Georgia Tech Football

It looks like the No. 22-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets might be in a heap of trouble down in Florida playing the Miami Hurricanes. 

A lot was expected out of the Hurricanes this year, but needless to say their 3-3 overall record (1-2 in the ACC) has been rather disappointing.

That being said, the Hurricanes have been known to shake things up, most notably when they upset the then-No. 17 Ohio State Buckeyes in Week 2.

You could say that Miami may have exposed Ohio State, so if Georgia Tech doesn't get themselves back on track they may find themselves in the same position.

What's Gone Wrong?

Being down two touchdowns at halftime would be a good place to start. The Yellow Jackets have allowed Miami to run the ball down their throats, and they've given it away once too many.

Lamar Miller is averaging 4.5 yards a carry so far for Miami, and Georgia Tech quarterback Tevin Washington has a pick against him.

What's At Stake?

Simply put, a second loss will most likely take Georgia Tech out of the top 25.

Upset Potential

Out of 10, I would give this a five. Right now this game could go either way. Miami is an incredibly inconsistent team that may let the Yellow Jackets back in the game.

How Will Voters React?

Losing to Miami is not a good sign for Georgia Tech's BCS hopes. 

Will Georgia Tech Come Back?

Coming out of halftime the Yellow Jackets offense looks like it's finally able to move the ball. Like I said, Miami is inconsistent enough to let them back in it.

Who Benefits Most From Georgia Tech Collapse?

The Clemson Tigers, who remain undefeated, would have one less threat to worry about in the ACC. Virginia Tech on the other-hand would bump up over the Yellow Jackets in the ACC race with a win of their own.

First and foremost, I would like to apologize to anyone following my articles for the delay in articles over the past few days.  Things kept me from having the time to sit down and write.

Now, onto what actually matters.  As a Georgia Tech fan, it has become all to commonplace:  A great hot team that looks like it can be as good as any team in the nation...that seems to always manage at least one bonehead loss. 

Let's just look at some of the recent stunners in the past few years:  In 2010, Kansas took the honor.  In 2009, the argument could easily be made for Miami, but UGA takes the cake for that year (no reason to lose that game).  In 2008, Virginia took the honor. 

In 2011, Virginia once again takes the cake, as the Charlottesville Curse comes back to bite the Jackets once again.  Throughout the entire time I was watching the game, only one thought dominated my mind:  The nightmares from last year aren't truly dead.

Now, don't take this as me saying the team is ensured to collapse like last year; the team HAS improved.  But all of a sudden, the question that has to be asked is:

Who are the 2011 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets? 

On one hand, they are a team that has shown vast improvements in determination, skill and athleticism over the 2010 squad, showing that when the team clicks on all cylinders, they are capable of putting up an average of 50 points every game. 

Even the defense has shown it can play an elite game.  It held a Maryland offense that put up over 45 points against Clemson to only 16 points.  The team has shown that it is willing to do as much as it has to each week to improve.

And then there is the other side of the argument.  The side that saw the same supposed high-powered offense sputter in three straight games, culminating in a second half against UVA that was perhaps the ugliest showing this offense has had in the four years under Paul Johnson. 

They are a team that is horribly weak against the run, and that struggles on third down stops.  They are a team that showed consistent lack of effort in three straight weeks, questioning the same leadership thought to be a strength. 

So, I'll be honest.  Through all of this, I really don't know which team this 2011 Georgia Tech squad is.  They could flip a switch, take the anger from this past week, and win every game from this point forward.  They could also let this loss to UVA tailspin them into a miserable second half to the season. 

Miami this week will be a good measuring stick.  It'll explain a lot to us about the determination and resolution of this team.  So, until then, I'll simply ask:  Will the Real Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets please stand up?

Overheard in a fictitious bar on a Sunday night in College Town, U.S.A.

“These BCS computers just don’t make any sense.”

College football debates and cheap shots are no doubt flying over the BCS rankings like birds going south for the winter. 

Here are some conversation starters about the new list of BCS rankings to carry to the office water cooler this week.

• The South Carolina Gamecocks (No. 14): It hardly makes sense for a team who just lost their star running back to a season-ending injury (Marcus Lattimore) and their first-string quarterback to team dismissal to hang in at this respectable BCS ranking.  Perhaps we need to tell the computer a thing or two.  

The Gamecocks—traditionally a team that fizzles as the season comes to an end—barely escaped a loss in Starkville this past weekend.  Against Mississippi State—a team that has not won an SEC game this year—the Gamecocks were sloppy and inconsistent. The future could take a turn for the worse this weekend as they travel to Knoxville to meet a hungry Volunteer team looking for a must-win. These Gamecocks may have a lot to crow about now, but they’ve still got quite a bit of football to play, including a season-ending date with their arch-rivals, the Clemson Tigers (No. 7).

