Yellow Jackets on verge of ACC title game

If No. 7 Tech (9-1, 6-1 ACC) can defeat Duke (5-4, 3-2) in Durham in their noon game Saturday, the Jackets will have won their single-elimination tourney, clinched the Coastal title, and earned the chance to play for the conference championship in Tampa on Dec. 5.

"Could we lose on Saturday and still win? Maybe," Johnson said. "But if we win, nobody [else can]."

And Tech has done it without a lot of experience in this kind of situation.

Only three players -- Sedric Griffin, Cord Howard and Robert Hall -- on Tech's current roster participated in the 2006 ACC championship game, the last time the Jackets competed for a title. And only two -- Griffin and Hall -- played in the win against North Carolina a few weeks earlier that clinched Tech's spot in the game. So while the team doesn't have a lot of familiarity to draw from, those who have been there are trying to give their wisdom to teammates.

"It's the same position, but there's a lot more at stake," Howard said. "We're sitting at 9-1 and want to continue with one loss in the slot. We want to go out there and set ourselves apart from a couple of other teams in the ranking and the division.

"If we don't handle business this week, we'll have to wait on other teams. We want a straight shot. All of us know we're one game away from where we want to be. That's how we're taking it."

Tech has won seven consecutive games (including non-conference games), but is still waiting to play its best, according to Johnson.

But, as in last weekend's win against Wake Forest, when the offense played what Johnson said was its worst game he can remember, sometimes you need a little bit of luck when you're having a special season.

While Tech's offense seemingly has fueled the streak, the defense has had its up and downs, but seems to be figuring out things. In the second half of the past three games, Tech's opponents have scored a combined 16 points.

Griffin said he's ready for the team to put it all together, but they have to beat Duke first. He remembers how Tech finished the 2006 season. After beating the Tar Heels and then Duke, the Jackets lost their last three games, each by three points.

Should Tech win today, it has a bye next weekend before it hosts Georgia on Nov. 28. The ACC championship game and a bowl will follow.

"No time for slacking," Griffin said. "Let's get to the championship game and win it.

"It's been a while since I won a championship, I really want a ring."