Technical Tidbits 9/24: Week 4 - Mayhem ensues

Going into week 4 of the college football season, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have another big challenge ahead of them. They’ll be playing host to the 21st ranked North Carolina Tar Heels tomorrow. While it is a home game, it is unique in that it will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in what is being dubbed “Mayhem at Mercedes-Benz” — home of the Atlanta Falcons. (I’m guessing Allstate is the sponsor?)

The players are looking forward to playing at the facility as this AJC article discusses. I think it will be a great experience for both them and the fans. It’s quite an impressive facility. In some non-football news, the basketball season is right around the corner and this article provides a preview of the Yellow Jackets upcoming season. With that said, let’s get into today’s first featured article which focuses on Jordan Yates.

This was a really well done article by Andy Demetra that features Georgia Tech quarterback Jordan Yates and his uncle T.J. Yates. The elder Yates was the former QB1 for North Carolina and went on to a seven-year career in the NFL. I think Yates’ story and how he’s become the Yellow Jackets’ QB1 is one of the more compelling, human interest stories to develop this season.

The particular subplot with his uncle being a former Tar Heel makes for even more intrigue and drama this week with UNC slated to visit this weekend. In the preseason, there was a lot of focus on Jahmyr Gibbs, Jeff Simms, and other storylines, so it’s good to see Yates’ story getting some press.

Understandably, the oddsmakers have the Yellow Jackets as the underdogs in their matchup tomorrow against the Tar Heels. UNC is the favorite by 12.5 points. The Tar Heels started the season ranked #10 but quickly dropped after losing to Virginia Tech 17-10 in their opener. In their next two games they scored into the 50s in huge wins over Georgia State and Virginia.

They are definitely a team that can produce offensively and they may be the biggest challenge thus far into the season for Tech’s defense. Last week, I figured it would require a defensive showing from Tech to have a chance against Clemson. This week, it will be even more important for Tech’s defense to have a good game. Just looking at some of the Tar Heels’ stats, they are one of the country’s better offenses. What do you think it will take for the Yellow Jackets to pull off an upset?