Georgia Tech-Florida State Game Preview

Before Florida State lost three years in row to Wake Forest, before head case Chris Rix was quarterback, and even before Jeff Bowden made Florida State's offense look like it was stuck in mud, Florida State owned the ACC.

I don't just mean they won ACC titles—they dominated ACC opponent after opponent, game after game, year after year, to the tune of a 70-2 ACC record from 1992 to 2000.

During the later part of the '90s, one ACC team consistently gave the Noles more trouble than any other: the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. In a 1999 game in Tallahassee, Georgia Tech lost an epic game to the Seminoles 41-35, a game that jump-started Joe Hamilton's Heisman run and suddenly made Florida State's stifling defense look mortal.

Wide receivers Kelly Campbell and Dez White outrunning the Seminole secondary was something you just didn't see in the late '90s, and it marked the subtle beginning of the end to the Noles' ACC dominance.

The Yellow Jackets never did beat Florida State as ACC rivals though, and they've been waiting for five years for another chance. Unfortunately Florida State might be ready to reclaim the ACC throne they held for so long.

Under new coach Paul Johnson, the Yellow Jackets are off to a surprising 6-2 start. Florida State is currently 6-1 and at 3-1 in the ACC is currently leading the ACC's Atlantic Division with Maryland.

Georgia Tech leads the ACC in rushing at 236 yards per game, while Florida leads the ACC in rushing defense, giving up only 79 yards, and is number three in the nation in total defense. Georgia Tech's defense has also been stout: They only allow 13 points a game, which is seventh in the nation, and they are also 12th in total defense.

Tech can also claim a defensive line that features three seniors, Vance Walker, Daryl Richard, and Michael Johnson, all likely to be at 2009 NFL draft camps, and sophomore Derrick Morgan, who may be the most talented of the four. The Yellow Jackets' defensive line should have an advantage against the Seminoles' young and inexperienced offensive line.

Florida State might have their best quarterback since Chris Weinke in Christian Ponder, who is mobile if a little inaccurate at times. They also have a potential matchup nightmare for Georgia Tech with 6'6" wide receiver Greg Carr. The Jackets' best cover corner, Jahi Word-Daniels, is still out with a hamstring injury, so expect the Noles to go to Carr early and often.   

Georgia Tech's best chance to come away with a victory will be to establish their triple option offense, consume clock, and keep the ball away from Ponder, Carr, and the Noles' talented running back, Antone Smith—easier said than done.

Tech's offensive line is struggling, to say the least. Tech has failed to reach their rushing average of 236 yards in any of their last three games, against Virginia, Clemson, and Gardner-Webb, and haven't scored more than 21 points in any of those three games.

Of biggest concern to the Jackets, though, is the fact they have lost 14 fumbles this season. Only one team in the nation has had more. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt and primary running backs Roddy Jones and Jonathan Dwyer have to do a better job of protecting the football.

Establishing at least the threat of a passing game wouldn't hurt the Jackets either. Teams are starting to go eight in the box on defense against Tech, and Florida State's speedy defense could be in the backfield all day if Georgia Tech's offensive line doesn't start playing better.

Florida State should be considered the favorite here, as they are playing better on both sides of the ball, but Georgia Tech will be playing at home in front of their first sellout of the year, and that should give them an emotional lift.

As usual in a game like this, it will probably come down to who wins the turnover battle. It should be a good one.