Georgia Tech @ North Carolina preview
Kenan Memorial Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 26, 2009 ) North Carolina 7, Georgia Tech 24
Two teams that entered the season ranked and carrying aspirations of BCS berths are already trying to regroup.
In the ACC opener for both schools, Georgia Tech (1-1) visits North Carolina (0-1) on Saturday.
Georgia Tech is coming off an embarrassing loss at Kansas, which put up four touchdowns one week after losing 6-3 to North Dakota State, an FCS school. The Tar Heels have had a week off to stew on their 30-24 loss to LSU in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff in Atlanta.
North Carolina got good news this week when senior Shaun Draughn (1,433 career rushing yards) was cleared to play. He's one of 13 players who missed the opener amid investigations into possible improper contact with sports agents and possible academic misconduct.
Coach Butch Davis says he's preparing as if he won't have the other 12, including seven defensive starters.
UNC should enjoy success against a Yellow Jackets defense that hasn't yet mastered the 3-4 scheme installed by new coordinator Al Groh.
Tar Heels quarterback T.J. Yates threw for a career-best 412 yards in the opener, with wideout Jheranie Boyd catching six balls for 221 yards. Draughn will provide balance. He has reportedly looked like a beast in practice and is expected to get the most carries despite being listed third on the depth chart.
While the Tar Heels' passing game looks sharp, Georgia Tech has nowhere to go but up. Senior Joshua Nesbitt is just 6-of-21 for 124 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He's been erratic but also a victim of several drops.
Nesbitt, however, has run for five touchdowns out of the option, leading a ground attack that averages 331.5 yards per game.
Defensively, Georgia Tech plans to rotate in more linemen in hopes of holding up better against the run and generating a pass rush. The Yellow Jackets cannot win if Yates is able to calmly survey the field. He's a much more confident passer than the one who threw two interceptions in a 24-7 loss to Tech last season.
With Virginia Tech and Miami also off to shaky starts, the ACC's Coastal Division looks wide open. Saturday's winner in Chapel Hill stakes an early claim.
Georgia Tech leads the all-time series 24-18-3. The Jackets have won four of the last five and 10 of the last 12. But UNC dominated the most recent meeting in Chapel Hill, winning 28-7 in 2008.