Modified Sat, Nov 07, 2009 05:24 AM
Preview: Wake Forest at Georgia Tech
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close xTUDOR'S TAKE
Logic says Georgia Tech (8-1, 5-1 ACC) is going to have a bummer of a game somewhere. It's just a question of when, and this one looked like a prime candidate until Wake (4-5, 2-3) exited the baffling loss to Miami with quarterback Riley Skinner in questionable health.
Even so, the Deacons still have slightly better defensive programming to deal with the Yellow Jackets' running attack, better than most ACC teams. That will help some, but Wake is at its best when Skinner is at his best, which is unlikely.
Yellow Jackets, 28-17.
OBSERVATIONS
Deacons dwindling
Beyond the obvious physical challenge Wake Forest faces against the 11th-ranked Yellow Jackets, the Deacons also face a big emotional challenge having lost their last three games, including a bitter 28-27 loss to Miami last Saturday. The Deacons' postseason hopes are disappearing.
No slowing Jackets
Wake Forest must find a way to do something few teams have - contain Georgia Tech's option offense. In the past five games, Georgia Tech has averaged 41.8 points per game, grinding past opponents.
Familiar territory
On the plus side, Wake Forest faced an option team two weeks ago in its 13-10 loss at Navy, so it's not a totally unfamiliar offense. On the minus side, Georgia Tech has been able to study how the Deacons will defend the option.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Josh Nesbitt
Georgia Tech
Jr., QB, 6-1, 217 lbs.
Nesbitt engineers the Yellow Jackets' explosive option attack, and he's a dangerous runner and passer. He's the team's second-leading rusher, averaging 84.8 yards per game with 13 rushing touchdowns.
BY THE NUMBERS
Wake | GT | |
24.0 | scoring | 35.2 |
23.3 | scoring def. | 24.7 |
133.3 | avg. rush yds. | 304.1 |
141.7 | opp. avg. rush yds. | 137.3 |
266.3 | avg. pass yds. | 136.3 |
218.6 | opp. avg. pass yds. | 222.7 |
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