The first month of the college football season is almost in the books. For some, it looks as if they are on the brink of greatness; other are looking at early entrance into the “we need a new coach” lounge. So where does Georgia Tech stand? Well, “greatness” is relative and Tech players and fans are currently asking will Georgia Tech finish bowl eligible?
Where Have They Been?
Georgia Tech currently sits at 1-3 on September 26, 2018. At the beginning of the season fans and sports pundits were predicting the Yellow Jackets to be 3-1 at this point. Alcorn State was a given. South Florida and Pittsburgh were always meant to be difficult, but not so difficult that Georgia Tech’s experienced offense could not overcome for a victory.
Clemson was always going to be the lone loss for the Yellow Jackets in September. Paul Johnson and Tech have not beaten Clemson since 2014, and Clemson is only getting better every year. But Georgia Tech was supposed to challenge Clemson on some level, and they disappointed in every way this past Saturday.
At their best Tech has been inconsistent and undisciplined through the first four weeks of the year. Forgot Alcorn State. Tech put up 602 yards against South Florida; 386 yards against Pittsburgh; and 203 yards against Clemson.
No one faults Tech for only gaining 203 yards on Clemson. They have an NFL-caliber front four on defense. But the trend for Georgia Tech’s offense is trending in the wrong direction.
Where are They Going?
If you look at Tech’s remaining schedule, there is only one sort-of guaranteed win in Bowling Green (Sat. Sept. 29th in Atlanta). But after that contest, the Yellow Jackets could be looking at another three win season – second since 2015.
Remaining Home Games
- Bowling Green (Sept. 29) – the one sort-of guaranteed win left for Georgia Tech.
- Duke (Oct. 13) – Duke is currently 4-0 and David Cutcliffe has the Blue Devils rolling. Duke is averaging 38 points per game and 427 yards per game. With Virginia, Duke is looking at representing the coastal division in the ACC championship game in December.
- Miami (Nov. 10) – This is a game Tech should have won last year. Unfortunately for Tech, the outcome will most likely be the same this year. Miami still has a lot to prove since losing to LSU in week one; but they have all the talent to make something happen by November 10th.
- Virginia (Nov. 17) – The Cavaliers are currently 3-1 and looking like a legit contender to represent the coastal division in the ACC championship. Tech will struggle at home.
Remaining Road Games
- Louisville (Oct. 5) – The Cardinals have started off a little slow this year despite Bobby P’s best efforts. This game is looking more and more like a toss up the closer we get to kickoff. Louisville has a slight effort since it is a home game, but whichever offense can score three touchdowns wins.
- Virginia Tech (Oct. 25) – No one had a worse weekend than Virginia Tech. Josh Jackson is done indefinitely and Trevon Hill is no longer with the team. Josh Jackson’s replacement, Ryan Willis, will attempt to replace a proven leader on offense. Late October might be enough time to right the ship in Blacksburg, but Georgia Tech could manage to upset two years in a row if Willis cannot find his groove.
- North Carolina (Nov. 3) – Larry Fedora and crew had a terrible 2017 season. 2018 is not looking much better – even the offseason was bad. If the Central Florida game had not been canceled, North Carolina would be looking at an identical record to Tech right now. Unlike Louisville, I do not think home field advantage will be enough for North Carolina in this contest.
- Georgia (Nov. 24) – There is not much to say about this one. Georgia is loaded on both sides of the ball, again, and Tech does not have the depth to hang with Georgia for four quarters. It could get ugly in Athens, unfortunately.
What Will Be Their Final Destination?
The most pragmatic scenario for Georgia Tech is four or five wins. This writer is open to Tech winning against Bowling Green, North Carolina, and possibly Louisville. That leads to four wins. Georgia Tech is always good for an upset every now and then, and they might be able to upset Virginia Tech on the road.
Other than that, Georgia Tech is looking at a rough season. Thus far, fans have not seen anything on the field that gives them much hope for a standout season. If Tech continues with their inconsistent play on both sides of the ball, they will be lucky to finish with three wins. The fact that KirVonte Benson is out for the year is a big blow to Tech as well and figured in to the writing of this article.
Tech players and fans are looking at a missed bowl opportunity in consecutive seasons for the first time under head coach Paul Johnson. Will this prove Johnson’s final season in Atlanta? Keep an eye on the “firePaulJohnson.com” URL at the end of the season.
