Bold Predictions for Georgia Tech vs. Miami
After 3 straight ACC road wins, Georgia Tech returns home for a primetime showdown vs. Miami Hurricanes.
Georgia Tech faces Miami for their first night game this year and first since week 8 of 2017. It will be a revenge game for Tech after the heart wrenching defeat at Miami last year. It will also be a coastal elimination game. If the Yellow Jackets can win this game and everything else goes according to plan, Tech will remain in the coastal race. Here are some bold predictions and if at least 1 of these comes true, Tech should win.
Georgia Tech will have over 600 total yards
Tech’s offense has been on fire this year averaging 467 yards per game and 377 rushing yards per game. Recently, with Tobias Oliver playing, the offense has been even better averaging 515 total yards the last two games.
Despite Oliver not starting, he most likely will get a majority of the drives. With that in mind, I have no doubt Tech can get to 500 yards and 600 yards doesn’t seem too outside the realm of possibility. If Techs defense can play well and give the offense enough chances, Tech could hit that 600-yard mark. It would be the first time Tech got 600+ yards since the season opener vs. Tennessee last year.
It would also be only the 8th time Tech has gotten 600+ yards since 2008; Tech is 5-3 in those games. Of course, the yards mean nothing without an end product. Tech will have to be efficient in the red zone and not turn the ball over to make the yards count.
The defense will force 4+ turnovers
Georgia Techs offense has notoriously had turnover issues this year, but thankfully Techs defense has been great this year in that aspect. After only creating 10 turnovers last year, Ted Roof was fired for his conservative defensive style. Nate Woody was brought in and his aggressive changes have already been recognized.
The Yellow Jackets forced 10 turnovers last year (6 interceptions, 4 fumbles) in 11 games but through only 9 games this year, the Jackets have forced twice as many turnovers, good for 8th in the country (12 interceptions, 8 fumbles).
Fortunately, Miami has turned the ball over 16 times this year which ranks 94th in the country this year. I’m 99% sure Tech will force at least 1 turnover but my bold prediction is that Tech forces 4 turnovers. It would be the first time Tech had forced 4 turnovers in over 2 years and would be only the 8th time Tech has forced that many turnovers since 2008.
A person other than Tech’s BB or QB will have over 150 total yards and 2+ touchdowns
It’s no secret the option offense revolves around the quarterback and B back and it’s no different with Georgia Tech with A backs only accounting for about 16% of Tech’s rushes this year. It’s a weird and specific prediction but a bold one as it hasn’t happened in 5 years. The last time a non-BB/QB has had over 150 total yards and 2 touchdowns was in 2013 vs. Clemson when Robert Godhigh went for 229 total yards and 2 touchdowns. In the 10 years since Tech adopted the option, it has only happened 5 times and only 3 times against FBS opponents (full list below).
Robert Godhigh: 229 yards and 2 TDs vs. Clemson in 2013
Orwin Smith: 265 yards and 2 TDs vs. Kansas in 2011
Stephen Hill: 181 yards and 2 TD vs. Western Carolina in 2011
Anthony Allen: 195 yards and 3 TDs vs. SCSU in 2010
Roddy Jones: 214 yards and 2 TDs vs. Georgia in 2008
Even when adjusting the yards total to 100 yards, Tech’s players have only done it 13 times (including the above list) and 8 times against FBS opponents and haven’t done it since 2016 when Clinton Lynch had 103 yards and 2 touchdowns vs. Duke.
Falcons Make Big Move. dark. Next
If Miami and their stout offensive line can stop the dive and keep, Tech will need production from their ABs and WRs. Nathan Cottrell had 90 yards and a touchdown last week but I still think Qua Searcy and Clinton Lynch are the most likely players to get this stat line mostly because both are huge receiving threats.