The last two team previews for teams not named Virginia. The Cavaliers' preview will be published tomorrow.
Georgia Tech
Last year: Georgia Tech went 8-5 last season, 5-3 in the ACC, tied for second in the Coastal with Virginia. The Cavaliers won their head-to-head meeting. The Yellow Jackets started the year 6-0 -- ranked No. 12 and off to their best start since 1966 -- before falling, 24-21, to the Cavaliers. Georgia Tech won just two more games after that, against Duke and Clemson. The Jackets lost to Utah in the Sun Bowl, 30-27, in overtime. Like every team under Paul Johnson, the Yellow Jackets' bread and butter was running the ball in the triple option offense. Tech ranked second nationally in rushing with 316.5 yards per game and scored 34.3 points per game. Quarterback Tevin Washington led the group of rushers, gaining 986 yards on the ground while scoring 14 touchdowns. David Sims (698 yards, seven TDs) and Orwin Smith (615 yards, incredible 10.1 yards per carry, 11 touchdowns) were next in line and after that, Tech boasted four more ball carriers who gained over 200 yards. Though primarily a running team, Georgia Tech is not opposed to airing it out every now and again during a game. Washington completed 49.3 percent of his passes for 1,652 yards, 11 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Stephen Hill, who was drafted by the New York Jets in April, was on the receiving end of most of the passes, hauling in 28 receptions for 820 yards and five touchdowns. The defense, in its second year in former Virginia coach Al Groh's 3-4 system, improved its numbers in every defensive category. The Jackets ranked second in the ACC and 28th nationally in pass defense and recorded 14 interceptions. The 'D' gave up 26.1 points per game.
Offense: Seven players return to this unit. Washington is back at quarterback for Tech as a graduate student this year. He is set to start his 18th consecutive game under center for the Yellow Jackets on Monday vs. Virginia Tech. Synjyn Days could push for some time at quarterback and could also play the A-back spot. Days, a sophomore, ran for 237 yards and four touchdowns last year. Smith, a senior, will be the primary A-back and is back 100 percent healthy after being bothered by a turf toe injury last season and into the spring. Sims, a junior, is expected to start at B-back but could be pushed for time by a couple players. The weakest spot on the offense is at wideout, where, with the early entry of Hill to the draft -- he was a junior in 2011 -- Tech has no one returning at the position with any career receptions. Senior Chris Jackson, an Alabama transfer, is expected to start and after that any one of a number of players could see playing time: Jeff Green, Darren Waller, Jeremy Moore, among others. The offensive line will be very strong, as it returns four starters with lots of experience. The group is led by All-American senior guard Omoregie Uzzi and junior center Jay Finch, who is on the preseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy, which goes to the best center in the country.
Defense: The defense returns six starters. The biggest loss for Tech on this side of the ball is linebacker Julian Burnett, who led the Jackets in tackles each of the last two seasons. He had to end his career prematurely because of a medical condition. Junior linebacker Jeremiah Attachou is back after recording 59 tackles, 11.5 for loss, and six sacks last season. Senior Izaan Cross is the leader along the defensive line at end, having made 39 career starts. He had 32 tackles and a tackle for loss last year. The secondary is quite experienced. Senior cornerback Rod Sweeting returns after picking off three passes and recording 10 breakups last season. Louis Young or Jermea Thomas, who had one and three interceptions last season, respectively, are expected to be one of the starters at the other corner. Junior Isaiah Johnson is considered one of the best safeties in the ACC. He was second on the team in tackles last year with 78 and he also had three picks.
Schedule, notes, outlook: Georgia Tech opens up right away with Coastal Division rival Virginia Tech in Blacksburg on Monday night. The winner of this matchup has represented the Coastal Division in the ACC championship every year since the title game began in 2005. That will be a very tough game for the Yellow Jackets as the experienced Virginia Tech defense will have had ample time to prepare for Georgia Tech's tricky offense. In the non-conference, Georgia Tech faces Presbyterian, Middle Tennessee State, BYU at home and Georgia on the road. Those first two games should be easy victories for Georgia Tech but the final two will probably be tough games. In the rest of the ACC schedule, the Jackets miss out on playing Florida State, N.C. State, and Wake Forest from the Atlantic Division. The get both Virginia and Miami at home, but have to travel to both North Carolina and Clemson. Even though the offense has no receivers with catches back, it should be very good because of the experience of its line, quarterback, and running backs. The defense should be pretty good. It has a mix of newcomers and returnees. Al Groh should be able to do what he wants with the defense in this, his third year. If it can improve just a little over last year, that could help account for a win here or there. Coach Johnson has mentioned how important the defense is on his team because it could mean a possession or two more for the Tech offense to score, which it does well. I think the Jackets will lose out of the gate to the Hokies, but am expecting a solid year overall. Tech should go 8-4 or 9-3.
