Jan. 23, 2011
Georgia Tech’s 2011 football schedule will be released, most likely, the first week of February. However, we already know this: the Yellow Jackets’ home schedule will be outstanding.
Tech plays seven home games this fall, but it’s not the quantity as much as the quality that should make it one of the most challenging home schedules in all of college football. Of the seven teams that will come to Bobby Dodd Stadium, five played in bowl games.
Tech’s home schedule includes non-conference opponents Western Carolina, Kansas and Georgia, and ACC opponents Maryland, Clemson, North Carolina and Virginia Tech.
The road schedule is no piece of cake either: at Miami, NC State, Virginia, Duke and Tech’s first trip ever to Middle Tennessee State.
Here’s a very quick look at Tech’s 2011 opponents:
HOME
Western Carolina
The Catamounts went 2-9 overall and 1-7 in the Southern Conference… Paul Johnson is a 1979 graduate of Western Carolina… this will be the first meeting between the two teams since 1994… Georgia Tech leads the all-time series, 4-0.
Kansas Kansas went 3-9 overall and 1-7 in the Big 12 Conference… one of those wins was a surprise upset victory over Georgia Tech in Lawrence… now the Jayhawks make the return trip to Atlanta… KU has never played previously in Bobby Dodd Stadium… the only other meeting between the two teams came in the 1948 Orange Bowl, won by the Yellow Jackets, 20-14.
Georgia The Bulldogs finished 6-7 overall and 3-5 in the Southeastern Conference… Georgia fell to George O’Leary and UCF in the Liberty Bowl… CBS Sports ranks Georgia No. 21 in its early pre-season top 25… the Bulldogs return nine starters on defense… this will be the 106th all-time meeting between the Jackets and Bulldogs… Georgia leads the all-time series, 61-39-5… Tech is looking for its first win at home against UGA since 1999.
Maryland The Terrapins were one of the ACC’s biggest surprises in 2010, going 9-4 overall and 5-3 in the league… Maryland finished second behind Florida State in the Atlantic Division… defeated East Carolina in the Military Bowl in Washington, DC, the final game for coach Ralph Friedgen… the Terps will be under the direction of former Georgia Tech assistant coach Randy Edsall, who came to College Park after building the program at UConn… the Yellow Jackets lead the all-time series, 13-6… Tech hasn’t played the Terps since 2007, in Atlanta for the first time since 2006.
Clemson The Tigers finished with an identical record as Georgia Tech, 6-7 overall and 4-4 in the ACC… Clemson lost to South Florida in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, 31-26… Tech has won last three Atlanta meetings… the Yellow Jackets lead the all-time series, 49-25-2.
North Carolina North Carolina overcame a season full of off-the-field obstacles to go 8-5 overall and 4-4 in the ACC… the Tar Heels edged Tennessee in the Music City Bowl, one of the most exciting games of the bowl season… Tech has won five of last six meetings… the Yellow Jackets lead the all-time series, 25-18-3.
Virginia Tech The Hokies won the ACC championship in 2010, going 8-0 in conference play and 11-3 overall… Tech defeated Florida State in the ACC title game in Charlotte, then lost to Stanford in the Orange Bowl… the Hokies lose quarterback Tyrod Taylor, but are ranked 18th in CBS Sports’ early pre-season top 25… Virginia Tech leads the all-time series, 5-3… the Jackets won the last meeting in Atlanta, 28-23 in 2009 when the Hokies were ranked fourth nationally.
ROAD
at NC State
The Wolfpack finished 9-4 overall and 5-3 in the ACC… State finished tied for second in the Atlantic Division behind Florida State… defeated West Virginia, 23-7, in the Champs Sports Bowl… quarterback Russell Wilson, one of the nation’s top QBs, did not enter the NFL draft and could be back in 2011… this will be the first meeting in Raleigh between the two teams since 2006… the Yellow Jackets lead the all-time series, 17-10… Tech has won five of the last seven meetings.
at Virginia Virginia was 4-8 overall and 1-7 in the ACC in 2010 under first-year coach Mike London… this will be the first time Al Groh – Tech’s defensive coordinator and the former UVA head coach – has returned to Charlottesville… Tech’s 2009 win in Charlottesville, 34-9, was its first at Scott Stadium since 1990… the all-time series is tied, 16-16-1.
at Duke The Blue Devils finished 3-9 overall and 1-7 in the ACC… despite the record, Duke was solid under coach David Cutcliffe… Tech has won last seven meetings and has not lost in Durham since 2003… the Yellow Jackets lead the all-time series, 47-30-1.
at Miami The Hurricanes finished 7-6 overall and 5-3 in the ACC before firing head coach Randy Shannon… the `Canes lost to Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl… Miami is under the direction of new coach Al Golden, who comes to Coral Gables after a successful stint at Temple… Tech will return to the site of the Orange Bowl… Miami has won the last two meetings but Tech has won four of the last six… the Yellow Jackets lead the all-time series, 10-6.
at Middle Tennessee State The Blue Raiders finished 6-7 overall and 5-3 in the Sun Belt Conference… MTSU fell to Miami (Ohio) in the GoDaddy.com Bowl… Tech makes first trip to Murfreesboro… Tech’s win over the Blue Raiders last season was the only previous meeting between the two teams.
