The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets won the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2009, reaching the 2010 Orange Bowl against Iowa. It seemed back then that Georgia Tech was ready to usher in a new period of great success in the ACC. The team had the kind of offense that was going to give opponents fits, and the program was led by a coach who brought a lot of swagger with him to the sidelines. The Yellow Jackets were poised to push aside Virginia Tech and become an elite team in a city, Atlanta, which has close proximity and access to a lot of high-grade recruiting talent. Everything was within Georgia Tech’s grasp. Yet, five years later, not much has happened. The Jackets need a jolt this season.
Strengths
The Yellow Jackets use the triple-option offense, which is really hard to prepare for if you have only one week of practice to study it. This is an offense that’s different from what everyone else in the ACC does, and so it requires a different kind of practice for the defenses that must face it. A few coordinators in the ACC, such as Virginia Tech’s Bud Foster, know how to counter the triple option, but most of them do not. Duke, the 2013 Coastal Division champion, was wiped out by Georgia Tech’s offense. This is a team that can beat anyone other than Clemson and Florida State in the ACC when the triple option is humming along.
Weaknesses
The Yellow Jackets’ defense has not been that strong in recent years, and the fact that the defense has to practice against the triple option instead of a passing attack leaves it underprepared. In addition to that part of the puzzle, Georgia Tech is being out-recruited because opposing coaches are selling the triple option as a reason to not attend Georgia Tech. Receivers, quarterbacks, offensive linemen, and anyone who wants to go to the NFL is being lured away from Atlanta because the triple option has a firm identity as a “college” offense. Georgia Tech’s depth and quality have suffered as a result. It’s not a sure thing at all if the level of talent exists to be strong enough on defense to win the Coastal Division this season.
Schedule
The Yellow Jackets scheduled two Football Championship Subdivision teams last season, taking the easy way toward a bowl game. They are once again scheduling very soft teams outside of conference play. Wofford, Tulane, and Georgia Southern should put the Jackets at 3-0 before they move to the ACC. Georgia Tech must host Clemson in November, which is a likely loss. Games against Virginia and North Carolina State should be wins. The Yellow Jackets have to find a way to beat both Miami and Duke at home and split road games against Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh. If Georgia Tech can do that, it should finish 5-3 in the ACC and be in the running for the Coastal Division championship.
Outlook
The Yellow Jackets just have too many questions this season. This team should get to six wins, but finding that seventh win won’t be easy. Duke, North Carolina, and Virginia Tech are all better teams in the Coastal. A six-win season seems right, so the under is the slightly better play, but it’s very close.
Pick: Under 6.5 at -105
