Miami @ Georgia Tech preview
Bobby Dodd Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2009 ) Georgia Tech 17, Miami 33
Two inexperienced quarterbacks will square off when Georgia Tech hosts Miami in an ACC matchup Saturday.
The Yellow Jackets (5-4, 3-3 ACC) lost senior quarterback Joshua Nesbitt for the regular season in last week’s 28-21 loss at Virginia Tech. Nesbitt, who broke his right forearm, said he hopes to return in time for a potential bowl game.
Backup Tevin Washington, a redshirt sophomore, showed poise against the Hokies and nearly led Georgia Tech to the game-tying touchdown in the final minute. But he was intercepted in the end zone.
Still, coaches and fans were encouraged by his performance, which included 80 passing yards and 45 rushing yards. The 6-1, 205-pounder, a shifty option runner, is perfectly suited to lead Tech’s offense.
The Yellow Jackets lead the nation in rushing at 320.6 yards per game.
And here’s another good omen: The last four Tech quarterbacks to make their first career starts all won.
Miami’s Stephen Morris, a true freshman, led the Hurricanes (6-3, 4-2) to a 26-20 win over Maryland last week. Playing in place of Jacory Harris (concussion), Morris threw for 286 yards, including the game-winning 35-yard touchdown to Leonard Hankerson with 37 seconds left.
While Morris was outstanding, coach Randy Shannon said there will be no quarterback controversy once Harris returns, possibly next week.
The Hurricanes must win to have any chance of overtaking Virginia Tech in the Coastal Division. The Yellow Jackets need one more win to become bowl-eligible for the 14th straight year.
Georgia Tech leads the series 10-5. Miami won 33-17 at home last year to snap a four-game skid in the series.
Tech’s vaunted ground game will be tested severely by Miami, which ranks first in the ACC in total defense (303.8 yards per game) and second in points allowed (19.1). The Hurricanes allow just 3.9 yards per carry, nearly two full yards fewer than Tech’s 5.8 average.
Tech is listing center Sean Beford (leg) and guard Will Jackson (ankle) as questionable.
Miami features two of the ACC’s top six tacklers in linebackers Sean Spence (70) and Colin McCarthy (67). Defensive end Allen Bailey is tied for third in the conference with 6.5 sacks.
Tech’s defense has been middle-of-the-pack all season. The secondary, led by senior Mario Butler and safety Jerrard Tarrant (3 INTs), will have its hands full defending Hankerson, who leads the ACC with 83 receiving yards per game.