Georgia Tech vs. Georgia: Why Yellow Jackets Can't Reach the Bulldogs' Level

Thanksgiving is only a few days away, which can only mean one thing if you are a Georgia fan. 

It means it's Georgia Tech week, and the Bulldogs are looking to take down the Yellow Jackets for the fourth consecutive time.

Anyone who lives in the state in the Georgia knows that the Bulldogs run the state when it comes to football, which is interesting when thinking about it because Tech has won more national titles than Georgia, with the last one being in 1990, 10 years later than the Bulldogs' last title.

So why does Georgia Tech always play second fiddle to the Bulldogs?

Series History

Ever since this series started in 1897, the Bulldogs have owned the series, winning 62 of the 105 games.

Since Mark Richt became head coach of the Bulldogs in 2001, he has only lost to the Yellow Jackets once, which was in 2008. Before that, the Bulldogs won seven of the 10 meetings during the 1990s.

It seems like no matter what Georgia's record is, it seems to have Tech's number, which is the reason why college football fans who live in Georgia seem to favor the Bulldogs if they have nobody in the fight.

Recruiting

This could be the biggest reason Georgia is always the front runner when it comes to football.

The Bulldogs always have a top-10 recruiting class, while the Yellow Jackets have a respectable class, but it's not the same caliber as Georgia's.

Why is that? Because Mark Richt and coaches prior have been able to make sure the in-state players don't go to the rival school.

Out of the 27 commits for Georgia's 2013 class, 15 are from in-state, and those commits give it an No. 8 ranking according to Rivals.

As for Georgia Tech, out of the 15 commitments they have for 2013, eight are from Georgia, and Rivals has it at No. 49 in the country.

Conferences

The fact Georgia is in the SEC and Georgia Tech is in the ACC also plays a role.

The SEC is arguably the strongest conference in all of college football, while the ACC is trying to get where the SEC is since they are neighboring conferences.

Georgia has won six SEC East titles since 2001 and will always be in the hunt for the SEC title, winning a total of 14. Tech hasn't "officially" won a ACC title since 1998 and has only won two since joining the ACC in 1979.

Tech did win the ACC in 2009 but was stripped of the title due to NCAA violations.

College Town

When comparing where Georgia is located to where Georgia Tech is located, it's night and day because both communities are different.

Georgia is in the heart of Athens, and when it's Saturday in the fall, the city becomes one as they cheer on the Bulldogs to victory. That's enough to pull recruits in.

With Georgia Tech being located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, there is not the same college atmosphere because Atlanta is an international city. The fans do come out to support the Jackets, but they don't have the same effect as Georgia's.

Will It Change Anytime Soon?

That's the burning question for Georgia Tech fans because they are hoping that they can hang with the Bulldogs one day.

A lot would have to change for Tech in order for them not to play second fiddle to the Bulldogs.

From how they recruit to making the fans feel more at one with the team, Tech would have to do a lot in order to be on the same level with the Bulldogs.

And even if they did change the way they did things, the Yellow Jackets would probably be second-in-command because of the tradition that runs very deep in Athens.