No. 19 Wisconsin | No. 21 Oklahoma | Top 25
No. 20: Georgia Tech
Last Season: 11-3 (6-2 ACC Coastal)
Georgia Tech getting attention
Paul Johnson can't help but smile, even if he doesn't really want to. Over his first seven seasons in Atlanta there were three constants: the triple option offense, winning ballgames, and complaints about too much of the former and not enough of the latter. That complaining was being turned up to 11 after a 5-0 start was followed by a 2-2 stumble. Then that complaining was drowned out by cheering as the Wreck rolled over Georgia and Mississippi State and scared Florida State to death. Now, the preseason magazines and polls, which Johnson loathes, have Tech picked to win the constantly chaotic ACC Coastal. "Yeah, I love that stuff," PJ quips. "But you know what I do love? I love [quarterback] Justin Thomas. I love our eight returning starters on defense, really nine. And I love early road games [Notre Dame, Duke, Clemson by Oct. 1] that will show us who we are. So let's play ball." -- Ryan McGee
Despite a lackluster start last year, Georgia Tech ripped off an incredible close to the season, ending a five-year losing streak to in-state rival Georgia and putting a massive scare into FSU in the ACC championship en route to a top-10 finish. Led by QB Justin Thomas, Tech's option offense was cruelly efficient down the stretch. Thomas is one of 13 returning starters (though he's the only player on the roster with more than 50 rush attempts last year), and the team boasts solid talent along both lines. The schedule will pose a challenge-the Yellow Jackets draw FSU and Clemson out of the Atlantic and travel to Notre Dame-but GT should contend for the wide-open ACC Coastal once again.
Georgia Tech's chances to win each game
09.03 vs. Alcorn State: 99.5%
09.12 vs. Tulane: 91.8%
09.19 @ Notre Dame: 34.2%
09.26 @ Duke: 68.2%
10.03 vs. North Carolina: 65.1%
10.10 @ Clemson: 36.9%
10.17 vs. Pittsburgh: 71.4%
10.24 vs. Florida State: 55.5%
10.31 @ Virginia: 72.8%
11.12 vs. Virginia Tech: 59.8%
11.21 @ Miami (FL): 47.5%
11.28 vs. Georgia: 36.6%*
*BROCK HUARD, ESPN analyst: The option demands tremendous confidence, trust and timing, and coach Paul Johnson's new starters will climb a steep learning curve this year. In a rivalry game (especially this one), anything is possible, but this game feels out of reach for the Jackets.
SHARON KATZ, ESPN Stats & Info: FPI doesn't question Georgia Tech's offense, which converted third downs at a historic rate last season(58 percent),. But it does have doubts about whether the team's D, a unit that finished outside the top 100 in points per drive allowed last season, can keep up.
Justin Thomas is the catalyst for the offense, but there are new faces that need to step up quickly in the backfield and receiver. The defense should be better, but how much better -- especially with one of the toughest schedules in the ACC. Hard to envision a repeat of last season, but the Jackets will come close and finish 9-3. -- Andrea Adelson
With the bulk of starters back from last year's Orange Bowl-winning team -- including terrific QB Justin Thomas -- the Yellow Jackets will be the hunted in the Coastal. The toughest schedule of the Paul Johnson era, however, could trip them up a bit, resulting in a 9-3 season. -- Matt Fortuna
Justin Thomas is the motor of a consistently effective offense, and what was a young defense a year ago should take a step forward. Still, the schedule is brutal, and it's possible the Jackets could be a better overall team than 2014 but finish 9-3. -- David Hale
No. 19 Wisconsin | No. 21 Oklahoma | Top 25