Miami
Last year: Under first-year head coach Al Golden, Miami went 6-6 overall, and 3-5 in the conference, settling for a tie for fourth in the division with North Carolina, which Miami beat head-to-head. The Hurricanes were eligible for a bowl game, but chose not to participate because of an ongoing NCAA investigation into the program. Last season, several players were suspended for part of the season because of the investigation, but the school has yet to receive its sanctions. After having to sit out one game, Jacory Harris started the final 11 for Miami at quarterback, completing 65 percent of his passes for 2,486 yards and 20 touchdowns. Lamar Miller led the stable of running backs, gaining 1,272 yards and nine touchdowns. Backup Mike James ran for 275 yards and seven touchdowns. Tommy Streeter and Travis Benjamin were the stars at receiver, each recording over 40 receptions for a combined 1,420 yards and 11 touchdowns. Allen Hurns caught 31 balls for 415 yards and four scores. The defense allowed just 20.1 points per game, but was inconsistent, giving up seven points to a powerful offense like Georgia Tech one week in a win and then turning around and giving up 28 in a loss to Virginia the next. At the end of the year, the Hurricanes gave up only three points in a win over South Florida and then surrendered 24 to a weak Boston College offense in a loss in the season finale. The Hurricanes picked off just six passes all season.
Offense: Miami returns four starters to this side of the ball. Harris has graduated and Stephen Morris will take over at quarterback. Morris, a junior, has starting experience. He was thrust into his first game two years ago as a true freshman at Virginia after Jacory Harris was knocked out of the game. That year, Morris ended up completing 82 of 153 passes (53.6 percent) for 1,240 yards, seven touchdowns, and nine interceptions. In 2011, Morris completed 26 of 37 passes (70.3 percent) of his passes for 283 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. Miller was an early entry to the draft after just his redshirt sophomore year (fourth round to the Dolphins) so James, a senior, will be the main man behind Morris this season. Miami lost both Benjamin and Streeter at wideout and Hurns will step into the spotlight as the top receiver. Kendall Thompkins, a redshirt senior who saw limited playing time last year, or sophomore Rashawn Scott are expected to start opposite Hurns. Phillip Dorsett, a sophomore who caught 14 passes last season for 147 yards and a touchdown, should see lots of time. The offensive line will be a mix and match of starters from last year and even a true freshman, Ereck Flowers, at right tackle. Shane McDermott, only a sophomore, is one of the best centers in the ACC. Incredibly, he didn't give up a sack or have a penalty called on him last year. Golden played lots of young players last season on the line and they are still going to be young there this year, but the experience will pay off.
Defense: This unit returns seven starters. Middle linebacker Sean Spence is the biggest loss for the Hurricane defense. He recorded 106 tackles, 14 for loss, and three sacks a year ago. Denzel Perryman (yep, we share a last name) will start in place of Spence after starting five games in 2011 as a true freshman at weakside linebacker and posting 69 tackles, 6.5 for loss, and a sack. The secondary is a group that must improve. Free safety JoJo Nicholas, who snagged two interceptions last season, is gone. Some upperclassmen will be challenged for playing time by true freshmen in the back of the defense. Miami needs to create more turnovers in the secondary than a year ago.
Schedule, notes, outlook: The Hurricanes start the year off with a conference game at Boston College. They then have to go to Kansas State and then host Bethune-Cookman. In October, Miami plays Notre Dame in Chicago and in November, hosts South Florida. That's a fairly strong non-conference schedule for the young Hurricanes. In the ACC, besides facing Boston College in the Atlantic, Miami hosts N.C. State and Florida State from that division while it avoids playing Clemson, Wake Forest, and Maryland. Miami also hosts North Carolina and Virginia Tech. The 'Canes must visit UVa and Georgia Tech. Golden and Miami still have the NCAA investigation hanging over their heads. Golden is a good coach, however, and did a solid job of focusing his team on football last year while guiding it to a .500 record. This season will be tough again with an inexperienced offense and just a young team overall. Golden played lots of young talent last year, however, and also brought in a great recruiting class so that could pay dividends by the end of the year. The schedule has its rough patches but isn't too bad. I look for Miami to go 7-5 or 6-6 this season.
College games officially start tonight! Not too many great matchups, but here are a couple predictions.
