Wake Forest @ Georgia Tech preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 2, 2010 ) Georgia Tech 24, Wake Forest 20

Georgia Tech is two one-point losses away from being undefeated on the season, but the Yellow Jackets enter Saturday’s home contest with Wake Forest with no time to wonder what could have been. The Yellow Jackets face a Wake Forest team that threw a scare into Clemson before having its bye last week, and Georgia Tech’s remaining schedule features matchups with the No. 8-ranked Tigers, No. 14 Virginia Tech, Virginia and No. 3 Georgia.

“You can’t go back and change it,” Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson told reporters Tuesday, four days after the Yellow Jackets led most of the way before a 25-24 defeat at No. 7 Miami. “You hope that it hurts, but you’ve got to learn to put it behind you and move on.” The Demon Deacons started the season 4-0 before suffering a pair of losses to Clemson and Florida State, and begin a pivotal stretch in which Wake Forest plays three of its next four games on the road. “This is the best football team I’ve been a part of in the four years here, and I think you can see that,” Wake Forest quarterback John Wolford told reporters last week. Wolford, who missed the Clemson game with a shoulder injury, and running back Cade Carney (rib) are expected back for Saturday.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Georgia Tech -6.5

ABOUT WAKE FOREST (4-2, 1-2 ACC): Wolford has completed 63.2 percent of his passes this season with eight touchdowns and only one interception, while rushing for four touchdowns and 6.3 yards per carry. Redshirt freshman receiver Greg Dortch ranks second in the ACC and 19th nationally with 136 all-purpose yards per game, finishing with 156 yards against the Tigers. Wake Forest’s defense is surrendering only 16.7 points per game, third the conference and 12th in the country.

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (3-2, 2-1): The Yellow Jackets scored fewer than 28 points last week for the first time in nine games, but still lead the ACC and rank third in the nation in rushing yards per game (362). Quarterback TaQuon Marshall has combined for 14 touchdowns (nine rushing, five passing) and leads the team in rushing, but was held to just 18 yards against the Hurricanes. Georgia Tech has allowed opponents to convert third downs just 22.4 percent of the time, ranking second in the nation.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Wake Forest is two victories away from likely guaranteeing a second consecutive bowl appearance, the first time the Demon Deacons will have accomplished that since 2007-08.

2. Georgia Tech RB KirVonte Benson, who has three 100-yard rushing games this season, left the Miami game with a leg injury and his status for Saturday is unknown.

3. The two schools have not met since 2010; Georgia Tech leads the all-time series 22-8.

PREDICTION: Georgia Tech 27, Wake Forest 23