2006-7 Georgia Tech Football Preview

It's that time again, boys and girls! Toe meets leather next weekend at Bobby Dodd and before we get all started up, it's time for me to put my foot where my mouth is and make some predictions. Before I get into the schedule, let's look at the team.

The Coach: Chan Gailey has been decent in his four years at Tech, racking up 7 wins a year and keeping the bowl streak alive, but it's time to get past that mark - the faithful in Gold and White are looking for progress. I think he's a good coach, a consistent one, but he is not all that great at getting his players motivated for some games. Case and point, the Emerald Nuts Bowl last year. Instead of ending the season with a bang the Jackets got their asses handed to them by the Fightin' Utes. Wow. That was a hell of a day. Somebody want to block LaTendresse?

The Offense: The loss of some O-linemen and P.J. Daniels won't hurt too badly, as Tashard Choice has been looking good at RB. Reggie's got another year under his belt and has that "Big Game" experience. You can't mention GT's offense without mentioning Calvin Johnson - he's poised for another great year. The WR corps look good, and if Reggie can get the pigskin out on the flats, the offense shouldn't be too bad. We won't blow anybody away, but we'll keep up with people.

The Defense: The D-Line is good and the linebackers a bit better - the biggest question is whether the secondary will be up to snuff. We've got some young guys back there as well as a converted WR. We'll find out in Game 1 if they can hang.

Overall: The team's decent and could shake things up this year, but then again, that's what GT fans have said for the past 3 years. Reggie's gone after this year and more than likely, Calvin is too. Either they get it done this year or it'll be a couple years. I believe we'll knock off one of the big boys and of course, lose a close game that we shouldn't. Wouldn't be GT without at least one heartpounding win and one heartbreaking loss a year.

Now, on to the schedule.


September 2nd: Georgia Tech vs. Notre Dame
The first big nationally televised game of the year, this one should be one hell of a game. Reggie always seems to shine in these early season big games (ask Auburn) so who knows what's gonna happen in this one. Nobody seems to think the Irish will run away with this one - obviously I agree, but I think a lot of people are underestimating Tech. Choice really is a good RB - the question will be whether Notre Dame's defense will be able to shut him down and force Reggie through the air. The Irish can move the ball and put up points but I believe that Tech can shut down the run and force Brady Quinn to win the game. Unfortunately, we all know that he can still do that. I believe that Tech can put it all together and muster the signature big win of the season here. Predicted score: GT 24, ND 21.


September 9th: Georgia Tech vs. Samford
This one is clearly a "breather" game after the onslaught of the Irish. Tech should be able to steamroll Samford, a I-AA team who went a spectacular 4-4 in their conference last year. I would expect Choice and the Johnson boys (Calvin and James, no relation) to have big games. There's no reason to be scared of the Bulldogs, at least these Bulldogs, but I hope the Jackets will have the common sense to not overlook or underestimate these guys. It should be a walk in the park if Tech shows up to play. This will easily be the only time Tech cracks 40 points this year.Predicted score: GT 42, Samford 14.


September 16th: Georgia Tech vs. Troy
Troy's had a few shocking wins of their own in their brief time in I-A football. While nobody in their right mind would view Troy as a national football power they also shouldn't be overlooked as a piece of cake. Last year Troy had a good running attack and a decent defense and I honestly have no idea how this year's Trojan team will fare, but I would not be shocked if they gave Tech fits, at least early. This is game three of Tech's four game homestand to start the season, and I expect them to be at worst 2-1 after this game. If not, go ahead and ignore everything else in this post and check back for the 2007-8 Preview. Predicted score: GT 28, Troy 13.


September 21st: Georgia Tech vs. Virginia
General rule for figuring out who will win the annual battle between the Wahoos and the Wreck: who's the home team? This one has a double advantage for Tech - it's in Atlanta, and it's on a Thursday. ESPN must love GT because I can't remember a year since they started the Thursday night games where Tech hasn't played in at least one per season. Virginia's team isn't as good as they were last year but they always, always give Tech a fit. Last time these two met on a Thursday in Atlanta was a 35-0 drubbing at the hands of a George Godsey led swarm and while I would love a repeat performance I know I'm not going to get one. Predicted score: GT 17, UVA 10.


September 30th: Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech
And this is where 4-0 becomes 4-1. First off, it's total bullshit that this game is being played in Blacksburg for the second consecutive year. Nobody wants to go into that stadium more than they have to. VT's looking good this year (now that they excised the tumor that was Marcus Vick from the program) and I have to believe that they're still going to be too much for the Jackets. As much as I would love to predict victory here I just can't. Predicted score: GT 10, VT 35.


October 7th: Georgia Tech vs. Maryland
Ah, back to the flats of Historic Grant Field. Maryland's got a good running game, one which will give Tech some trouble, but I still think that GT has got a better squad on the field. Problem is, Maryland's got a better coach on the sidelines. Last time GT and Maryland hooked up, it was ugly. Maryland beat the snot out of my poor Jackets. I don't expect that this year. Predicted score: GT 23, MD 14.


October 21st: Georgia Tech at Clemson
After a one-week layoff, the Jackets make the trip up I-85 to Death Valley for what will probably be yet another excruciatingly close game. I think the game will be a bit more upbeat, as last year's 10-9 defensive slugfest didn't make for exciting football. Tech's plucked a few W's from their permanent ACC rivals in their last few visits to Clemson but I really think Clemson's going to show up for this game. I think GT is a better team, and this will be the inevitable game that GT will allow to slip from their hands. Predicted score: GT 14, Clemson 17.


