Virginia Tech Football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2020
By James Bowers
Week 5: Virginia Tech football vs. Georgia Tech (Oct. 3)
It’s almost laughable to think that the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have played in two Orange Bowls in the past decade. There are few programs whose shifts between excellence and mediocrity are as drastic and abrupt as those of Georgia Tech in the 2010s.
Geoff Collins is one of a long line of coaches that has utilized the Temple head coaching position as a stepping stone to a Power Five job, joining the ranks of Matt Rhule and Al Golden. He eschewed the option offense of predecessor Paul Johnson in favor of the more popular spread offense utilized by college football’s majority.
Quarterback James Graham will be protected by a veteran offensive line and have a trio of receivers in Ahmarean Brown, Malachi Carter and Jalen Camp to throw to, among others. Athlon Sports‘ John Kinne cited Collins’ desire to let the young Graham learn to lead his offense by trial and error as a factor in Tech’s disappointing 2019, but said that he will likely remain the starter in 2020.
The defense will be top-lined by a bevy of returning starters, including David Curry and Charlie Thomas at linebacker and Tre Swilling at corner. The 2020 season could be a very different one for the Ramblin’ Wreck.
The Hokies beat Georgia Tech by 45 in Atlanta last year. While nobody guarantees an exact repeat of that affair, they still favor Virginia Tech against a young Georgia Tech team coming off a season in which they ranked near the bottom of the league in everything.
Georgia Tech will have to get to Hendon Hooker and find a spark offensively if it wants a shot in this game, which opens league play for Virginia Tech.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 34, Georgia Tech 14 (4-1, 1-0 ACC)