Georgia Tech Football: Paul Johnson enters 2018 on hot seat

2018 Georgia Tech Schedule and Predictions

The schedule is a mixed bag for the Yellow Jackets. On one hand, it could potentially feature three games against top 10 teams in Georgia, Clemson, and Miami – and that’s not including daunting road matchups against Virginia Tech and Louisville – leaving Tech with almost no margin for error in the rest of their schedule if they want to make it back to the postseason

The good news is that the Jackets’ non-conference slate, save for the annual game against Georgia, is relatively manageable. A second-week road game against USF looms large; win that one and the Jackets are almost certainly looking at a 3-1 non-conference record. That would only require a 3-5 mark in the ACC to make a bowl, which is very doable.

Prediction: 6-6

With all the discussion about whether or not Tech will improve enough to save Johnson’s job, it’s easy to get swept into thinking a major rebound or major collapse is on the horizon. What seems more likely is a minor improvement, spearheaded by a frightening offensive backfield that can keep the Jackets in almost any game on the schedule.

Next: Preseason Top 25 following spring practices

Come ACC play, there aren’t too many games in which Tech will be a substantial favorite, but they should be competitive in nearly all of them and are talented enough to grab an upset win or two against the conference’s top teams. That’ll be enough to reach bowl eligibility, though whether it’s enough to keep Johnson in Atlanta is very much up in the air.