Georgia Tech heads to Pittsburgh this weekend still carrying the sting of last Saturday’s loss to Boston College, and the Yellow Jackets are trying to get something they still haven’t found this season: a road win.
The matchup has a different feel than it did a year ago. Back then, Georgia Tech’s trip to Pitt came with ACC Championship implications and a possible path to the College Football Playoff. The Yellow Jackets needed the win, but Pittsburgh jumped ahead 28-0 and held on after Georgia Tech made things interesting late.
This time, the circumstances are far less glamorous, but still very real. Georgia Tech is 2-5 and trying to shake off a brutal loss to Boston College. Pitt, meanwhile, is trying to stop a three-game losing streak and lock up bowl eligibility again under Pat Narduzzi.
For Georgia Tech, there are reasons to think an upset could be in play. Just when this team looks finished, it has a habit of finding a surprising win.
Stanford, which is arguably worse than Boston College, beat the Yellow Jackets, and then after a bye week Georgia Tech turned around and knocked off Duke at home. That Duke team is better than this version of Pittsburgh, but this game comes on the road, which changes the equation.
It also would not be the first upset Key has pulled off as Georgia Tech’s head coach.
Pittsburgh’s offense, meanwhile, may be vulnerable against this Georgia Tech defense. Since starting quarterback Mason Heintschel went down with an ACL injury, the Panthers have not looked nearly as dangerous.
One of those games came against Miami, and the Hurricanes may have the nation’s best defense, but Pitt also struggled to generate much against North Carolina and Boston College. Over its last three games, Pittsburgh has scored 17, 21, and 23 points, and the absence of Heintschel is obvious.
Georgia Tech’s passing game could have a chance to take advantage, too. Some of Pitt’s defensive numbers are tilted by the Miami game, but the Panthers’ pass defense can be attacked. Alberto Mendoza, Jordan Allen, and Dalen Penson are capable of making plays downfield, and Georgia Tech will likely need that kind of production to have a shot.
The question is whether the Yellow Jackets can hold up long enough for that offense to matter. Even if Georgia Tech gets a few players back from the injury report, the defense has not been playing well. Boston College piled up 500 total yards against the Yellow Jackets, including 399 on the ground.
That doesn’t mean Pitt will simply replicate Boston College’s approach. The Panthers do not have the same mobile quarterback threat, but they do have backs who can put together big days.
And while Georgia Tech may be able to find some openings in the secondary, Pittsburgh’s run defense is one of the best in the country. The Panthers are second in the ACC in rush defense, trailing only Miami, and it is hard to see Georgia Tech suddenly finding a consistent ground game on Saturday.
That matters because Georgia Tech has been shaky away from home all season. The Yellow Jackets have already lost road games to Stanford and Virginia Tech, and their defense has been worse on the road than at home.
Pittsburgh has been much sturdier in its own building. The Panthers are 4-1 at home, with the only loss coming against North Carolina. That Tar Heels team brings a much better defense than Georgia Tech does, and the Yellow Jackets will have to raise their level if they want to leave Pittsburgh with a result.
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