Special Thursday Night Game Preview: The Tech Bowl

I was recently asked by the sole proprietor of this fine University of Michigan Blog to publish an ACC Thursday Night Game Preview. I’ve been called a lot of things in my lifetime, but college football expert analyst is not one of them. Long winded story teller, however, is one that fits the bill. So I hope you’re wearing your reading britches.

Since this is a Blog primarily focused on the Maze & Blue, along with Big Ten (or eleven) previews, and an occasional Buckeye update, I felt honored to make a guest submission for a Conference forward thinking enough to expand to an equal number of teams to support two divisions of equal number with a Championship Game.

A firm belief of mine is that one must learn from the past so as not to make the same mistakes in the future. Therefore, I must begin my Game Preview, with a bit of Series Review.

The series between Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech is tied 2-2. Since Virginia Tech joined the ACC, the Hokies have won two of the last three meetings with Georgia Tech. The Jackets scored big last year in Blacksburg, dominating the game from the first series of downs. Two late fourth quarter touchdowns by the Hokies only gave the appearance of a close game with the Ramblin’ Wreck driving away on cruise control, 38-27.

Virginia Tech won, 51-7 in the blow-out 2005 game, which was also played at Blacksburg. The Hokies won 34-20 in 2004 on the two teams’ last ESPN Thursday night meeting in Atlanta. Virginia Tech, behind the entire game and down 17-9 at the end of three and 20-12 with a little over five minutes remaining in the game, scored 22 unanswered points for the victory.

Georgia Tech's first victory in the series came in 1990 in Atlanta, when the Yellow Jackets defeated Virginia Tech in a defensive battle, 6-3, on 38-yard field goal with just eight seconds left. For those of you that don’t remember, that was the weekend following the Georgia Tech victory over the then #1 Ranked Virginia Cavaliers…Georgia Tech 2 – State of Virginia 0.

Georgia Tech & Virginia Tech were also scheduled to play in the 2000 BCA Bowl at Blacksburg, but severe lightning and torrential rain just before kickoff forced the game to be cancelled. This was also the game that Lee Corso, ESPN College Gameday announcer, had has rental car struck by lightning and tires melted in the parking lot.

Now, on to this year’s game…

Not sure exactly how Virginia Tech was able to schedule back to back ESPN Thursday night games…last week versus Boston College and Georgia Tech this week. Not sure if this has been done before? So it is hard to say whether it is a factor. A week off to prepare is a week off to prepare; whether it be Saturday to Saturday or Thursday to Thursday…take your pick.

This week’s meeting between Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech will be a battle between two of the best defenses in college football: Georgia Tech (allowing just 15.5 points per game) and Virginia Tech (15.75 ppg) are the ACC's two stingiest defenses. The Yellow Jackets rank sixth nationally in scoring defense and the Hokies eighth. Both teams rank in the top 15 nationally in total defense. Georgia Tech (287.9 ypg) ranks seventh and Virginia Tech (304.0) ranks 15th. Both the Yellow Jackets (allowing 87.0 yards per game rushing) and the Hokies (89.75 ypg) are holding opponents to less than 100 yards rushing. Georgia Tech ranks 8th nationally and Virginia Tech 9th nationally in rushing defense. The Jacket’s defense held Clemson’s top rushing duo of C.J. Spiller and James Davis to only 62 yards rushing, turning ‘Thunder & Lightning’ into nothing more than ‘Mild & Partly Cloudy.’

John Tenuta is arguably one of the best defensive coordinators in the country. Live by the blitz; die by the blitz. And blitz the Jackets will…approximately 75% of their defensive plays they will bring everything with them but a greasy hamburger from the Varsity restaurant. GT has ‘Wrecked’ opposing teams’ quarterbacks 28 times through the first eight games. Protect the QB, ala Boston College, and you beat the Jackets. Achilles heel for the Georgia Tech defense: 3rd down and long. They historically give up several big third and long conversions to opposing offenses each game, keeping drives alive and often resulting in crucial game changing scores.

Offensively, the Yellow Jackets are Hurt’n Bad! Problem is John Bond, first year Offensive Coordinator from Northern Illinois, has not balanced the attack. Tashard Choice, the ACC’s leading rusher for the second straight year, went down with a knee injury in the third quarter of the Jacket’s last outing against Army. Prognosis is good, but the extra days off aren’t enough for T.C. to make it back for the Va. Tech game. To add insult to injury, T.C.’s back up, Rashaun Grant went out with a season ending injury during the same game. Starting QB Taylor Bennet has thrown for only 2 touchdown passes all season – Absolutely PATHETIC! Oh, Calvin; Calvin. Wherefore art thou, Calvin?

Bottom Line:
Chan Gailey gets out coached by Frank Beamer.
Ga. Tech doesn’t have the Sting and will struggle offensively against one of the top defenses in the country.
Va. Tech will make big plays against the Jackets defense primarily through the air – long passes being completed downfield over the top and short to mid-range passes that are broken for big yardage.
Ga. Tech has been known to step up to big games when the National Spotlight is on, but this time it will be blinding.

Va. Tech wins in a blow-out on the road. 38-10.


Jacket Man