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Countdown to Kickoff: 14 Days...
Know Your Opponent:
University of Miami Hurricanes -- Coral Gables, FL
2012 Record:
7-5 (5-3 ACC)
Points Scored/Allowed Per Game:
31.4/30.5
Passing/Rushing Offensive Yards & Ratio:
295.4/144.8 -- 2.040
Passing/Rushing Defensive Yards & Ratio:
268.5/217.9 -- 1.232
Outlook:
I wish I didn't have to bring it up, but we all remember how last year's game went. Miami scored the first 19 points of the game in the first quarter, Georgia Tech scored the next 36 points, and then Miami scored the final 23 points (including a TD with 27 seconds left in regulation and a walk-off TD on their second play in overtime) to win a heartbreaker for Jackets fans. Miami was once again picked to win the Coastal Division, and with their talent they may be able to do it. Duke Johnson will be a 1,000-yard back this year, and they'll be lead one last time by Stephen Morris. If there's a chink in the armor, it's Morris. He's not particularly accurate as QBs go with a 58.2% completion rate (good for 79th nationally), and throws a LOT of deep passes (7.9 yards/attempt, #34 nationally with everyone above having a higher completion percentage). Tech's pass rush will be crucial to this game. Expect a lot of guys in the backfield between slowing down Johnson and pressuring Morris on slowly-developing plays.
Miami Wins If:
Duke Johnson rushes for 150 yards and Georgia Tech cannot produce a major pass rush with the front 7 that forces mistakes from Stephen Morris.
Tech Wins If:
They slow down Duke Johnson and produce a pass rush that disrupts Stephen Morris. There will be a talent deficit, meaning mistakes will be extremely crucial. They will also need to get over the hump of playing in Coral Gables, where the Yellow Jackets have not won since 2007.
Prediction:
Miami 23, Georgia Tech 20
I may not like our chances in this one, but maybe you do. Do the Jackets walk into...whatever their stadium is called now...and beat the Hurricanes for the first time since 2008?