2017
Georgia Tech
College Football
Betting Preview
Schedule
After a rough 2015, it was another semi-successful season for Paul Johnson and Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets fell to the ACC’s best, but picked up some big wins along the way from at Virginia Tech and Georgia, to winning their bowl Game against Kentucky. With a lot of the same pieces back, outside of quarterback, this should be another eight-to-nine win season.
Overcoming the loss of quarterback Justin Thomas will be the most important thing as he ran the triple-option great for the Jackets in the last three years. Matthew Jordan is set to take over as long as the foot he injured in the spring can fully heal by the fall. With three starters back on the line, this offense should be just as good as last year’s group that ran for 258.1 yards per Game. Dedrick Mills (771 yards, 12 TDs) is one of the better backs in the conference, while Clinton Lynch (415 rushing yards, 490 receiving yards) and Qua Searcy could have a bigger role on the ground. Speedster Ricky Jeune also returns at wide out after 25 receptions a year ago. This offense will be fine and that’s kind of how the triple-option works as long as the line can retain its consistency.
The defensive side is what got Georgia Tech to nine wins after allowing 25 points per Game last season. While they weren’t dominant, they did enough to get wins against teams with decent offenses like VT and UK. To help, almost all of the back seven returns with safeties Corey Griffin and A.J. Gray filling out the back end with corner LAnce Austin. Brant Mitchell will be a key in the middle at linebacker, while the front Four is the biggest question with a few guys gone. KeShun Freeman will need to turn his Game up or someone else in the front has to come in and play well, otherwise, the defense will still have its issues against stopping the run.
With the Coastal division constantly a toss-up, the Yellow Jackets should be in the thick of things, although a road trip to Clemson stands out for not helping that case. Still, if Jordan can come in at quarterback and keep things moving, there is an opening for Georgia Tech to be in the five-win range in ACC play. Tennessee will be tough in the opener, but two home Games against Pitt and UNC are good chances to get early Conference wins, along with the Wake Forest Game. But to compete for the Coastal, the Jackets will need to find a win on the road, whether that’s at Miami, Virginia or Duke, it’s not out of the cards. They also get Georgia at home, so that only helps.
Georgia Tech is projected to finish Fourth in the division mostly due to the Schedule. The Yellow Jackets are +2800 at 5Dimes Sportsbook to win the ACC, which places them behind Pitt and ahead of UNC in the standings. If the defense improves, 10 wins can be on the table with a bowl win, but that may be a stretch with a new quarterback taking over. Yet again, the Yellow Jackets could be headed for another semi-successful season with nine wins.
2017 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Football Schedule
Sept. 4 vs. Tennessee (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta)
Sept. 9 vs. Jacksonville State
Sept. 16 at UCF
Sept. 23 vs. Pittsburgh
Sept. 30 vs. North Carolina
Oct. 12 at Miami
Oct. 21 vs. Wake Forest
Oct. 28 at Clemson
Nov. 4 at Virginia
Nov. 11 vs. Virginia Tech
Nov. 18 at Duke
Nov. 25 vs. Georgia