• The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (No. 22): It just doesn’t make sense that a one-loss team could make its BCS debut near the bottom of the list.  Losing by a mere three points to a 4-2 Virginia team, Paul Johnson’s Yellow Jackets were definitely struggling this past weekend, however, this team is second overall in the nation’s rushing with 347.9 total yards! 

Give them some credit for outscoring their opponents by big numbers, including a win over Kansas 66-24 and North Carolina 35-28.  Look for the Jackets to dominate on Saturday in Miami and get ready for an ACC showdown with No. 7 Clemson on October 29 at home.

• The Arkansas Razorbacks (No. 9): How did the Arkansas Razorbacks slip into the BCS top 10?  Against Alabama, they struggled and lost 38-14, at times playing like a Kent State or a North Texas.  Although they came back and defeated Texas A&M in a close one (42-38), the Hogs beat an under-skilled Auburn 38-14. 

At first glance, the Razorbacks’ strength of schedule isn’t impressive and this Saturday, they meet a weak Ole Miss at home.  Can the Razorbacks stand up to national contender LSU on November 25?  Watch them fall.

• The Penn State Nittany Lions (No. 21):  Penn State is still in the hunt for a respectable season and there’s nothing Joe Paterno would rather see than a higher BCS ranking.  But how can it be? 

Thus far they’ve beaten several non-impressive teams in low-scoring games: i.e., Indiana State (41-7) Temple (14-10), East Michigan (34-6), Indiana (16-10), Iowa (13-3) and Purdue (23-18).  Their only loss is against Alabama (27-11).  It doesn’t make sense that these wins would render them a Top 25 slot in the BCS rankings.  Go figure.

• The Texas A&M Aggies  (No. 17): With close losses to Oklahoma State (29-30) and Arkansas (38-42), the Aggies killed Baylor 55-28 this past weekend.  With 35 first downs and 681 total yards of offense, the Aggies seem like a much better team than their ranking.  Against Baylor, they had no penalties and were 10 of 13 on third-down conversions.  It seems this team is ironing out its kinks and should be ranked higher.  It just doesn’t make sense.

No. 12 Georgia Tech ran into a bump in the road on the way to ACC and BCS glory on Saturday, suffering a disappointing 24-21 loss to Virginia in Charlottesville. The loss is the first of the season for the Yellow Jackets, setting them back with the pack in the Coastal Division and essentially deflating their slim hopes of competing for the BCS National Championship.

Who's the Biggest Winner?

The Cavaliers deserve all the credit in the world for shutting down Paul Johnson's triple-option offense, which had been one of the most prolific in all of college football up until this weekend. The win is easily the biggest of the Mike London era and pushes the team to 4-2, thereby matching its win total from all of last season.

The Cavs aren't about to win the ACC just yet, but notching a victory over a top-flight conference contender like Georgia Tech will go a long way toward getting the program back on track after years of inconsistency and mediocrity.

Does Georgia Tech Still Have a BCS Chance?

As shocking as this loss is, it leaves Tech's BCS hopes well intact. The Jackets stand at 3-1 in conference play and, as such, are guaranteed to remain atop the Coastal Division for at least another week. The Ramblin' Wreck still controls its own destiny from here on out and, realistically, need only worry about No. 19 Virginia Tech stealing its thunder and the berth in the ACC Championship Game that comes with it.

What it Means

The loss merely affirms what was already apparent—that Georgia Tech wasn't going to win a national title this year. The Yellow Jackets came into the weekend as one of 13 undefeated teams in college football, though they would've needed a ton of help from teams around the country in just about every AQ conference to sneak their way down to New Orleans.

Saturday's disappointment also laid bare a number of issues that had come to light in Atlanta over the past few weeks, including...

Biggest Thing to Fix

The passing game, the lack of which proved to be a huge problem for the Yellow Jackets against the Cavs. Quarterback Tevin Washington had his third poor passing performance in as many weeks, completing just two of eight attempts for 24 yards with two picks. To his credit, Washington had another terrific day on the ground (115 yards, two touchdowns), though Georgia Tech will need him to get back to making big plays with his arm if the 2011 season is to be a crowning one for the Jackets.

Pivotal Turnaround Game

Georgia Tech better have its house in order by November 10th, when the Hokies come to town. The winner of that game will likely go on to represent the Coastal Division in the ACC Championship Game, while the loser will simply have to settle for a mid-level bowl game at season's end.

