FACTS & STATS: Site: Bobby Dodd Stadium (55,000) -- Atlanta, Georgia. Television: RSN. Home Record: BC 1-2, Georgia Tech 2-2. Away Record: BC 0-3, Georgia Tech 0-2. Neutral Record: BC 0-0, Georgia Tech 0-0. Conference Record: BC 0-3, Georgia Tech 1-3. Series Record: Georgia Tech leads, 5-2.
GAME NOTES: Two teams at the bottom of the Atlantic Coast Conference will meet up at Bobby Dodd Stadium when the Boston College Eagles collide with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
It has not been a very successful season for Boston College, which enters play with a 1-5 overall record. That includes an 0-3 mark against ACC opponents with the most recent defeat a 51-7 thrashing at the hands of the Florida State Seminoles. The loss was the fourth straight for the Eagles who have yet to defeat a team at the FBS level this season. Boston College's lone win came against Maine of the FCS.
Things have not gone so well for Georgia Tech either. The Yellow Jackets have dropped three straight games to fall to 2-4 overall this season. The Yellow Jackets are just 1-3 against ACC foes with the lone win coming against Virginia in mid-September. Georgia Tech lost a 47-31 decision in its last matchup.
This will be the first time since 2008 these schools have met. In that contest Georgia Tech pulled out a 19-16 victory in Chestnut Hill to puts its all-time series lead at 5-2. The last time the squads met in Atlanta, the Matt Ryan-led Eagles took home a 24-10 victory in a matchup of nationally-ranked foes.
As might be expected for a 1-5 team, Boston College has struggled in a number of areas on both offense and defense. The Eagles are 10th in the ACC in total offense (383.8 ypg) and ninth in scoring (24.7 ppg).
Despite the difficulties, there is talent on the roster, most notably wideout Alex Amidon. The junior has hauled in 38 passes this season for 644 yards, while ranking second in the ACC in yards per game (114.7). After Amidon, the weapons in the passing game have been more limited with Johnathan Coleman (15 receptions, 237 yards, 3 TDs) the second most productive receiver.
Chase Rettig has begun to develop into a more efficient passer after struggling mightily last season. Although he has completed just 56.8 percent of his passes he has thrown for 1,531 yards and 10 touchdowns with only three interceptions. Last season Rettig had only 1,960 yards passing and 12 touchdowns.
Rettig has thrown more due in part to the Eagles constantly trailing but also due to a lack of an effective run game. Boston College is only averaging 103.3 yards on the ground which is the second worst mark in the conference. Andre Williams (379 yards) is the featured back, while Rolandan Finch, who had over 700 yards last season, has totaled only 115.
For all its struggles on offense, Boston College has been even worse on defense. The Eagles have allowed teams to score at a 32.7 points per game clip while racking up nearly 500 yards of offense (498) per game. Both of those marks are the second worst in the ACC thus far. The Eagles also have the fewest sacks (five) and tackles for loss (14) in the conference.
Although he has not been able to bring any ball carriers down in the backfield, Nick Clancy has recorded an ACC-leading 73 tackles. Both Steele Divitto (59) and Sean Sylvia (55) each rank in the top 10 in the conference as well.
Despite its one-dimensional nature, Georgia Tech has been one of the more successful offensive squads in the ACC this season. The Yellow Jackets are third in the conference in total yards this season (486.8 ypg) and fourth in scoring (37.8 ppg). However there is no semblance of balance for Georgia Tech. For every pass, Georgia Tech runs the ball 3.6 times, which has helped the Yellow Jackets compile the third best rushing offense (331.0 ypg) in the nation.
Quarterback Tevin Washington has been the lead rusher with 408 yards and an ACC leading 13 touchdowns this season. Washington has been relatively solid when he has thrown the ball, completing 62.8 percent of his passes for 804 yards and four scores along with two interceptions.
Behind Washington in rushing yards is Orwin Smith (362 yards, three TDs) and Zach Laskey (325 yards, one TD). Smith has also been a contributor in the passing game with 11 receptions for 155 yards. Only wideout Jeff Greene (12 receptions, 233 yards, two TDs) has more receptions or yards through the air.
The Yellow Jackets have not been as prolific on defense with the unit in the bottom half of the ACC in a number of categories. Georgia Tech is eighth in scoring (30.2 ppg), ninth in total yards (431.0 ypg) and second to last in tackles for loss (31).
Isaiah Johnson has been the most productive player in terms of tackling with a team-high 46, while also tied for the team lead in tackles for loss with Brandon Watts (4.5). In the secondary, Jabari Hunt-Days has been strong with 37 tackles, four pass breakups and an interception.
Both of these teams have not started the season how they would have hoped. Boston College has struggled in just about every area and Georgia Tech has not been all that much better. Still with a much more efficient offense and the benefit of homefield advantage if any team is going to start a turn around it will be the Yellow Jackets.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Georgia Tech 34, Boston College 20
Game Date and TimeSaturday, October 20, 3:00 p.m. (et)
