Georgia Tech (6-6) vs. Tulsa (8-4)
Match-Up
The Sports Network
GAME NOTES: The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane
will do battle on the blue turf of Bronco Stadium in the seventh-annual
Humanitarian Bowl. Georgia Tech opened the season with losses in three of its
first four games, and the team dropped three of its final four decisions to
close out the campaign as well. Thanks to a four-game winning streak midway
through the season, however, the Yellow Jackets were able to earn a spot in
the postseason. Among the more notable of the squad's triumphs was a 17-3
besting of Auburn and a 29-21 decision over NC State. Georgia Tech owns an
impressive 20-11 all-time record in postseason play, but three of its last
four bowl games have resulted in defeat. Last season, the Yellow Jackets
dropped a 30-21 decision to Fresno State in the Silicon Valley Football
Classic. Despite the recent setbacks in postseason action, they still deserve
a great deal of credit for earning seven consecutive bowl bids. Georgia Tech
has played 16 previous games against teams from Tulsa's Western Athletic
Conference, and 11 of those tilts have resulted in victory. The Golden
Hurricane, on the other hand, has managed only one win in 10 previous matchups
with ACC teams. Tulsa has reason to be proud of its invite to the Humanitarian
Bowl, especially considering that it opened the season with back-to-back
lopsided losses at Arkansas and Minnesota. After those setbacks, however, the
Golden Hurricane went on to win eight of its final 10 contests, including a
five-game winning streak to close out the regular season. Tulsa made its last
bowl appearance back in 1991, and it owns a 4-7 mark in the postseason. The
all-time series between Georgia Tech and the Golden Hurricane is tied at 1-1,
although the two teams have not met since 1945.
There are many teams in the nation that can seemingly move the ball up and
down the field with little effort. Unfortunately for Georgia Tech, it is not
one of them. The Yellow Jackets are averaging only 18.5 ppg and 325.7 total
ypg, lackluster numbers for a bowl team. Part of the reason that they have not
been explosive at the offensive end is that their true freshman starting
quarterback is still getting used to the speed of the college game. While he
has certainly experienced his fair share of growing pains, Reggie Ball does
possess undeniable talent. He has completed 52.1 percent of his passes for
1,980 yards with 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this season, while also
rushing for 392 yards and three scores. The team's top runner is clearly P.J.
Daniels, who posted 1,140 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season.
Considering that Daniels averages 21 carries an outing, he has proven to be
quite durable. As for the receivers, Jonathan Smith leads the pack by a
landslide with 75 grabs for 1,124 yards and five scores. Considering that
Smith has made more than twice as many catches as his closest teammate, his
importance to the team can not be underestimated. Cutting down on turnovers
will be key for Tech in this game, as it has suffered an average of two
giveaways per contest this year.
The Georgia Tech defense deserves a great deal of credit for the program's
berth in this bowl game, as the team is allowing only 21.3 ppg and 337.1 total
ypg. Those numbers would be even more impressive if not for the fact that the
Yellow Jackets surrendered at least 24 points in their final four games of the
regular season, including 41 points to lowly Duke in an ugly loss. Tech is
giving up only 113.6 ypg on the ground on 3.3 ypc, but it has allowed opposing
quarterbacks to complete better than 60 percent of their passes. In regard to
impact plays, the Yellow Jackets have recorded 26 sacks, 13 interceptions, and
eight fumble recoveries. Tech possesses a tremendous duo on the defensive side
of the ball, as Keyaron Fox and Daryl Smith have certainly made the most of
their senior seasons. The ACC's leading tackler with 150, Fox is a First-Team
All-ACC selection, as well as a Second-Team All-American. Smith, an honorable
mention All-ACC pick, is the team's second-leading tackler with 122, which
includes 14 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
Considering that Tulsa is averaging 32.5 ppg and 408.1 total ypg this season,
it comes as no surprise that several players have posted outstanding offensive
numbers. Start with Garrett Mills, who leads the team with 50 receptions and
is second among all tight ends nationally with nine touchdowns. As for Romby
Bryant, the squad's top wide receiver, he has made 43 grabs for 734 yards and
eight touchdowns. Those two players have proven to be reliable options for
quarterback James Kilian, who ranked among the WAC's leaders in passing
efficiency and total offense during the regular season. Kilian has completed
57 percent of his tosses for 2,120 yards with 22 touchdowns and only 11 picks,
and he has also racked up 642 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. The
versatility of Kilian makes him one of the more dangerous signal-callers in
the country, and he provides a solid complement to Eric Richardson in the
backfield. Although Richardson has gained a modest total of 798 yards in 12
games, he has reached the end zone 12 times. Tulsa has lost only five fumbles
and allowed 16 sacks this season, a pair of solid stats to say the least.
Freshman linebacker Nick Bunting has certainly made his presence known as a
rookie, as he has racked up 74 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions en
route to being named WAC Freshman of the Year and a First-Team All-WAC
performer. Perhaps most impressive about his accomplishments is that Bunting
received the accolades despite missing two games with an injury. Kedrick
Alexander leads the Golden Hurricane with 112 tackles in addition to six pass
breakups, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Michael LeDet has
made 77 stops, including eight TFLs and four sacks, while Jermaine Hope has
tallied 72 tackles and has a team-high 11 pass breakups with three picks.
Opponents are averaging 25.8 ppg against Tulsa and 377.8 total ypg, including
183.3 ypg on the ground on 4.4 ypc. Of the 37 touchdowns that have been
surrendered by the defense, 25 have been rushing scores. On a positive note,
the unit has picked off 19 balls and registered 24 sacks.
Tulsa's Steve Kragthorpe may have done a better job than any head coach in the
nation this season, as he has turned the Golden Hurricane from a joke to a
bowl team. While his squad will once again play hard, give the edge to the
Yellow Jackets despite their late slump.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Georgia Tech 34, Tulsa 24
