Georgia Tech is staring at an early test that comes with plenty of pressure and very little margin for error. Next weekend’s meeting with Tennessee puts Brent Key’s team in danger of its first 0-2 start under his watch, and the opening line tells the story: the Yellow Jackets are a 13.5-point underdog, with the over/under set at 54.5, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
That number makes sense after what Tennessee showed in its season opener. Against Furman, the Volunteers controlled the game from start to finish, outgaining the Paladins 638-221. True freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon wasted no time making an impression, completing 13 of 17 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns while also adding 68 rushing yards and two more scores.
The challenge for Georgia Tech starts up front. One of the biggest issues in Thursday’s loss to Colorado was the inability to slow the run, especially after halftime.
Tennessee brought that exact kind of pressure in its opener, piling up 329 rushing yards and averaging seven yards per carry. If the Yellow Jackets can’t tighten up against the ground game and force Brandon into tougher spots, the matchup could get away from them quickly.
Georgia Tech has its own problems to clean up on offense. The Yellow Jackets managed only 51 yards on 30 carries against Colorado, and the run game never found a rhythm. That kind of production won’t be enough against a Tennessee team that looks capable of pushing for a College Football Playoff spot and contending in the SEC.
Still, being the underdog is not a new lane for Brent Key’s program. Georgia Tech has leaned into that role before and has pulled off upsets over ranked teams when few gave it much of a chance. That history does not guarantee anything against Tennessee, but it does mean the Yellow Jackets are walking into familiar territory.
Now the question is simple: does Georgia Tech respond to its first real adversity of the season with a sharper, more disciplined performance, or does the skid deepen when Tennessee comes to Atlanta?
In Other News...
Colorado Needs To Figure Out Ernest Campbell Before This Becomes Bigger
Ernest Campbell barely factored into Colorados season opener against Georgia Tech, finishing with limited playing time and no catches as the Buffaloes worked through their first live look of the year. Even so, the receiver remains an intriguing piece of Colorados offense because of the speed he brought from Sacramento State and the familiarity he already has with the current offensive coordinator.
Colorado does not need to force Campbell into a starring role right away, but his skill set is the kind that can change how defenses line up if the staff finds the right spots for him. Whether that comes in situational packages or on special teams, his lack of involvement in the opener feels more like the start of a question than the end of one. [Read more 🡒]
Brennan Marion Just Gave Colorado Fans A Reason To Believe
Brennan Marions first game as Colorados offensive coordinator came with the kind of road test that can tell a staff a lot about itself. Facing Georgia Tech, the Buffaloes leaned into a physical, run-first plan and found enough balance to survive a tough opponent, with DeKalon Taylor giving the offense a needed spark and tight end Charlie Williams coming through with a go-ahead touchdown catch.
Marion said the challenge was matching the moment with the right strategy, and Colorados answer was to keep pressing with the run game and let the defense and special teams finish it off. Boo Carters late block on a field goal attempt sealed the win, leaving the impression that Colorado may have found a blueprint it can trust when games get messy and the margin gets thin. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Has One Defensive Problem It Must Fix Fast
Georgia Techs season-opening loss to Colorado left a sour finish in front of the home crowd, but the bigger concern came from how the game unfolded after halftime. The Yellow Jackets defense had trouble controlling the middle of the line, and the Buffaloes took advantage by turning to a physical ground approach that started to tilt the game in their favor.
Colorado finished with 183 rushing yards in the second half, with Damian Henderson leading the way as the Buffaloes kept attacking inside. Georgia Techs coach pointed to the interior play of the defensive line as a problem that has to get corrected quickly, because if that weakness lingers, opponents are likely to keep probing it until the Yellow Jackets prove they can stop it. [Read more 🡒]