the remaining feathers up your a$$
mdr1972
November 12th, 2012
7:20 pm
no way does Ga Tech go to Miami. Florida State would beat Ga Tech with ease. The ACC is a joke minus Clemson and FSU
Dawgs stink
November 12th, 2012
7:21 pm
Tech 45 Duke 28 !
Tech 42 Pups 35 !
Bama 37 Mutts 14 !
Spanky
November 12th, 2012
7:21 pm
LMFAO!!!!! YYYep!…. I figured you guys would get all excited by beating the mighty Tar-Heels of North Carolina! Wow, so now UGA has to brace for an upset?! Hehe…same thing every year, then after it’s all said and done, you vanish like a fart in the wind!! Dream that big dream!!
Mountain Dawg
November 12th, 2012
7:23 pm
The fact that a “team” as woeful and hapless as the Nerds is still in conetention merely proves that the ALL CRUD CONFERENCE is the cruddiest in the land.
ignition
November 12th, 2012
7:23 pm
@ JustinSnyder Have you watched GT for the past 20 years…
Humphrey
November 12th, 2012
7:23 pm
Tech’s gonna get stomped by UGA. If UGA gets a 14-21 point lead then it’s over. GT’s best chance is to keep it close as possible. They better eat up a lot of clock.
Dawgball00
November 12th, 2012
7:24 pm
Answer is Nebraska
Dawgs stink
November 12th, 2012
7:24 pm
Spanky , what are you doing with internet access in that trailer ???
Delusional
November 12th, 2012
7:24 pm
Only in the ACC could a 5 loss team be in the running for Coastal Champion…..
Dawgs stink
November 12th, 2012
7:25 pm
ignition . Tech beats Georgia……Book it 42-35 !
Humphrey
November 12th, 2012
7:28 pm
Georgia Tech always say they’re going to upset Georgia…same story every year only for their dreams to be crushed each year…we are 11-1 vs. GT in the past 12 years and it’s going to be 12-1 after next Saturday. Georgia Southern will be a bigger test than Georgia Tech!
Delusional
November 12th, 2012
7:35 pm
Agree with you Humphrey. If UGA plays their assignments, it takes the sting out of the “triple option gimmick”.
Ted M
November 12th, 2012
7:39 pm
GA should win by 60 but sometimes GA chokes, actually a lot of times, but not usually against Tech.
Ted M
November 12th, 2012
7:40 pm
Your comment is awaiting moderation. hahaha what the heck is that?
Bobby Dodd Jr.
November 12th, 2012
7:44 pm
Ghost, you sir are just dumb. UNC has dang good defense, just as good or better than UGA. Go back to scarring people.
Snellville Jacket
November 12th, 2012
7:48 pm
As a wise man once told me, “Even a blind hog finds an acorn sometimes.” Maybe it’s Tech’s year to find that acorn!
Ghost
November 12th, 2012
7:52 pm
Tenn, and Mizzou have much more talent on offense than Tech ever dreamed of.Defensively Mizzou is better. I’ll take struggling and winning by 36 pints to a Sunbelt team instead of losing to one at home by 20 points any day.
Tech would be hard pressed crack the SECs top 12.Better than Kentucky but most others would beat GT handily.
Fan of the Game
November 12th, 2012
7:54 pm
It kind of funny to read the DAWG fan post of how bad Techs division played this year. Tenn, Kentucky, and Auburn are 0-20 this year. The conference wins for UGA is against teams tha have a confernce record of 15-33. Take FLA out anf the other teams are 8-32. UGA barely got by FLA and FLA had 6 TO. Played to the end with Tenn and Kentucky. UGA might represent the east but there schedule has been easy street. Look at the schedule it shows. Add Buffalo and GA Southern. UGA should be at least 9-1. WIth that, tech possibly represent division is funny too. Go easy dawg fans– remember gamecocks chanted– Overrated– and they just might be right.
