Sept. 20, 2010
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Georgia Tech, Undefeated NC State Meet Saturday In Atlanta
Georgia Tech, which has won seven consecutive ACC games, and NC State, one of just two remaining undefeated ACC teams, meet Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium in a nationally-televised game (12:00 p.m./ ESPN).
The defending ACC champion Yellow Jackets, 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the ACC, rebounded from an upset loss at Kansas with a 30-24 road win at North Carolina last Saturday. Seniors Anthony Allen (115 yards) and Joshua Nesbitt (104 yards) both rushed for more than 100 yards and the Tech defense allowed just one second-half touchdown in the win over the Tar Heels.
Georgia Tech ranks third nationally in rushing offense (345.0 ypg) behind Nesbitt (89.0 ypg), who has rushed for six touchdowns, Allen (77.3 ypg) and sophomore Orwin Smith (48.0 ypg).
NC State, 3-0 and 0-0, has not played since a 30-19 victory over visiting Cincinnati last Thursday night. The Wolfpack, which joins Boston College as the only remaining unbeaten ACC teams, rolled up 491 yards of total offense and led the Bearcats 30-7 midway through the fourth quarter.
The Wolfpack is led by quarterback Russell Wilson, who has completed 57-of-101 passes for 744 yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions. The State defense is allowing just 15.7 points and 85.3 yards rushing per game. Saturday’s game is the first meeting between the two teams since 2006. Georgia Tech leads the all-time series, 17-9, but the Wolfpack won the last meeting in Atlanta in 2005.
Quick Notes On The Yellow Jackets
– Georgia Tech has won seven consecutive ACC games, not including a win over Clemson in the 2009 ACC championship game.
– Tech ranks third nationally in rushing offense (345.0 ypg). The Yellow Jackets finished in the top five nationally in rushing in 2008 and 2009.
– Senior quarterback Joshua Nesbitt has rushed for 267 yards and six touchdowns in three games. Nesbitt leads the ACC in touchdowns scored and ranks third in rushing (89.0 ypg).
– The Georgia Tech defense, in the final three quarters of the North Carolina game last week, allowed just 181 yards and 14 points.
– Tech has completed just 10 passes this season but averages a lofty 20.4 yards per completion. Joshua Nesbitt has thrown touchdown passes in each of the last two games.
– Thirty-nine different Jackets have made at least one career start, including sophomore A-back Orwin Smith and redshirt freshman linebacker Brandon Watts, who made their first career starts last week.
– Georgia Tech has not lost consecutive games in three seasons under Paul Johnson.
– Johnson, in each of his first two seasons at Tech, was named ACC Coach of the Year. He is the first coach in the history of the conference to win the honor in each of his first two seasons.
– The Yellow Jackets have appeared in a bowl game in 13 consecutive seasons.
– Tech is coming off its first outright ACC championship since 1990.