No. 9 South Carolina at Vanderbilt (7 p.m. ESPN): South Carolina 27, Vanderbilt 17
Washington State at BYU (10:15 p.m. ESPN): Mike Leach's debut at Washington State. BYU 35, Washington State 33
(For my co-worker Ryan Pronk, a Minnesota fan, who will be at this game) Minnesota at UNLV: Minnesota 17, UNLV 14
Georgia Tech
Last year: Georgia Tech went 8-5 last season, 5-3 in the ACC, tied for second in the Coastal with Virginia. The Cavaliers won their head-to-head meeting. The Yellow Jackets started the year 6-0 -- ranked No. 12 and off to their best start since 1966 -- before falling, 24-21, to the Cavaliers. Georgia Tech won just two more games after that, against Duke and Clemson. The Jackets lost to Utah in the Sun Bowl, 30-27, in overtime. Like every team under Paul Johnson, the Yellow Jackets' bread and butter was running the ball in the triple option offense. Tech ranked second nationally in rushing with 316.5 yards per game and scored 34.3 points per game. Quarterback Tevin Washington led the group of rushers, gaining 986 yards on the ground while scoring 14 touchdowns. David Sims (698 yards, seven TDs) and Orwin Smith (615 yards, incredible 10.1 yards per carry, 11 touchdowns) were next in line and after that, Tech boasted four more ball carriers who gained over 200 yards. Though primarily a running team, Georgia Tech is not opposed to airing it out every now and again during a game. Washington completed 49.3 percent of his passes for 1,652 yards, 11 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Stephen Hill, who was drafted by the New York Jets in April, was on the receiving end of most of the passes, hauling in 28 receptions for 820 yards and five touchdowns. The defense, in its second year in former Virginia coach Al Groh's 3-4 system, improved its numbers in every defensive category. The Jackets ranked second in the ACC and 28th nationally in pass defense and recorded 14 interceptions. The 'D' gave up 26.1 points per game.
Offense: Seven players return to this unit. Washington is back at quarterback for Tech as a graduate student this year. He is set to start his 18th consecutive game under center for the Yellow Jackets on Monday vs. Virginia Tech. Synjyn Days could push for some time at quarterback and could also play the A-back spot. Days, a sophomore, ran for 237 yards and four touchdowns last year. Smith, a senior, will be the primary A-back and is back 100 percent healthy after being bothered by a turf toe injury last season and into the spring. Sims, a junior, is expected to start at B-back but could be pushed for time by a couple players. The weakest spot on the offense is at wideout, where, with the early entry of Hill to the draft -- he was a junior in 2011 -- Tech has no one returning at the position with any career receptions. Senior Chris Jackson, an Alabama transfer, is expected to start and after that any one of a number of players could see playing time: Jeff Green, Darren Waller, Jeremy Moore, among others. The offensive line will be very strong, as it returns four starters with lots of experience. The group is led by All-American senior guard Omoregie Uzzi and junior center Jay Finch, who is on the preseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy, which goes to the best center in the country.
Defense: The defense returns six starters. The biggest loss for Tech on this side of the ball is linebacker Julian Burnett, who led the Jackets in tackles each of the last two seasons. He had to end his career prematurely because of a medical condition. Junior linebacker Jeremiah Attachou is back after recording 59 tackles, 11.5 for loss, and six sacks last season. Senior Izaan Cross is the leader along the defensive line at end, having made 39 career starts. He had 32 tackles and a tackle for loss last year. The secondary is quite experienced. Senior cornerback Rod Sweeting returns after picking off three passes and recording 10 breakups last season. Louis Young or Jermea Thomas, who had one and three interceptions last season, respectively, are expected to be one of the starters at the other corner. Junior Isaiah Johnson is considered one of the best safeties in the ACC. He was second on the team in tackles last year with 78 and he also had three picks.
Schedule, notes, outlook: Georgia Tech opens up right away with Coastal Division rival Virginia Tech in Blacksburg on Monday night. The winner of this matchup has represented the Coastal Division in the ACC championship every year since the title game began in 2005. That will be a very tough game for the Yellow Jackets as the experienced Virginia Tech defense will have had ample time to prepare for Georgia Tech's tricky offense. In the non-conference, Georgia Tech faces Presbyterian, Middle Tennessee State, BYU at home and Georgia on the road. Those first two games should be easy victories for Georgia Tech but the final two will probably be tough games. In the rest of the ACC schedule, the Jackets miss out on playing Florida State, N.C. State, and Wake Forest from the Atlantic Division. The get both Virginia and Miami at home, but have to travel to both North Carolina and Clemson. Even though the offense has no receivers with catches back, it should be very good because of the experience of its line, quarterback, and running backs. The defense should be pretty good. It has a mix of newcomers and returnees. Al Groh should be able to do what he wants with the defense in this, his third year. If it can improve just a little over last year, that could help account for a win here or there. Coach Johnson has mentioned how important the defense is on his team because it could mean a possession or two more for the Tech offense to score, which it does well. I think the Jackets will lose out of the gate to the Hokies, but am expecting a solid year overall. Tech should go 8-4 or 9-3.