Who the Yellow Jackets Play Next

Georgia Tech will look to get back on track at Miami next Saturday. The Yellow Jackets have lost each of their last two games against the Hurricanes by double digits.

The Virginia Cavaliers have the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on an early upset alert after taking it to the No. 12 team in the nation in the first half.

Georgia Tech's dreams of a National Championship and undefeated season is seriously in jeopardy as they watch their defense get walked all over. 

What’s Gone Wrong?

Early turnovers and a lackluster-looking defense has put Georgia Tech down early against a less than impressive Virginia team.

Quarterback Tevin Washington is yet to complete a pass and has thrown two interceptions.

The Cavaliers came out hot, scoring on both of their opening possessions. The defense began to steady up, but key turnovers would widen the score.

An interception return for a touchdown tied the game back up midway through the second quarter.

Interceptions by Washington then put Virginia back in place to take a 24-14 halftime lead.

What’s At Stake?

Georgia Tech is currently sitting as the No. 12 ranked team in the nation.

They have an undefeated record and dreams are still alive as a dark horse for a National Championship run.

The game also has ACC implications. A loss would still leave the Yellow Jackets with a comfortable lead in the Coastal division, but the gap would be narrowed.

Upset Potential: 4 out of 10

Although Virginia has looked like the better team in the first half, it's going to be tough for them to hold on.

This is a Georgia Tech team that can score a lot of points, and they can do it really fast. A 10-point deficit isn't too large to overcome.

As long as the team corrects the costly turnovers and mistakes, they have a good chance at recovering from the first half.

How will voters react?

Win or lose, this early collapse could be bad news for Georgia Tech.

If they recover and win, they still won't get love in the voting. Chances are they will remain as one of the lowest ranked undefeated squads.

If they lose, the drop could be a big one. This team hasn't played a Top 25 opponent yet this season.

A loss could put them as low as 20th in the nation.

Will Georgia Tech Come Back?

As stated before, it's likely Georgia Tech will come back.

This is a team that can score often and fast. It could take as little as five minutes for this team to cut a deficit as small as 10 points.

The real concern right now is whether or not the defense can step up.

If they can recover after some first-half woes, they should be fine.

Otherwise, we could be in store for a shootout.

Who benefits most from Georgia Tech's collapse?

With the BCS ranking system, every undefeated team in the nation will benefit from Georgia Tech's collapse if it holds up.

When only two teams can play in the National Championship, every undefeated elimination is key.

This will also narrow the race in the ACC Coastal. However, only Virginia Tech and Miami seem like possible contenders in the race.

Every year, the BCS rankings stir up controversy, and there's nothing like overrated teams being ranked way too high, thus causing fierce debates.

Next Sunday, the first BCS rankings of the 2011 college football season will be unveiled, and there certainly be teams who will receive a higher ranking than they deserve.

Let's take a look at three of those teams.

1) Boise State

The Boise State Broncos don't even deserve to be in the Top 10 of the BCS rankings. They have beaten no quality teams. When your best win is against a bad Georgia team on a neutral site, that isn't good enough for a high BCS ranking.

The Broncos knew that their weak, non-BCS conference schedule wasn't good enough, yet they didn't schedule enough quality out-of-conference opponents. 

How can you rate the Broncos ahead of undefeated and one-loss teams from the SEC and Big Ten when those teams play quality opponents nearly every week?

2) Michigan

Michigan is another team putting up great stats that hasn't played anyone yet. And no, Notre Dame doesn't count—they are not a quality team.

The Wolverines haven't beaten a currently-ranked team and have enjoyed one of the softest schedules in the Big Ten to this point.

Once they start playing real teams, we will see how good they really are. Michigan will likely get a Top 10 BCS ranking, but they don't deserve it. Not yet anyway.

3) Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech is another team who has played a very soft out-of-conference schedule so far this season, and they play in a very weak ACC conference.

The Yellow Jackets haven't played a ranked team yet, and they won't for another three weeks. They need a better body of work before they deserve a Top 15 BCS ranking.

Georgia Tech will take its high-powered offense into Scott Stadium to play Virginia this Saturday looking to make a lasting impression on the BCS before the initial rankings are released on Sunday night.

The Yellow Jackets have come out of nowhere this season. They were not ranked in the preseason polls, but after a 6-0 start they are ranked No. 12 in both polls. They have quickly emerged as one of the favorites to win the ACC. They are led by a dynamic rushing attack that averages 360 yards per game.

Virginia has really struggled so far this season. There has been no consistency on offense or defense with this team. They needed overtime to defeat Idaho last week. Second-year head coach Mike London is still trying to build this roster to match his vision, but it is going to be a struggle the rest of this year.

