Week 14: Georgia Tech at Georgia

Georgia Tech (9-2) at Georgia (9-2) Nov. 29, 12:00, SEC Network 

Here’s The Deal: Clean, old-fashioned domination. 

The Dawgs have owned this storied rivalry of late, winning all but twice this century, 2000 and 2008 in Athens. The Yellow Jackets are pining for an opportunity to reverse the recent trend, especially after painfully falling in double-overtime a year ago, 41-34. Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson beat Mark Richt in his first attempt, but that was six long years ago. And that’s the kind of dry spell that’ll keep a coach and his staff up at night until the next chance at redemption arrives. The newly-minted ACC Coastal Division champs are also hoping to amass a head of steam that it can carry into next week’s title game with Florida State in Charlotte. 

Georgia, too, might be participating in a championship game, the SEC version, a week from now. But that possibility is out of the Dawgs’ paws. If Mizzou loses to Arkansas Friday afternoon, Georgia will play Alabama or Mississippi State in Atlanta next Saturday. Neither outcome, though, ought to impact how the Bulldogs perform in Athens. They simply want to keep rolling to a fourth consecutive win, improve their eventual bowl endpoint and keep the fans on the Flats feeling a sense of in-state inferiority. 
Why Georgia Tech Might Win: The Yellow Jackets are hot and healthy. 

Tech exits a bye week refreshed and confident, the byproduct of having whipped four straight opponents by at least three touchdowns, including Clemson, 28-6. Paul Johnson’s triple-option generates most of the talking points, and QB Justin Thomas has operated the system with efficiency. But Ted Roof’s D has been the real difference-maker lately, wreaking havoc with a spate of turnovers and defensive scores. Linebackers P.J. Davis and Quayshawn Nealy have been the ringleaders of an aggressive unit that can rattle Hutson Mason, Georgia’s mediocre quarterback. 
Why Georgia Might Win: Georgia Tech is very good by the ACC measuring stick. SEC? Not so much. 

The Yellow Jackets have not faced a team with nearly as much talent as the Bulldogs, and it’s going to show Between the Hedges. Georgia’s depth and talent in the front seven is among the best in the nation, spearheaded by linebackers Leonard Floyd, Jordan Jenkins, Ramik Wilson and Amarlo Herrera. What happened the last time the Dawgs faced a team with a prolific ground game, Auburn? The Tigers managed just 150 yards and one score on the ground. Over on the other side of the ball, prodigal Georgia back Nick Chubb will keep running downhill versus an average Tech front wall yielding more than five yards a carry.
Who To Watch Out For: The Yellow Jackets landed a few punches through the air in last year’s meeting, one of the more unheralded, yet dangerous, components to the triple-option. If Thomas can catch the Dawgs sneaking up to stuff the run, he’s liable to find DeAndre Smelter streaking through the secondary. Tech will need more than just B-backs Synjyn Days and Zach Laskey on the ground, and Smelter is the kind of long and lean homerun hitter who can take the wind out of the opponents’ sails. 

Chubb has been an unmitigated revelation in his debut. But the fact that the drop-off from Todd Gurley has been almost undetectable is testament to the job being done in the trenches. Beyond just the talent, Georgia has benefitted from using the same starting five in every game. And against a so-so Georgia Tech front wall, the Dawgs should once again control the point of attack, from tackles John Theus and Kolton Houston on the flanks to Brandon Kublanow, David Andrews and Greg Pyke on the interior.

What’s Going To Happen: Great season, Ramblin’ Wreck. But not quite thisgreat. 

While Johnson has done a terrific job on the Flats, Georgia Tech still doesn’t have the requisite talent base to outplay Georgia, particularly in Athens. Chubb will easily notch his seventh-straight 100-yard game, and the Dawg defense possesses the range and the athletes to contain whatever the Yellow Jackets send their way. Georgia will remain a step ahead throughout, forcing Georgia Tech into the unfamiliar—and uncomfortable—position of playing from behind. 
Prediction: Georgia 37 … Georgia Tech 24 
Line: Georgia -12.5 o/u: 66 
Must Watch Factor: 5: Birdman – 1: Horrible Bosses 2 … 4