Do the Jackets have a chance to pull off the upset this year?
Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for another year of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate. Rivalry week is easily the best football week because…anything can happen. Can we make anything happen in Athens this weekend? I know we have a head coach who wants to win almost more than his fans do and that passion means something in the game of football. Here is what I think I know going into the final week of the regular season.
Carson Beck and the dawg offense have not been putting up the same numbers as they usually do
Is this uga offense bad by any means? No, but they are not putting up the type of production they have in years past. This offense usually prides itself on their run game, but this year, they have produced an average of only 130.1 yards per game. There has also been a lot of struggle with turnovers, as Carson Beck has thrown 12 interceptions this season. They do not have the typical standout players such as Brock Bowers or Ladd McConkey, and it is showing this year that they are lacking that “star player.” One of the biggest keys to this game and matchups to watch is the new and improved Tech defense against uga’s hot-and-cold offense. The Jackets have had their best defense in years, and they will need to play like it to stop georgia. We did hold the best offense in the country to only 23 points, and if we can snag a few Carson Beck interceptions and keep the run game in check, we might be in business.
This may be our best shot to win in years… and it’s in Athens
Brent Key is all about beating georgia and lets it be made known to everyone. In Key’s opening statement as Georgia Tech’s head coach football coach, he said he would do whatever it takes to beat our in-state rivals. He wants this win as bad as anyone, and this could be the year to do it. Yes, georgia is still one of the top programs in the country, but they have shown more vulnerability this year. On defense, the dawgs gave up 226 rushing yards to a 2-8 Umass team. A 2-9 Mississippi State scored 31 points on them, and Florida was neck-and-neck with them until DJ Lagway got injured. Offensively, Ole Miss held them to 10 points and zero passing touchdowns, and 4-7 Kentucky held them to 13 points and 160 passing yards. Beck also threw three interceptions against Alabama, and three against Florida.
To sum it up, georgia is still a very good and athletic football team that we have a slim chance of beating. We have not won this game since 2016, but this may be the year to do it. If we can catch uga in an “off” game, anything can happen. For some reason, we have much better luck in Athens, as we have not beaten the dawgs in Bobby Dodd since I have been alive. Sorry if I am dating anyone there. Coach Key will beat georgia at some point in his coaching tenure at Tech, now let’s see if he can make it this year.
Aaron Philo can lead us to a win if it comes down to it
Do we keep the two-QB system going? Do we start Philo and let him play a whole game? What is the status of King’s shoulder? All questions we Tech fans would love to know but just… don’t. Philo put up some very impressive stats last week, getting ACC Rookie of the Week and earning the highest PFF score for quarterbacks with a 93.7, even passing Cam Ward. I think we stick with playing both quarterbacks this week, but Key is not going very in-depth on what the coaching staff has decided to do. In his Monday press conference, he stated: “I mean, who’s to say we use both of them? We’re gonna put a game plan together to give us the best opportunity to have success in the game. Every week is a new week, new defense, new scheme, new coaches, new way to attack things. So, you know, really one week has no bearing on the next when it comes to putting the plan together.” Do we know what we’re gonna see on Friday? Nope. Does uga’s defense know? Nope, and that is what matters.
One year later, I still hate uga
I would love nothing more than to beat the dawgs at home on a national stage and thwart their playoff hopes on the same day. Clean, old-fashioned hate runs deep for Tech fans, and this has been the most excited I have been for this rivalry in many years. Sure, I would love to have Haynes King fully healthy for it, but Aaron Philo has the potential to get it done, and uga is looking the least flawless they have been in years. I know all Jacket fans are praying we can somehow get a win on Friday. Let’s see if Coach Key can make it happen.
Happy Thanksgiving, and may we turn this Black Friday into a White and Gold Friday. Go Jackets, to hell with georgia, and Happy Thanksgiving!!