Where: Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia

When: Saturday, Oct. 15 at 3:30 p.m. EDT

Watch: ESPNU

Listen: Sports Talk 790 AM The Zone, 106.7 WYAY-FM (Georgia Tech); 3WV 97.5 FM, WINA 1070 AM (Virginia)

Betting Line: Georgia Tech (-7.5)

Yellow Jackets’ Injury Report

LB Brandon Watts – Day-to-Day (Undisclosed Injury)

LB Jeremiah Attaochu – Day-to Day (Leg)

LB Daniel Drummond – Day-to-Day (Leg)

OL Morgan Bailey – Day-to-Day (Undisclosed)

Cavaliers’ Injury Report

RB Kevin Parks – Questionable (Ankle)

WR Bobby Smith – Questionable (Lower body)

LB Henry Cole – Questionable (Lower Body)

Key Storyline To Watch: Is Georgia Tech The Best Team In The ACC?

Before the season started, all the talk in the ACC was about Florida State and how that program was on the upswing.

Now, seven weeks into the year, it appears that the two best teams in the conference are Clemson and Georgia Tech.  Those two teams won’t play each other for another two weeks, but the Yellow Jackets are certainly making an impression on everyone around the country.

There are not many offenses that have produced the kind of numbers they have. They rank fourth in the country in rushing and sixth in points scored.

If the Yellow Jackets keep dominating the way they have, they will be kings of the ACC.

BCS/Top 25 Poll Implications

Virginia is 3-2 with losses to North Carolina and Southern Mississippi. They beat Indiana by three and needed overtime to beat Idaho. It is safe to say that a lot of things will have to go wrong with the rest of the ACC for this team to have a shot at a BCS game.

Georgia Tech, on the other hand, has very real BCS aspirations right now. With the easier portion of the schedule done, this team can focus on using the momentum built out of conference to stay atop the ACC heading into their Oct. 29 showdown with Clemson.

What They Are Saying

With Virginia still trying to find an identity, offensive coordinator Bill Lazor says that freshman quarterback David Watford is likely to see an expanded role in the offense in this game and the rest of the season.

“We’re not at a point where we’re trying to protect him. He’s going to play football. He has skills and he can play, so we’ll decide before the next game how he’s going to play. It may be the same pattern or it may be a different one. We may decide differently. There’s a lot of different ways to do it.”

Georgia Tech Player To Watch: Orwin Smith, RB

The Yellow Jackets live and die with the run, and Orwin Smith has been one of the most electric running backs in the country this season. He has 464 yards and eight touchdowns on just 32 carries. That equates to an astounding 14.5 yards per rush.

Smith has had two games this season in which he has averaged at least 20 yards per rush and four games with at least 10 yards per carry. He is having a historic season that no one is talking about.

Virginia Player To Watch: Michael Rocco, QB

Virginia’s sophomore quarterback Michael Rocco struggled in September with seven interceptions and just one touchdown. He bounced back with a solid performance against Idaho two weeks ago, but he has to play the game of his life to keep up with Georgia Tech’s offense.

If Rocco struggles early, don’t be shocked if the team makes the move to freshman quarterback David Watford. He has played sparingly this season, but is going to get more snaps as the year progresses.

Key Matchup: Georgia Tech’s Running Backs vs. Virginia’s Defensive Line

You know what you are going to get when you play Georgia Tech: A lot of runs with some play-action passes mixed in.

Virginia does not have a high-powered offense, so it is incumbent upon the defense to break through the Yellow Jackets’ blockers if they want to stay in this game for 60 minutes.

Considering the way that teams like Indiana, North Carolina and Southern Mississippi have been able to score on Virginia’s defense, it is hard to believe that will happen.

Prediction

The Yellow Jackets are the superior team. They are going to run on Virginia’s defense all game long.

Georgia Tech 51, Virginia 20

So, we are currently sitting in the middle of year four of the Paul Johnson era at Georgia Tech.  And in those four years, two arguments tend to come up concerning Georgia Tech.  The first one is that teams have "figured out" how to stop the spread option offense the Jackets run.

It is perhaps the most ignorant argument you can make about an offense that has already lead the Jackets to an ACC Championship and to their first 6-0 start since the Bobby Dodd era.  That would be no different than me saying that because we held Maryland to 16 points, we have "figured out" their offense.

Now, the second argument holds a little more merit.  The argument is that Georgia Tech does not field a championship caliber defense, and that because of this, they will never truly reach the biggest stages of college football.  And let's be quite honest, there was not much of an argument against this for the past three years. 