Miami
Last year: Under first-year head coach Al Golden, Miami went 6-6 overall, and 3-5 in the conference, settling for a tie for fourth in the division with North Carolina, which Miami beat head-to-head. The Hurricanes were eligible for a bowl game, but chose not to participate because of an ongoing NCAA investigation into the program. Last season, several players were suspended for part of the season because of the investigation, but the school has yet to receive its sanctions. After having to sit out one game, Jacory Harris started the final 11 for Miami at quarterback, completing 65 percent of his passes for 2,486 yards and 20 touchdowns. Lamar Miller led the stable of running backs, gaining 1,272 yards and nine touchdowns. Backup Mike James ran for 275 yards and seven touchdowns. Tommy Streeter and Travis Benjamin were the stars at receiver, each recording over 40 receptions for a combined 1,420 yards and 11 touchdowns. Allen Hurns caught 31 balls for 415 yards and four scores. The defense allowed just 20.1 points per game, but was inconsistent, giving up seven points to a powerful offense like Georgia Tech one week in a win and then turning around and giving up 28 in a loss to Virginia the next. At the end of the year, the Hurricanes gave up only three points in a win over South Florida and then surrendered 24 to a weak Boston College offense in a loss in the season finale. The Hurricanes picked off just six passes all season.
Offense: Miami returns four starters to this side of the ball. Harris has graduated and Stephen Morris will take over at quarterback. Morris, a junior, has starting experience. He was thrust into his first game two years ago as a true freshman at Virginia after Jacory Harris was knocked out of the game. That year, Morris ended up completing 82 of 153 passes (53.6 percent) for 1,240 yards, seven touchdowns, and nine interceptions. In 2011, Morris completed 26 of 37 passes (70.3 percent) of his passes for 283 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. Miller was an early entry to the draft after just his redshirt sophomore year (fourth round to the Dolphins) so James, a senior, will be the main man behind Morris this season. Miami lost both Benjamin and Streeter at wideout and Hurns will step into the spotlight as the top receiver. Kendall Thompkins, a redshirt senior who saw limited playing time last year, or sophomore Rashawn Scott are expected to start opposite Hurns. Phillip Dorsett, a sophomore who caught 14 passes last season for 147 yards and a touchdown, should see lots of time. The offensive line will be a mix and match of starters from last year and even a true freshman, Ereck Flowers, at right tackle. Shane McDermott, only a sophomore, is one of the best centers in the ACC. Incredibly, he didn't give up a sack or have a penalty called on him last year. Golden played lots of young players last season on the line and they are still going to be young there this year, but the experience will pay off.
Defense: This unit returns seven starters. Middle linebacker Sean Spence is the biggest loss for the Hurricane defense. He recorded 106 tackles, 14 for loss, and three sacks a year ago. Denzel Perryman (yep, we share a last name) will start in place of Spence after starting five games in 2011 as a true freshman at weakside linebacker and posting 69 tackles, 6.5 for loss, and a sack. The secondary is a group that must improve. Free safety JoJo Nicholas, who snagged two interceptions last season, is gone. Some upperclassmen will be challenged for playing time by true freshmen in the back of the defense. Miami needs to create more turnovers in the secondary than a year ago.
Schedule, notes, outlook: The Hurricanes start the year off with a conference game at Boston College. They then have to go to Kansas State and then host Bethune-Cookman. In October, Miami plays Notre Dame in Chicago and in November, hosts South Florida. That's a fairly strong non-conference schedule for the young Hurricanes. In the ACC, besides facing Boston College in the Atlantic, Miami hosts N.C. State and Florida State from that division while it avoids playing Clemson, Wake Forest, and Maryland. Miami also hosts North Carolina and Virginia Tech. The 'Canes must visit UVa and Georgia Tech. Golden and Miami still have the NCAA investigation hanging over their heads. Golden is a good coach, however, and did a solid job of focusing his team on football last year while guiding it to a .500 record. This season will be tough again with an inexperienced offense and just a young team overall. Golden played lots of young talent last year, however, and also brought in a great recruiting class so that could pay dividends by the end of the year. The schedule has its rough patches but isn't too bad. I look for Miami to go 7-5 or 6-6 this season.
College games officially start tonight! Not too many great matchups, but here are a couple predictions.
No. 9 South Carolina at Vanderbilt (7 p.m. ESPN): South Carolina 27, Vanderbilt 17
Washington State at BYU (10:15 p.m. ESPN): Mike Leach's debut at Washington State. BYU 35, Washington State 33
(For my co-worker Ryan Pronk, a Minnesota fan, who will be at this game) Minnesota at UNLV: Minnesota 17, UNLV 14
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