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Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009

Breakdown: No. 11 Georgia Tech (6-1, 4-1 ACC) at Virginia (3-3, 2-0)

Where: Charlottesville, Va.

When: Noon, today (My41)

Last meeting: Virginia 28, Georgia Tech 17, Oct. 25, 2008.

Offense

Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets’ No. 2 national ranking in rushing offense is no fluke. On the legs of quarterback Josh Nesbitt, as well as B-back Jonathan Dwyer’s, they have racked up an average 281.6 rushing yards per game. Nesbitt has 625 yards this season, while Dwyer, the ACC’s reigning player of the year, has 593. Both are well on pace to surpass the 1,000-yard mark by season’s end.

Virginia: The Cavaliers do not rank higher than 83rd nationally in any of the four primary offensive categories (rushing offense, passing offense, total offense and scoring offense). Led by quarterback Jameel Sewell, Virginia’s passing attack is marginally better than Georgia Tech, a team that has a run-first mentality. The Cavaliers have passed for 1,160 yards, while the Yellow Jackets have 949. But since dropping its spread in favor of a more pro-style scheme, Virginia has been better, winning three straight games.

Edge: Georgia Tech

Defense

Georgia Tech: The top three tacklers from last week’s 28-23 win over Virginia Tech were all linebackers. Brad Jefferson and Sedric Griffin had eight, while sophomore Steven Sylvester had seven. It was a change from previous weeks in which the safeties and corners were credited with more tackles because opposing passing and rushing attacks had previously found a way to penetrate Georgia Tech’s defense. Similar execution today will go a long way toward another win.

Virginia: Allowing an average 131.5 rushing yards per game, Virginia is 59th nationally against the run. Of course, the Yellow Jackets begin their offense by running, so that should allow them some success against Virginia’s more spacious 3-4 defense. With only three defensive linemen along the Cavaliers’ front, there should be more opportunities for the Yellow Jackets to run dives or zone reads up the middle, giving Dwyer a big statistical day.

Edge: Georgia Tech

Special Teams

Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets have been fortunate the past two games that this has not been an area of too much concern. Aside from last week’s kickoff coverage issues — which, minus a pair of downfield tackles by Macon’s own Correy Earls and place-kicker Scott Blair, could have gone for touchdowns — the Yellow Jackets have not been too preoccupied wondering about the punting or placekicking games. The offense has run fluidly and has avoided long-distance fourth downs. Don’t be surprised if special teams play doesn’t factor prominently once again today.

Virginia: The Cavaliers have yet to return a kick of any kind for a touchdown. They do, however, have a trio of proven kick returners in Chris Cook, Perry Jones and Chase Minnifield. Cook has averaged 19.4 yards per return, while Jones averages 20.2 on just five returns. Minnifield, son of onetime Cleveland Browns cornerback Frank Minnifield, has just four kick returns, including one of 49 yards. He is also the team’s primary punt returner.

Edge: Push

Coaching

Georgia Tech: The title streak stopper is already being tagged to Paul Johnson for his efforts in leading the Yellow Jackets to victories over teams Georgia Tech previously struggled with. Of course, there was last year’s win — the first time in eight meetings — over rival Georgia, in Johnson’s first season. Then there was the streak stopped earlier this season in Tallahassee, Fla., when the Yellow Jackets won there for the first time. Now, his players take on a program that has defeated Georgia Tech on the road each meeting since 1990. Having his team fully focused on this task at hand, don’t be surprised if he adds another broken streak to his resume.

Virginia: Head coach Al Groh has a chance to upset the 11th-ranked Yellow Jackets and solidify his future in Charlottesville, once again. Each of the past three seasons, Groh has fielded criticism from those around the university after watching his team have slow starts. But after his teams have finally gotten in a rhythm, they begin to cruise. Groh is 10-1 in October during the past three seasons, and a win over Georgia Tech would go a long way to ensuring his job security, after complaints arose when his team started 0-3.

Edge: Georgia Tech

Key Matchups

Offense: Georgia Tech tackles vs. Virginia defensive end Nate Collins and Mark Conrath. Collins had a big game last week, walking away with the ACC’s defensive lineman of the week honors after coming away with a clutch interception and returning it for a touchdown against Maryland. On that side of the lines, Georgia Tech tackle Brad Sellers may have his hands full with the 290-pound senior captain, but protection in both run and pass games on either end will be key.

Defense: Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan vs. Virginia right tackle Will Barker. A leader along the offensive front for Virginia, Barker is an experienced lineman who may make penetration difficult for the Yellow Jackets. But Morgan, who came away with a clutch sack on Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor last week, has the speed to get around the edge and could wreak havoc in the Cavaliers’ backfield.

Prediction: Georgia Tech 35, Virginia 20