Keys for Tech vs. Wake

By Doug Roberson

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

1. Win time of possession. Both teams love to hold onto the ball. Tech is first in the ACC in time of possession (35:22), and Wake is second (32:08).

2. Get pressure on Wake’s quarterback. Riley Skinner was cleared to play on Friday after he sustained a mild concussion in last week’s loss to Miami. Tech can’t let him get comfortable in the pocket. Skinner, the school’s winningest quarterback and one of the best in the ACC, completes 65.6 percent of his passes. Wake’s quarterbacks have been sacked 22 times this season.

3. Avoid giving up big plays. The Jackets have given up 41 plays of at least 20 yards this season, just two less than they gave up last season. No matter how well Tech’s offense does, giving up big plays will undo those results.

A Georgia Tech win would ...

• Mean it is one win away from securing a spot in the ACC championship game.

• Be its seventh consecutive victory this season.

• Be its 21st in the series between the two teams.

A Wake Forest win would ...

• Move it one game closer to becoming bowl eligible. The Deacons need to win two of their last three games.

• Be its ninth in the series between the two teams.

• Snap the Deacons’ three-game losing streak.

Keep an eye on ...

• For Georgia Tech: Derrick Morgan. If Tech gets pressure on Skinner or McManus, it’ll likely come from Morgan. He leads the ACC with 8.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss, and may need to get a couple more of each to get the Demon Deacons’ powerful offense off the field.

• For Wake Forest: Defensive tackle John Russell has 4.5 sacks and 30 tackles this season, a big number for an interior lineman. Virginia’s Nate Collins lined up a yard off the ball two weeks ago and made 16 tackles. Look for Russell to try to do the same thing.

The numbers game

• 0 -- Victories in Paul Johnson’s coaching career against Wake. He went 0-2 against them when he coached at Navy. The Deacons are the only team Johnson has faced more than once that he hasn’t beaten.

• 12 -- Difference in turnovers between Tech and Wake. The Jackets are plus-7, and Wake is minus-5.

• 1,667 -- Rushing yards for Jonathan Dwyer and Josh Nesbitt this season. They are 421 yards from breaking the record they set last season.

History book

• Last meeting: Wake Forest defeated Georgia Tech 9-6 in ACC Championship Game in 2006.

• Series record: Georgia Tech leads 20-8.

The bottom line

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said his team has yet to play a complete game this season, meaning its offense, defense and special teams are at their best. The problem, at least the past few games, hasn’t been with the offense. The team has tinkered with its special teams and defense this week. A complete game might be in sight.