Primetime College Football: Yellow Jackets vs Decons
TALENT
This game goes down on the ESPNU network and it features the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets taking on Wake Forest University Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem.
Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson sees a total different club than the one he had a year ago that one the ACC title but now enters this game 2-2 and 1-1 in conference play. Last weekend the Yellow Jackets where manhandled by NC State 45-28 in front of the home stadium. The Yellow Jackets run the option with 320.5 of their 400.5 yards on offense comes on the ground. The Yellow Jackets are lead by senior Josh Nesbitt, 316 yards 3 touchdowns 1 INT and 362 yards 6 touchdowns, but when forced to the air is only completing 36.2 percent of his throws.
On the defensive side of the ball Georgia Tech has allowed 212.5 ypg through the air and 7 touchdowns while only taking away two. The defense has been slightly better against the run allowing 4.1 yards per carry and 155.2 ypg.
Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe also has his team win identical records as the Yellow Jackets (2-2 1-1). Wake Forest is generating 32 ppg and 369.2 total ypg as the Demon Deacons offense relies heavily on the rushing game. The Demon Deacons are rushing for 4.8 yards per carry and 238.5 yards for the game. The Demon Deacon use a two quarterback system but mainly keep it on the ground. Just like the Yellow Jackets their leading rusher happens to be their sophomore quarterback Ted Stachitas, 164 yards 2 touchdowns, but the number two rusher also comes from the quarterback position with freshamn Tanner Price, 154 yards 2 touchdowns, but is only completed 48.2 percent of his throws.
The Wake Forest defense are allowing 40 ppg and 467.2 total ypg numbers that are just simply unacceptable. The Demon Decons have already allowed 13 touchdowns through the air and 5 yards on the ground every play.
Georgia Tech owns a 21-8 series advantage over Wake Forest, which includes last years 30-27 overtime victory.
PICK: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Primetime College Football: Deacons vs Cardinal
TALENT
This game goes down on the ESPN2 network and it features the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons take on Stanford University Cardinal at Stanford Stadium.
Stanford is in search of their first 3-0 start since 2001 after blanking UCLA, 35-0, in its Pac-10 opener. Cardinal coach Jim Harbaugh one of the nations best passers under center in junior quarterback Andrew Luck, 467 yards 6 touchdowns and zero interceptions, who is lights out with his arm. Luck was without two offensive weapons against UCLA in senior running back Jeremy Stewart and junior wide receiver Chris Owusu with both being questionable for this game.
The defense stole the show for the Cardinal last weekend as Stanford posted its first road shutout since a 17-0 blanking of Oregon in 1974. The Cardinal’s dominated from start-to-finish, holding UCLA to just 233 total yards while forcing 4 turnovers. Junior defensive back Michael Thomas finished with 5 tackles and even scored on 21-yard fumble return.
Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe is turning to freshman quarterback Tanner Price, who is going to make his first collegiate start. Sophmore quarterback Ted Stachitas began the season as the starter but bruised his non-throwing hand during a 54-48 win over Duke to open ACC play. Price stepped up in Stachitas absence and passed 12-19 for 190 yards 3 touchdowns 1 INT and rushed for 56 yards one touchdown.
The Deacons have rolled up 644 rushing yards while scoring at least 50 points in consecutive games for the first time in school history. Red-shirt freshman Josh Harris, 124 yards 2 touchdowns, and sophomore wide receiver Chris Givens, 159 yards one touchdown, have been a major factor to helping the Deacon achieve such mark..
Defensively Wake Forest was exploited in the shootout with Duke racking up 487 total yards, including 358 through the air. However the Deacons have already created 4 INT’s as senior safety Alex Frye has two of them. Junior defensive end Kyle Wilber,7 tackles,3 sacks 5 tackles for loss is the real gem on the line for the Deacons.
The Deacons won the first-ever meeting between these schools with a 24-17 victory in Winston-Salem last year.
PICK: Stanford University Cardinal
