It’s Clean Old-Fashioned Hate time when the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Georgia Bulldogs meet Saturday November 28 at 8 PM. The Yellow Jackets come in 10-1 ranked number 7 in every major poll. The Bulldogs are 6-5 and just lost at home 34-27 to a mediocre Kentucky team, they led 20-6 at the half. No matter what happens the rest of the year Dawg Head Coach Marc Richt is going to have his worst season in his tenure at Georgia. He’s never lost more than 4 games in a year. The Bulldogs would like to win this game and a win a bowl to salvage something out of a lost season. For Paul Johnson and Jackets the game is bigger.
This is the highest ranked Georgia Tech team to play in this game since 1990, when the Jackets won the national title. Paul Johnson immediately endeared himself to Georgia Tech fans last year, when Georgia Tech beat Georgia 45-42 in Athens ending a 7 game losing streak to the Bulldogs. Georgia would love nothing more than to spoil the Jacket’s dream season. Regardless of the outcome the Jackets are headed to the ACC championship to play the Clemson Tigers for the right to play in the Orange Bowl. Sure it’s a rivalry game, but why is the game so vitally important for Georgia Tech?
Recruiting:
Paul Johnson has made it a priority to recruit the talent rich state of Georgia. All 12 of his verbal commitments for the 2010 class are from Georgia. This state is the backbone of Bulldog recruiting. A win would prove a power shift within the states two biggest programs, and recruits will certainly take notice.
BCS Bowl and ranking implications:
The Bulldogs are playing to stay out of Shreveport, the Yellow Jackets are playing for a top 5 ranking and momentum heading into the ACCCG. There’s even discussion that if the Jackets beat Georgia and lose a close game to Clemson, that they could still be an at large team in the BCS. There’s even the slimmest of chances that Georgia Tech could get to the national championship game.
Bragging Rights:
This one is obvious. TO fans and players of the winning team, you get another 365 days of bragging rights:
National Perception:
To me this is what makes this game so important to the Yellow Jackets this season. Georgia is not a good team no matter how you look at their squad. Joe Cox is an average at best quarterback. The defense is undisciplined and prone to giving up big plays. This team is 119th out of 120 teams in turnover margin and has lost 5 times this year.
If Georgia Tech were to lose, it would be a serious blow to a team that is continuing to try and build credibility as a program that can be nationally relevant. A middle of the road SEC team beating a top 10 ACC team would also further damage the ACC’s football reputation. It’s simply not a game the Yellow Jackets can afford to lose.
This article is also featured at my blog All About Sports where you’ll find this article and others discussing Georgia Tech, the ACC, and a variety of sports topics.
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