Jackets must win to have a shot at ACC

By Doug Roberson

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt was asked "How big is Saturday's game against Virginia Tech?"

"Big," he said.

"That's it?"

"Nothing more needs to be said," he replied.

Succinct, but accurate. It's not stretching anything to say that the 6 p.m. game against the fourth-ranked Hokies is the biggest game the 19th-ranked Yellow Jackets have had this season.

Should the Jackets win, they are right back in the running for a spot in the ACC championship game. A loss and coach Paul Johnson will again repeat last year's refrain that, even if they win out and finish an impressive 11-2, they still haven't won anything yet.

"This week is a huge game for our team and our program," Johnson said. "One of our goals every year is to compete for an ACC championship, and we've gotten ourselves to the point that this game is meaningful along those lines. If we win, we have a chance; if we lose, we probably have no chance."

Breaking down the race:

Virginia Tech is 5-1 overall, 3-0 in the ACC. Should it win today, it will have two games in hand over Georgia Tech and one game over Miami. The Hokies likely would have to lose three of their remaining four ACC games for Georgia Tech to win the Coastal Division. They have home games against North Carolina and N.C. State and road games against Maryland and Virginia (which is also in the running for the Coastal). Those teams are a combined 11-12 overall, 2-5 in the conference.

"Any one who follows it knows they would have to lose two games, probably three," Johnson said. "It becomes almost impossible for us to win the division."

Georgia Tech is 5-1, 3-1 in the ACC. Should it defeat Virginia Tech, it will have the tiebreaker over the Hokies, which is all-important because it's the first tiebreaker used. The Yellow Jackets likely would still need Miami to lose one more conference game. The Hurricanes have home games remaining against Clemson,Virginia and Duke and road games at Wake Forest and North Carolina. Those teams are 15-13 overall, 5-6 in the ACC.

The Jackets and Hokies both enter on a tear. In the past two games, Georgia Tech is averaging 45.5 points, the Hokies 41.

The differences have been the defenses. In the past two games, Georgia Tech is allowing an average of 37.5 points, the Hokies 20.

Johnson said his defense is going to simplify its scheme Saturday in an effort to get his guys to play, rather than to think. That request was made three games ago, and the Jackets held North Carolina to 154 yards in a 24-7 win.

"All you can ask for is an opportunity, and we've got one," Johnson said. "We've got an opportunity to get it done."