Georgia Tech Football: I Think I Know – uga

Man, that one hurt. We had everything laid out in front of us, and we folded like a lawn chair. Seasons with a path this clear to the ACC Championship or even the CFP don’t come around often, and we completely let it slip through our fingers. This game against Pitt was a chance to show that Key has taken this team to the next level, and the lights were just far too bright. Now we’re down to one final matchup, and of course, it has to be against the one team capable of breaking my heart all over again.  If rivalry week is stirring up some deep emotional trauma from last year, you may be entitled to financial compensation from the SEC officiating crew. I wish I were not kidding, but honestly, I’m dreading this game. The emotional toll of the 2024 rivalry matchup still weighs heavily on me, and we all know the announcers are going to bring up that eight-overtime marathon approximately 34082520 times. Someone should absolutely bet the over on that. This will be the first time that these two teams meet with at least 9 wins each since 2014, and the 19 combined wins are the most in series history. georgia also has a chance to tie the longest winning streak in matchup history at eight games, which currently belongs to Tech. The Jackets do usually manage to show up against their in-state rivals, and this year’s game carries even more weight. Well… it had more weight before we completely imploded last week, but regardless, a rivalry game never loses its meaning. So, here’s what I think I know heading into yet another Black Friday showdown with our in-state rivals.

georgia football is playing at its peak right now

Unfortunately, this georgia team is peaking at just the right time. Gunner Stockton has taken control of this offense and found his confidence after a somewhat shaky start. He has 2,465 yards and 19 touchdowns on the year, putting him right in Heisman contention. The dawgs have also established a solid run game this year with backs Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens combining for 1,194 yards and 11 touchdowns. Their defense has been shaky against talented offenses, but they have even seen improvement over the last several weeks. They are 20th in total defense, allowing an average of 307.1 yards per game. In worse news for us, their run defense is 11th in the country, allowing 92.5 yards per game. This will be a massive test for the offensive line, which played very poorly against Pitt last week. This matchup is really not looking good, and I do have a little bit of faith, but it is dwindling. I hate to say it, but Kirby Smart has coached his butt off this year, and georgia is a team no one wants to see in the playoffs. I don’t really want to see them either.

The defense showed signs of life in the second half versus Pitt… but can we keep that up against a top-30 offense in the country? 

After giving up nearly 281 yards and 28 points in the first half, the defense locked in and only allowed one touchdown and 131 yards in the second half. The defense racked up six sacks, an area of struggle for them this season. Their performance was nowhere close to perfect, as we all saw the true freshman back Ja’Kyrian Turner run for 200 yards, including the 56-yard dagger to ice the game. The few positive adjustments we did see were hopeful, however, and point towards improved confidence as we head into a massive test for the defense.  Key said, in the second half, we “lit them up and blitzed from the upper deck.” We were able to get pressure, but uga has an offensive line with much more talent and discipline than Pitt did. Can the defense carry this momentum over to the game, or am I just grasping for straws here?

I have no idea what to expect from this team. 

I have zero clue what we will see from the Jackets this Friday. I wouldn’t be surprised if we lost 56-0, and I also wouldn’t be surprised if we won by two scores. Just gonna put my seatbelt on and hope to enjoy the ride.

Key wants this win game more than he wants to breathe. 

Well, we are now (basically) eliminated from ACC Championship and CFP contention. So, we have nothing to lose and nothing to gain from this game. It is time to go out there and put it all on the line to try and play with purpose. Will this team do that? I am not sure. What I do know is that there are not many bigger Georgia Tech fans than Brent Key. There are also not many bigger georgia haters than Brent Key. Even if he would never admit it, this game will definitely garner more attention from him than the others. I know Key will put out all the stops he can to win, and that is what is giving me hope for this game. I know many Tech fans have hope, but I also know many have entirely given up. I can’t fault either, and I am choosing to have some faith in this team for this game. I know Brent Key craves this win, and it wouldn’t shock me if he puts together an aggressive game plan in order to get it.

I loathe the georgia bulldogs 

I, like many Tech fans, have this game circled on my calendar every single year, no matter the circumstance. Even during the dreaded Collins years, I always had a sliver of hope and excitement for this game. I am one of those fans who would be 1-11 every year if it meant we could beat the dawgs. I try to convince myself that this game means nothing, but in reality, it means a lot to me. I hope and pray that we can come out and fight on Friday afternoon.

Rivalry week is unlike any other in college football. Throw out the record, because this week the underdogs become dangerous, families are divided, bragging rights are claimed, and history weighs heavily. Fan bases spend 364 days waiting for this one game that either ends in elation or despair. Georgia Tech fans specifically have been waiting 364 days for this day, as last year ended in complete and utter heartbreak. On paper, the matchup doesn’t look ideal. However, in games like this, determination and grit matter far more than pure talent. We’re about to find out whether the Jackets have what it takes to claim some long-awaited revenge and finally bring down our in-state rivals. Rivalry week is the annual reminder that college football isn’t just about schemes and skill; it’s driven by emotion, passion, and the will to win.

Go Jackets, and To Hell with georgia always.