Georgia Tech's total overall defensive rankings in the past three years were barely in the top 60 in college football.  And that argument has carried over strongly into this year, fueled by what look like poor performances by the defense in multiple games this season.

But numbers can be deceiving.  I'll give you an example.  In the NFL, the 2010 Defensive Player of the Year was Troy Polamalu.  Crazy thing about this:  He did not lead the NFL in any major statistical category.  So why was he voted as the DPOY?  Because of the intangibles.  These are things that can't be measured by numbers or stats.  The regular stats don't show that his strip sack of Joe Flacco, ultimately won the AFC North for them. 

This year's Georgia Tech defense is no different.  On the surface, there are a lot of complaints.  However, if you dig just a bit deeper past the numbers, you'll see that the effort is much better than the numbers show. 

Against Western Carolina, the Jackets gave up 21 points.  Dig a little deeper and you find out that 14 of those points came directly off of special teams errors, not mistakes by the defense.  Against Middle Tennessee State, NC State and Kansas, second-string players gave up at least one touchdown in each of those games, yet again skewing the numbers.

Also, the numbers don't show this—but the defense fully won the game against Maryland.  I'm more than willing to argue that fact with you, but for three quarters the defense held Maryland to three points.  If the offense pulls its weight and scores one more time, the game doesn't even fall under a threat of a comeback.  It is finished—much like the NC State game—before it can even happen.

Ultimately, the thing that must be preached concerning this defense is patience.  It helps to realize that we are currently in just the second year of a new defensive scheme under Al Groh, and that many of the regular defensive players are still relatively young.  Add in the fact that each week, the defense seems to improve, and it all boils down to showing us that the numbers don't always tell the full story. 

The Virginia Cavaliers will host the undefeated and No. 12 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Saturday.

The Cavaliers come into the game at 3-2, but haven't had a really dominant win since beating William & Mary 40-3 in the opener.

While the Yellow Jackets have been closer in the last few games than they probably should have been, they are a perfect 6-0 and genuine contenders in the ACC.

Where: Scott Stadium. Charlottesville, Virginia

When: Saturday, October 15 at 3:30 p.m. EDT

Watch: ESPNU

Listen: 790 AM in Atlanta. 97.5 FM, 1070 AM in Charlotesville. Streamed online at Virginiasports.com.

Betting Line

Bodog has the Yellow Jackets as 7.5-point favorites. I know that Georgia Tech has been less than dominant at times this year, but this is a pretty good bet if that line holds.

Key Storyline

Can Georgia Tech remain undefeated? Their run has been less than dominant, but they do sit at a perfect 6-0 record.

Also, with a road game against Miami next week, and then home dates against Clemson and Virginia Tech immediately after, can the Yellow Jackets avoid looking too far ahead?

Who Might Not Play for Georgia Tech

LB's Brandon Watts, Jerimiah Attaochu, Daniel Drummond, and OL Morgan Bailey are all listed as day-to-day.

Who Might Not Play for Virginia

HB Kevin Parks, WR Bobby Smith, and LB Henry Coley are all questionable.

BCS/Top 25 Implications

Virginia's chances in the ACC are pretty much done. They will not be a ranked team. Georgia Tech needs this win to keep their ACC hopes alive. If they lose, it's possible that they will fall from the Top 25.

What They're Saying

ESPN's Heather Dinich had this to say as part of her Midseason report on Georgia Tech:

Georgia Tech, which was picked by the media to finish in fourth place in the Coastal Division, has far exceeded expectations. Unlike in years past, there’s not really one superstar on this team. Instead, it’s been a group effort that Washington has highlighted.

Georgia Tech Player to Watch

Quarterback Tevin Washington will clearly be the most important player for the Yellow Jackets. As both a passer and runner, he will need to be on point against not only Virginia, but the rest of the ACC schedule.

Virginia Player to Watch

Kevin Parks has been a touchdown vulture for the Cavaliers this year. He's not the team's leading rusher, but he's scored six touchdowns. No other Cavalier has more than two.

Key Matchup

Virginia quarterback Michael Rocco has a fair yardage total, but throws far too many interceptions. Rocco against the Georgia Tech secondary will be important.

If Rocco doesn't get the better of that matchup, this one will be ugly.

On the Hotseat

Rocco. His touchdown to interception ratio is awful. If he doesn't improve, it's hard to see him surviving the season.

Prediction

Georgia Tech has too much here for Virginia to play against. It might be reasonably close, but I like the Yellow Jackets to win and cover here.

Georgia Tech 27, Virginia 13.