Georgia Tech-UNC: Josh Nesbitt, Yellow Jackets Look to Rebound Against Tar Heels

One thing that Paul Johnson has been very good at is not losing two games in a row.

The Yellow Jackets head man is 5-0 after a loss since taking the job. He will look to go 6-0 this weekend in Chapel Hill.

Georgia Tech struggled in all aspects of the game last weekend as they fell to Kansas, 28-25. Freshman quarterback Jordan Webb had a solid performance and led a balanced Jayhawk attack.

The Yellow Jacket defense allowed a 100-yard rusher for the second week in a row. That could be bad news for Georgia Tech, as Shaun Draughn, the Tar Heels' running back, is cleared to play after missing the opener against LSU. The two-year starter is a big back that could give the Tech defense some fits if they miss tackles and assignments again.

T.J. Yates had a huge game in the opener against LSU and looks to continue his success against a mediocre defense. The senior quarterback struggled last season against Tech, throwing two interceptions in the Heels' 24-7 loss. 

The North Carolina defense is still in shambles as NCAA investigations continue. But don't expect that to discourage the Tar Heels. They still believe they have enough talent to dominate the Georgia Tech rushing attack—and they might be right. 

An undermanned North Carolina team made a valiant effort in Week 1, nearly upsetting LSU after being down 30-10 at halftime. Yates drove the Tar Heels inside the 10-yard line with two shots to win the game, but they could not complete the comeback. While they are still somewhat a depleted team, North Carolina will look to build on the momentum from the first game.

What to expect from Georgia Tech

The offense struggled at times last week but still managed to pile up over 400 yards of total offense. That should be good news for Georgia Tech, as history shows that Paul Johnson's spread option offense doesn't hit on all cylinders until three or four games into the season. 

Anthony Allen has received limited carries thus far, but expect that to change. He's averaging nearly seven yards per carry and should see his carries increase significantly. Look for the Georgia Tech offense to rely more on the dive play rather than the pitch against the Tar Heels' depleted defensive line.

The Georgia Tech offense held the ball for more than 40 minutes last season against North Carolina. Look for more of the same, as the Yellow Jackets will try to control the ball once again and keep their defense fresh.

The new 3-4 defense for Georgia Tech has taken its lumps in the early goings, but it should improve from game to game. Missed tackles have been a negative so far, and if they have trouble tackling against the Tar Heels, it could be a long afternoon.

What to expect from North Carolina

The North Carolina offense was criticized last season for not complementing the dominant defense. Against a less than mediocre Georgia Tech defense last season, Yates and the Tar Heels scored only seven points. They should be able to top that number on Saturday.

The Tar Heels will look to have a balanced attack against Al Groh's defense. Draughn back in the lineup gives Yates another weapon. I expect North Carolina to run the ball early to keep the Georgia Tech offense off the field.

North Carolina's defense is still hurting from the NCAA investigations, but there is enough talent and athleticism on the defensive side of the ball to compete. Guys like Quinton Coples and Dante Paige-Moss will continue to fill in for the defense. Fortunately for the Tar Heels, linebackers Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant will still be on the field. 

Outlook

Both teams will try to control the clock to keep the other team's offense off the field. North Carolina's offense will have success against Georgia Tech, but look for subtle improvements from Groh's 3-4 defense.

As always, Nesbitt will spread the ball around to guys like Roddy Jones, Anthony Allen, Orwin Smith, and Embry Peeples. The North Carolina defense will sell out to stop the run, which could give Stephen Hill one-on-one coverage.

The Yellow Jackets must convert on third downs if they want to win this game. Penalties were an issue as well last week, so they cannot afford to make the same costly mistakes.

While North Carolina was very impressive in its near comeback victory against LSU, I'm just not sure it can beat Georgia Tech with mostly backups. Look for Paul Johnson to give the North Carolina defense a steady dose of Anthony Allen. Whoever wins this game will be the early leader in the clubhouse in the Coastal division.

Prediction: Georgia Tech 31, North Carolina 24