Is Georgia Tech the favorite in the ACC Coastal Division?

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are undefeated.

The statement above is simply a fact at this stage, and regardless of what was a relatively non-threatening slate of non-conference games, Paul Johnson’s team made a statement to the rest of the ACC with a come-from-behind victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday. Nothing was easy about the way the Jackets emerged with that road win, but because they were able to escape unblemished, there is a real possibility that Georgia Tech is the favorite in the ACC Coastal Division.

Yes, you read that correctly. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets could be considered the “favorite” on their side of the ACC ledger. Prior to the 2014 season, expectations were relatively low, at least among outsiders, for this particular crew, especially given the fact that Justin Thomas was a giant unknown and the defense was very green, but through four games, Thomas has been a revelation, and the defensive group has done just enough to survive against some quality offenses.

It is (incredibly) fair to bring some level of skepticism to the table with this Tech group after sketchy performances against the likes of Wofford and Georgia Southern, but in evaluating the rest of the division, everyone has warts. Prior to the season, Virginia Tech was clearly the favorite in the division, but obviously, the Jackets have scaled that wall in order to hold a one-game lead plus the tiebreaker over the Hokies.

Elsewhere, both Pittsburgh and Virginia join Georgia Tech with 1-0 marks in ACC play, but neither is terrifying. The Panthers just dropped a home game to underwhelming Iowa, while the Cavaliers were blitzed by BYU on the way to their second loss of the season. At the bottom, both North Carolina and Miami are having all kinds of issues, as the Heels allowed seventy points to East Carolina over the weekend, and the Canes have given up 30-plus points against their two “real” opponents.

Duke is the lone team from the Coastal that is ranked in either poll (#23 by the coaches), and quite honestly, the Blue Devils would probably the national choice as the de facto favorite of the group. David Cutcliffe’s club is also 4-0, and they have looked dominant at times, outscoring opponents by an average of 32 points per game. However, Georgia Tech (fortunately) gets to host Duke at Bobby Dodd Stadium on October 11th, and that home-field advantage could hold the key to the ACC Coastal Division title.

The jury is certainly out on the Jackets at this stage, but there is something to be said for explosiveness, and Tech has a lot of it on the offensive side of the ball. The Justin Thomas-DeAndre Smelter combination has been responsible for 339 yards and 4 touchdowns through four games, and if that passing attack can be even respectable, the offensive side of the ball isn’t a worry spot, while the defense looked demonstrably better in a tough spot on Saturday, providing reason for optimism.

What do you think about Georgia Tech acting as the “favorite” in the Coastal? Let us know in the comments below, especially if you do not agree!