October 28th: Georgia Tech vs. Miami
Wait, this is the Homecoming game? Last year I didn't think GT could beat Miami. Neither did Miami. Did Chan Gailey ever get that thank-you note from Frank Beamer for putting VT in the championship game? I think Miami's loaded this year and I don't see Tech beating them. Then again it's in Atlanta, and maybe the boys will pull off another shocker. I just don't see it happening. Predicted score: GT 17, Miami 31.


November 4th: Georgia Tech at NC State
Carter-Finley is another place where Tech has struggled over the years. After dropping two in a row, I believe that Tech will get their stuff together and beat a clearly rebuilding NCSU team. Georgia Tech has got a better team but that won't stop this one from being a dogfight. Predicted score: GT 13, NCSU 7.


November 11th: Georgia Tech at North Carolina
Week number two in the Triangle and I certainly like Tech's chances better this week. There's really nothing on Carolina's offense that scares me but you can never count out a team playing a home in November. Miami knows that. Should be a good game for Tech fans but this could also prove to be the disaster of the year. I'm not expecting it to though. Predicted score: GT 21, UNC 10.


November 18th: Georgia Tech vs. Duke
Tech wraps up its home slate against perennial whipping boys Duke. Duke got better, but better is relative. Slightly better crap is still crap. Tech rolls in this one and gets to spend a week busting ass getting ready for UGA. Predicted score: GT 31, Duke 10.


November 25th: Georgia Tech at Georgia
Thanksgiving Saturday means another trip between the hedges for the Jackets and I unfortunately think that even though this is the year that Tech should break the losing streak against the Dawgs, UGA will step it up and win. Ugh. I feel dirty for just thinking that. Predicted score: GT 17, UGA 20.


The Bowl Game: Probably the Continental Tire bowl. Charlotte ahoy! Not going to bother predicted this one.


So that's a regular season mark of 8-4, which should be good enough for 3rd in the Coastal Division behind VT and Miami, just like last year. I'd be happy with 8-4, though of course I want more.

Time Off?

Okay, I've had the last week off (as well as the next two) and I've been keeping busy. I've written the majority of my application essays (if you're following the med school update, then you'd know that) but nobody can write all day long, so I've been catching up on a fair amount of TV, movies, and games. Of course, I've got a thing or two to say about each of them. First, the games.

Psychonauts (Xbox): This is easily the best game I've played since Metroid Prime 2 a few years ago, and has found its place in my Top 10 games all time. This game is just pure genius. The dialogue is incredible - it's witty and hilarious, and the story is both gripping and a joy to play. The game is an adventure game - you play as Raz (short for Razputin), a kid who crashes a secret government camp used to train psychic warriors for the military - to turn them into Psychonauts. The majority of the game is spent in the minds of others and the level design is just crazy. If you're a fan of well made, artistically brilliant games, you need to play this. It's by the same designer of other Top 10 favorite Grim Fandango, as well as the hilarious Monkey Island series. I feel confident calling this the best game on the original Xbox platform.
Rating: Hot Shit

Star Wars Battlefront (Xbox): I've had this game for a while but never got into it until I finished Psychonauts. I thought "oh boy, another crappy Star Wars game" at first but after playing through this game I really enjoyed it. The premise of the game is that you relive (fight) the big ground-based battles of the six Star Wars movies (well, make it 5, nothing from Episode III in here due to the date the movie was released) from either the Empire/Rebel or CIS/Republic [Clone] Army sides. Each map contained many Command Points and you needed to capture them to assure your side's victory - an odd combination of capture the flag and king of the hill, but with laser guns and AT-STs. Strategy was necessary to win, but even with the game at its most challenging difficulty level I found victory pretty easy to attain. A couple levels required multiple tries, but never more than a couple. The Historical Campaigns were the game's highlight, as the Galactic Conquest Mode was boring - fight to win planets, then blow them up with the Death Star. Lately Star Wars games have actually been good. Coupled with the two Lego Star Wars games and KotOR (which I never got into), the Xbox has been kind to George Lucas. Now, on to Battlefront II.
Rating: Hot Shit

The video games have been good to me, but I've seen a handful of pretty awful movies (in due fairness, also quite a few good ones) in the past couple weeks or so. I guess that about even things up. Here's the rundown of the bad ones:

The Descent: This movie got rave reviews for its innovative approach to the horror genre. It's monsters in a cave. How in the hell is this "innovative"? This movie was excruciatingly boring. I can't remember the finer plot details because they were either non-existant or I was too busy playing Tony Hawk's American Sk8land on my DS while this movie was on. One of the two.

Jet Li's Fearless: Matt Jordan's Boredom. Five minutes of action, 90 minutes of boring Chinese pseudo-history, and then five minutes of action to close the movie along with a really cinematic death. Like every other movie in this genre.

Miami Vice: Pretty looking movie. Pretty boring plot. Seriously, this movie had one weak, weak plot. Pass on this one.

Hostel: I got exactly what I expected in this movie, a lackluster horror flick. Gory, bloody, some nudity, and sheer boredom.

I'll run down the good movies after I get a chance to see a few more.