Georgia Tech vs North Carolina: Three Things to watch
Georgia Tech vs North Carolina will play in a primetime ACC tilt on ACC Network and a win for either program would have different implications. After their loss to Boston College last week, Georgia Tech is in danger of missing a bowl game for yet another season. In two games that they were favored in this season (Bowling Green and Boston College), Georgia Tech played poorly and lost. The Yellow Jackets always play one of the toughest schedules in the country and losing games that you are favored in is going to make it that much tougher to get back to the postseason.
North Carolina was upset by Virginia last week in one of the most surprising upsets of this college football season. The Tar Heels had a big win against Miami the week before and were 24-point favorites against a 1-5 Virginia. team. UNC could not get a stop on defense and the offense was not able to score against a porous Cavaliers defense and just like that, North Carolina was 6-1 instead of 7-0. It will be tough to make the ACC title game with more losses and a loss in Atlanta would hurt the Tar Heel's chances.
So what are the things to watch in tomorrow night's game? Let's break it down.
1. Will Georgia Tech be able to force turnovers and/or get enough red zone stops to keep the game close?
At this point, the Georgia Tech defense is what it is and what it is is not very good. It is hard to find a spot where the Georgia Tech defense matches up well with the Tar Heels offense. The Yellow Jackets are 12th in the ACC in scoring defense (giving up 30.3 PPG), dead last in rushing defense in the conference (227.7 YPG), and 10th in the ACC in passing yards allowed per game (225 YPG). They are last in the ACC in yards given up (452.7 YPG). They are 103rd in sacks.
Georgia Tech is going to be facing perhaps the top offense in the ACC. North Carolina has the No. 1 offense in the ACC in terms of yards per game (499.7), the No. 1 passing offense (321.3 YPG), and the No. 4 rushing offense in the ACC (178.4 YPG). They are ninth in offensive SP+, 21st in offensive success rate (how good you are on a down-to-down basis), 35th in passing success rate, and 24th in rushing success rate. They are a tough matchup for any defense, let alone one that is last in the ACC in multiple categories.
For Georgia Tech to have a chance in this game, they are going to have to find a way to create turnovers and get stops in the red zone. It is unlikely (although they did it last year) that Georgia Tech is going to be able to full stop this Tar Heels offense. Forcing quarterback Drake Maye into some tough throws and getting pressure on him is going to be key. If North Carolina does get the ball in the red zone, Georgia Tech has to hold them to field goals or force them to make the decision to go for it. If they can do that, it will give Georgia Tech a chance to score some points and keep the game competitive. If they can't, it could be a long night in Atlanta.
2. Will Haynes King be able to solve his recent turnover issue?
Haynes King running the ball against Boston College last Saturday
Nathaniel Caudell
Let's be clear, Haynes King has given Georgia Tech an upgrade at the position this season and he is the third leading passer in the ACC. However, in the last three games, King has thrown seven interceptions, after throwing only two in the first four games of the season. King has been pressing to throw the ball down the field and that has led to some unfortunate errors for the Yellow Jackets.
The bad news for Georgia Tech is that North Carolina is 14th in the country in turnovers forced. While the Tar Heels defense is not one of the best in the country or conference, they have studs at every level. Linebacker Cedric Gray is second in the ACC in tackles (70), defensive end Kaimon Rucker leads the ACC in sacks (7.5), and defensive back Alijah Huzzie is tied for first in the ACC in interceptions (3). If King does not take care of the ball, then North Carolina has the playmakers to force turnovers and make life difficult for the Georgia Tech offense.
3. Will Georgia Tech continue its history of beating North Carolina in Atlanta?
Atlanta has been a tough place to play for North Carolina. Georgia Tech has won 10 of the last 12 meeting with the Tar Heels and has won two in a row overall in the series. Last season, Georgia Tech was down to their third quarterback, but went on the road and upset No. 13 North Carolina and held Maye and the high-scoring offense to its season low in yards and points.
When talking with the media on Monday, North Carolina head coach Mack Brown talked about the matchup on Saturday with Brent Key and the Yellow Jackets and how tough of a game it has been for his program:
"Georgia Tech is a game that has been tough for us. Atlanta has not been good to the Tar Heels, we have lost 10 of 12. Hear me now. We have lost 10 of the last 12 games in Atlanta to Georgia Tech. Everyone thinks that we have Miami's number because we have beaten them five in a row, well Georgia Tech has had North Carolina's number, and before I got here, in Atlanta so that makes this a game where people project that we lose. Period. Because we have. 10 out of 12 is pretty good percentages. They will be excited and they will feel like they are going to win because they have and we will have our hands full.
Brent Key has done a great job, he is a Georgia Tech alum and has pulled them all together and they are playing really hard and he will have them ready to go with a whole lot of energy and we have to do the same thing"
Will Georgia Tech be able to do it again? They have already pulled one upset this year (Miami) and Brent Key has a history of beating ranked ACC teams. Never count this team out under Key as an underdog, but they are going to have to play a very good game against a talented North Carolina team.
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