Ghost
November 12th, 2012
7:57 pm
Bobby Dodd JR,, LOL we’ll see. UNC defense ranked 60th playing an ACC schedule UGA up to 23rd now. You are a very misguided if you believe UNC has 10% of the talent that Georgia defense has..
I knew your Daddy he would think you a fool.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!
November 12th, 2012
7:57 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
GT fans thinking GT actually has a chance to keep it close against UGA!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Funniest comments on any article I’ve read in a long time!!! Keep dreaming of that and an actual encounter with a real live girl that didn’t set you back $400 for the half hour!!!
Bryan G.
November 12th, 2012
7:59 pm
Wow, you guys beat UNC while giving up 50 points and now think you’re going to be UGA in Athens. you guys are ADORABLE.
Humphrey
November 12th, 2012
8:06 pm
Georgia Tech can’t beat BYU and Middle Tennessee State at home, yet they’re going to beat UGA in Athens? LMAO
JustinSyder
November 12th, 2012
8:10 pm
I guess us getting our hopes up with beating the dWags is similar to you guys thinking you’re gonna win the National Championship every year, much less the conference. LOL!
How bout them BEES!
November 12th, 2012
8:11 pm
Wouldn’t it be neat to be the only team to lose to MTS by 21, and then play in the ACC championship game, the orange bowl and also kick UGA s butt who will be playing in the SEC championship game.
David S
November 12th, 2012
8:18 pm
ACC all cupcake conference…
NYJacket
November 12th, 2012
8:19 pm
Who says UGA wins?
all i remember is
November 12th, 2012
8:22 pm
sixty-eight points was clicking, 40 in the second half.
Bobby Dodd Jr.
November 12th, 2012
8:28 pm
Good grief look at all the obnoxious and arrogant UGA fans on here. You guys really toot your own horn. Can’t wait to humble Y’ALL. Rednecks!
Notes: Johnson again to wait on naming starting QB | Georgia Tech
November 12th, 2012
8:28 pm
[...] Bradley: Tech as Coastal champion? Yep, it could happen [...]
David S
November 12th, 2012
8:30 pm
keep drinking that damn kool-aid…. no way in hell tech beats UGA this year or any other year in the future with Paul Ass Johnson being on staff at TECH… ACC is now worse than the Big East in Football, and it just doesn’t get any worse than that… to say other wise, well, than you’re just a FOOL!!!
White&Gold
November 12th, 2012
8:35 pm
David, the public library is closing soon. Hop off their computer, so they don’t have to call security this time around.
fan
November 12th, 2012
8:40 pm
50-14 DAWGS WIN. Yall don’t have a chance.
Clyde
November 12th, 2012
8:44 pm
W&G, don’t you know that UGA fans think it’s cool to be illiterate? They wouldn’t be caught anywhere near a library. Too bad these fans make up the vast majority of the state’s population. I’m sure they look at their kids and tell them how proud they are, helping to keep the state’s image of ignorance strong.
White&Gold
November 12th, 2012
8:46 pm
That was a very mature response of you, David. Another beer?
GTBOb
November 12th, 2012
8:49 pm
When a pig can fly!
David S
November 12th, 2012
8:49 pm
and your response wasnt an insult at me…. lol…
Humphrey
November 12th, 2012
8:50 pm
I can’t wait to play Tech next week…it’s always so fun to beat them. Last year’s score of 31-17 was not even close to how dominate the game was.
Sam
November 12th, 2012
9:00 pm
Tech just got the Mark Bradley Jinx….it is better when Mark doesn’t pay attention to Tech…
gt4ever
November 12th, 2012
9:10 pm
I have NO idea which fan base is more delusional… UGA a team who has beat NOBODY, or GT whose team is just plain BAD! It’s funny to see the frenzy on both sides… UGA is doing what they should do, and beat almost everybody on their schedule. GT on the other hand has the WORST defense I have seen in 40 years. GT is an embarrassment to anybody who has pride in GT football. UGA is, well, UGA winning until they play somebody good. Looks to me that their first loss will be in the SECCG… IMHO. College football in Georgia. Pathetic!