Technical Tidbits 1/29: The 2021 Georgia Tech Football schedule is out!

Hopefully, this schedule is not completely thrown away before the season begins due to a global pandemic. That would especially be nice because the slate does not look terrible for Georgia Tech. Besides the games against Miami, Notre Dame, Clemson and u(sic)GA, they should not be blowouts. I do not see the Jackets beating UNC, but there are seven games on the schedule that are winnable if Tech plays to its level. I’m certainly not saying that the Jackets will go 7-5, but with added discipline and a full offseason, it should be better than 2020. I should also note that this will be the first time since 2014 that Tech has had every regular season game scheduled for a Saturday. It could be a good omen.

Our own advanced stats guru Robert Binion is much less skeptical about the potential of a seven-win season. Yesterday, he ran some preliminary numbers for the season that did not look good for the Jackets. In his model using ESPN’s FPI, Tech’s season win projection was a paltry 3.72. Bill Connelly’s SP+ numbers were not much better, projecting Tech with 4.5 wins. Though, as Robert points out, the numbers he used were preliminary and will be updated as we get closer to the season. For now, we can all just focus on the basketball team’s chances of making the NCAA Tournament.

The Tech Women’s Basketball team is on a hot streak (five games, to be exact). Their latest vanquished opponent is the Miami Hurricanes, who they beat last night by 14. Leading the Jackets was Lorela Cubaj, who had 14 points and 14 rebounds. Not far behind was Lotta-Maj Lahtinen, with 13 points and 4 rebounds. Tech will need to keep the good play up next week, starting against Syracuse on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, ACCNX). In the latest ESPN Women’s NCAA Tournament bracket projection, Nell Fortner & co. were given a six-seed in UCONN’s region. If the season continues to go well, it would mark the first tournament appearance for Tech since 2014.

Wins against two top-15 teams in the nation really help your ranking. That’s what the Georgia Tech Women’s Tennis team found out this week, they gained six spots in the latest Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association national rankings to move from no. 12 to no. 6. The Jackets have a wonderful team this year, and will look to continue their great season against UAB and Kennesaw State this weekend.

Reminder: The Tech Men’s Basketball team has a game tomorrow against Florida State (4 p.m. ET, ACCN).

This is a great video from Chaunté Lowe, a true inspiration!

Question of the Day: What are your early thoughts for the schedule?