Oct. 17, 2011
Georgia Tech, which saw its six-game unbeaten streak come to an end last Saturday at Virginia, will try to stay on top of the ACC’s Coastal Division standings Saturday on the road against a Miami team the Yellow Jackets have not beaten since 2008 (3:36 p.m./ESPN).
The Yellow Jackets, 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the ACC, fell behind 14-0 early at Virginia en route to a 24-21 loss. Tech, which dropped to 20th in the AP poll and 19th in the Coaches Poll, had a season-low 296 yards and allowed a season-high 407 yards.
Tech, which ranks in the top 10 nationally in six different offensive categories, has struggled in the passing game in October (12-of-41, 255 yards). Junior quarterback Tevin Washington has rushed for 235 yards over the last two games.
Miami, 3-3 and 1-2, posted an impressive 30-24 road win at North Carolina last Saturday. Jacory Harris passed for 267 yards and three touchdowns, but the Hurricanes had to hold on after building a 24-point lead.
Harris ranks eighth nationally in pass efficiency (170.8). Senior linebacker Sean Spence ranks eighth nationally in tackles for loss (1.70).
Georgia Tech leads the all-time series, 10-6, but the Hurricanes have won the last two meetings — 35-10 last season in Atlanta, 33-17 at Miami in 2009.
Noting The Yellow Jackets
– Tech ranks in the top 10 nationally in six different statistical categories: rushing (2nd), third-down percentage (2nd), sacks allowed (2nd), pass efficiency (3rd), total offense (9th) and scoring offense (10th).
– The Yellow Jackets dropped this week in the AP poll to 20th, 19th in the Coaches Poll, 22nd in the BCS.
– After winning its first three games by an average of 37.3 points per game, Tech’s last four games have been decided by 6.3 points.
– A Tech victory Saturday would assure it of a winning season, and it would also secure at least a .500 finish in ACC play for a conference-record 17th straight season.
– Out of Georgia Tech’s five remaining regular season opponents, none have a losing record and Clemson (8th), Virginia Tech (16th) and Georgia (24th) are all ranked in the AP poll.
– In three road games this season (at Middle Tennessee, NC State and Virginia), Tech has averaged 38.3 points per game.
– The Yellow Jackets have produced eight one-play touchdown drives. Last season Tech had zero.
– Tech has been without starting OLB, So. Jeremiah Attaochu, for the last two weeks.
– Over the last two games, junior quarterback Tevin Washington has put up Joshua Nesbitt-like rushing numbers: 235 yards rushing and four touchdowns. n Washington would lead the ACC in pass efficiency (190.6) but does not have enough attempts to qualify.
– Junior Orwin Smith is tied for the ACC lead in touchdowns scored (9).
– Smith averages 13.2 yards per carry. He has rushed for a touchdown once every 4.5 times he has carried the ball (8 touchdowns, 37 rushing attempts).
– Junior linebacker Julian Burnett ranks sixth in the ACC, 29th nationally in tackles (67). He has 29 more tackles than any other Tech player.
– Despite Saturday’s 24-21 loss at Virginia, head coach Paul Johnson is 12-3 at Tech in games decided by five points or less.
– Georgia Tech is 8-3 in its last 11 games vs. Atlantic Division opponents. The Jackets have won 15 of their last 21 ACC games.
– Tech has thrown at least two touchdown passes in a game four times this season. Last season they had one game with two TD passes (at Wake Forest).
– Tech has had a 100-yard receiver in four of seven games and a Yellow Jacket has rushed for 100 yards four times this season.
– Tech is the only school in the nation to produce a 1,300-yard rusher in each of the last five seasons. While Tech likely won’t produce a 1,300-yard rusher this season, the B-back position has combined for 669 yards in the first seven games of the season.
– The Yellow Jackets have played 10 true freshmen – DB/PR Zach Laskey, LB Kyle Travis, LB Tremayne McNair, LB Nick Menocal, CB Jamal Golden, OL Shaq Mason, WR Jeff Greene, WR Darren Waller, DB Corey Dennis and LS Sean Tobin.
– Tech continues to tinker with special teams. The Jackets have used two players to kick-off (Justin Moore, David Scully), two placekickers (Moore and Scully), two punters (Sean Poole, Chandler Anderson) and two kick returners (Orwin Smith, Tony Zenon).
– The Jackets are outscoring opponents 81-14 in the third quarter, but Tech is being outscored 69-59 in the fourth quarter. Tech has scored in 24 of 28 quarters this season.
– Tech has had 85 offensive possessions this season and has scored 41 touchdowns.
– Georgia Tech did not have a field goal blocked in each of Paul Johnson’s first three seasons with the Yellow Jackets. This season, two Tech field goals have been blocked, including one last week at Virginia and one in the season opener vs. Western Carolina that was returned for a touchdown.
– Georgia Tech is bowl-eligible for the 15th consecutive year — the fourth-longest current streak nationally.
– Tech began the season 6-0 for the first time since 1966 and 3-0 in the ACC for the first time since 2006.
