Big game here folks, it’s a conference game, it’s a divisional game, and a national TV spot-light game. But what you wanna know is……..who will win b’street???
Check out the national rankings for GT before you read any further in one of my previous
articles. That’s 33rd or better (sometimes even 1st best, like Net Punting) in 14 out of the 20 major categories that I track. Now be awares that I prolly see that 10% of the time, or less. In other words, and to be redundant, GT is very possibly the best 5-3 football team in America, and they are an underachieving football team at 5 up and 3 down. Want more proof than the above link suggests, how about this……….
- GT is on pace to force 30 fumbles this year! So ball security is at a premium for Thursday nites game.
- 87. That’s how many non-offensive points that GT and VT have both scored so far on 2007. How odd is it that it’s the same amount for both squads???
- GT’s Qb is averaging just over 50% passing, and only 0.25 TD passes per game. i.e. he ain’t much, and ergo, GT must Run to win.
- Despite all the Rb injuries, GT’s offense has improved it’s Total Yardage mark for 4 straight games, and is averaging 243 on the ground over its last 3 games. The VT stop unit is only allowing 37 yards rushing over its last 3 games. So something must give here folks.
- GT is 15th in TOP, VT is 97th. Which segways neatly into the next stat…….
- GT is +29 points in 4th Quarters this year, VT is -26 points for the final 15 minutes. That’s an overall closing stanza average margin of 6.8 points favor the Yellow-Jackets (or nearly 1 major play, see below). That might could be the difference in a close game folks. Might also suggest that GT is the better conditioned team as well.
- GT is not the most disciplined team we will play, as they are 1o9th in Penalty Yardage per game.
- GT opponents have only converted 50% of their FGA’s.
- GT is 16th in TFL allowed, and an ever superior 3rd in Sacks allowed.
- GT has negative 67 miscellaneous yards on the year.
In Lane I’d pick us by about one full major, i.e. 7 points. On a neutral field, I’d have to cut that to a minor (or a field-goal, and thank you Canadian Football League for those terms). But this one is really close. Will we be playing B.C. twice because we are emotionally hung-over from the closing 4 minutes of play?
Each team is averaging 10.875 ST’s or Defensive points per game. These come in the form 
of PAT’s, FG’s, PR’s, KR’s Fumble Returns, INT Returns or Safeties. So lets start with a 10-10 game, as both teams have nearly all-conference quality placekickers. That’s one major and one minor each. But this is an odd looking game, what with so much superstar talent out, or lame for each side. Looks like a Men Without Hats, Safety Dance kinda game to me. That’s now 12-10. Lets tack on another FG. So that’s now 15-10 or 13-12. That’s about it. 15-10 is my predict favor VT, if VT wins, and 13-12 is my predict, favor the Wrambling Wreck of Gerogia Tech, if GT wins. But this is the game me thinks that we really miss V.Hall. Even hurting, I’d rate GT’s ground attack as the best of the remaining four teams we must face. And V.Hall has been nothing short of an epic run-plugger since the Autumn of 2004. That TOP margin, the 4th quarter scoring, and the GT FG% allowed have all forced me to side with GT. This is not as strong as my B.C. pick was, though indications are that the less mobile VT Qb who wears the jersey number between 6 and 8, will start tonite. But I do narrowly suggest to you that Gah.Tech wins a stinging dog-fight of an ugly football game. GT 13 VT 12. b-st.
(Tech Trivia: who is the above punter facing GT in the famous 6-3 game?)
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