Jackets Nesting Report: Looking Ahead: Georgia Tech Football

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Talkin Jackets
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(photo courtesy of the Atlanta Journal Constitution)

It’s only March, but that won’t stop Georgia Tech from hitting the weight rooms or the practice fields to put in some work prior to their 2021 football season.

Every single day the Yellow Jackets are getting ripped into shape, working on their craft and building towards the future. Jackets’ athletics are on the rise — look at their men’s and women’s basketball programs, finishing off strong. Both likely to make a push in their own NCAA Tournament. Tech baseball is currently ranked No. 7 and their winning ways don’t seem to be fading anytime soon. Tech softball started slow out of the gate this year but even the ladies within that program are showing grit and toughness as the season progresses.

Geoff Collins is entering his third season at the helm for the Jackets with a 6-16 overall record and a 5-12 record against conference foes. Last season was cut short by two games thanks to the Covid outbreak. Tech finished 3-7 overall with all three wins coming in conference play. Tech’s game against Miami was not played last season.

Georgia Tech RB Jahmyr Gibbs is a superstar in the making

The First Four Games

This season the Jackets will attempt to play a 12 game season. It doesn’t get any easier, but the wins could be there. Tech starts the season in which it should get two easy wins to start the season on the right foot against Northern Illinois and Kennesaw State.

No disrespect intended to be sent to the first two opponents on Tech’s schedule but the level of competition just isn’t there for those two teams to compete against the Jackets. However, you can’t say the same for Georgia Tech in their next two games — Clemson and North Carolina.

Tech will play its first road game of the year in a rough environment. They likely won’t lose in the 2020 fashion, which was unbearable to watch, but the talent that Clemson has is currently above and beyond the rest of their competition in the ACC. That’s a given. There’s no debating that. Not right now. UNC however, doesn’t have the top notch athletes as Clemson, but they do have grit and they play under one hell of a coach in Mack Brown, who’s obviously done his job in turning that program around.

Two wins in a row, followed by two losses in a row for Tech.

(2-2, 0-2)

Georgia Tech QB Jeff Sims will be even stronger his sophomore campaign – (photo: David John Griffin)

The Next Four

Imagine this: Tech starts the season 0-2 in conference play, finds their groove early on, goes on a winning streak to turn their season around. We’ve seen this story before. And it’s pretty magical.

Tech’s next four games will be against Pittsburgh, Duke, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Lets face it, Pitt is one of those teams that the Yellow Jackets will have a hard time preparing for. The Panthers always play better than their record shows, always have a chip on their shoulder, and pull out wins that seemingly shouldn’t be there. It’s not been a fun series to watch if you’re a Tech fan over the last several years as Pittsbrurgh have won four out of their last five games, with the Yellow Jackets’ only win coming in 2017.

  • Dec 10, 2020 — Pittsburgh 34 vs. Georgia Tech 20
  • Nov 02, 2019 – Pittsburgh 20 vs. Georgia Tech 10
  • Sep 15, 2018 – Pittsburgh 24 vs. Georgia Tech 19
  • Sep 23, 2017 – Georgia Tech 35 vs. Pittsburgh 17
  • Oct 08, 2016 – Pittsburgh 37 vs. Georgia Tech 34
  • Oct 17, 2015 – Pittsburgh 31 vs. Georgia Tech 28

Tech’s games against Pitt have been close. And that doesn’t change in 2021. The only thing that changes is the end result: Tech gets the win.

(3-2, 1-2)

88th meeting

Duke is another team in which has earned the respect of their foes not only within the ACC, but around the nation. While Georgia Tech has historically dominated Duke 51-35-1, Duke has won the last three of four meetings with Tech’s last win coming last season.

  • Nov 28, 2020 — Georgia Tech 56 vs. Duke 33
  • Oct 12, 2019 – Duke 42 vs. Georgia Tech 23
  • Oct 13, 2018 – Duke 28 vs. Georgia Tech 14
  • Nov 18, 2017 – Duke 43 vs. Georgia Tech 20

Tech was on a 10-game winning streak dating back from 2004-13. Maybe a new winning streak will happen when Tech pulls out the 28-24 win, starting a new winning streak.

(4-2, 2-2)

Hey Old Friend

When Tech and Virginia square off in 2021 it will be their 43rd match-up between the two teams with Tech barely leading the series, 21-20-1. From 2014-19, the Yellow Jackets and UVa have alternated wins and losses against each other.

Tech won in 2014 by a score of 35-10. UVa won in 2015 by a score of 27-21. Then in 2016 Tech won, 31-17 while UVa got the win in 2017, 40-36. In 2018 Tech got the three point win 30-27, while in 2019 UVa won by five, 33-28.

If you’re paying attention, recent history should, and likely will favor Georgia Tech going into 2021 as they are the home team and home teams in the series since 2014 are undefeated. Tech will need overtime for this one but win it, 34-31.

(5-2, 3-2)

The “other” Tech

Tech’s eighth game of the year and six in conference will be no easy task as it will face off against the other Tech — Virginia Tech.

This will be the 18th meeting between Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech with the Hokies leading the series 10-7. Georgia Tech had a 3 game win streak vs the Hokies from 2016-18. This year’s match-up will be the first since 2019 where Tech lost to Va. Tech, 45-0.

2019 was a year in which the Hokies seemed to building some confidence for their future. But let’s face it, they are in a tough situation with their football program right now. When both teams face off, they always give each other fits. This will be a tough down-to-the-wire game, but Georgia Tech wins it, 24-21.

(6-2, 4-2)

(Photo by Todd Kirkland)

Finishing Strong

Miami and Boston College

These are two games that are toss ups. Anything can happen and both are winnable games. In their 25 previous match-ups, Tech leads Miami, 13-12 and currently own a two game winning streak over the Hurricanes. But don’t overlook this Canes’ team as they are building for the future.

Although things are looking good for Georgia Tech and sitting bowl eligible with their six wins already, they may be overlooking Miami here and take the loss right on the chin, 17-14.

But the losing ways won’t last long as Tech gets back on track with a big win over Boston College. Tech is 7-3 overall against the Eagles with BC getting the win last year 48-27. If you take a deep dive into the series, neither team has dominated really when they win and that’s expected again in 2021 when Tech wins 20-14.

(7-3, 5-3)

No Luck Against Irish

Like Clemson, Notre Dame is just a notch above the rest of the conference. Several say this could be an upset for Tech. However, in order for that to happen, everything that is practiced before the game will need to be preached when the two meet between the chalk lines.

Jackets fans close your eyes on this stat … the Irish lead the series 29-6-1. To say that Tech has been dominated is an understatement. The two met in 1999 in the Gator Bowl where Tech won, 35-28. However, Notre Dame has won three of the last four meetings dating back to 2006. The winning ways for the Irish continue against Tech, 35-21.

(7-4, 5-4)

The Rival

Lets face it. Tech and Georgia do not like each other. And that’s okay. The series is led by Georgia, 68-41-5 with the Dawgs winning the last three games and pretty convincing as well. Tech’s most current win over Georgia was in 2016 where they upset Georgia, 28-27.

In order for Tech to win this game they will need put on their best performance. Get the momentum early and take control of the game. If that doesn’t happen then Georgia will run away with this game. However, this game will be closer than the experts think. Georgia gets the win, but Tech fights till the final whistle, 35-24.

Record Prediction: (7-5, 5-4)

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