October 20, 2007
Stanford stunned USC.
Oregon State knocked off Cal.
Michigan is still haunted by its early-season loss to Appalachian State.
So why can't Army, a 24-point underdog, pull off an upset at Georgia Tech?
Army senior running back Mike Viti marked down today on Army's football schedule in preseason.
"We've seen Georgia Tech enough ... to know what they are all about," Viti said. "We are pretty excited about the opportunity."
Georgia Tech (4-3) is Army's third and last Atlantic Coast Conference road opponent this season. A shocker over last year's ACC Coastal Division champ would get Army (3-4) back to .500.
"It seems like a few times a year since I've been here, we rise above and play bigger teams, some better teams, really well. Hopefully this is one of those games," Viti said.
Army beat Baylor last year, and while Baylor plays in a major conference, it had a losing record on the year. Army also came up short against Texas A&M in 2006 and Iowa State in 2005.
But Viti and his teammates can look at this year's games against No. 3 Boston College and Wake Forest, two ACC schools, for inspiration. Army trailed No. 3 Boston College 16-10 with four minutes in the third quarter before losing 37-17. The Black Knights were a play or two away from upsetting Wake Forest. Wake Forest scored on a punt and an interception return in a 21-10 win.
"At the beginning of the season, some might have fully believed we couldn't hang with them," senior wide receiver Jeremy Trimble said.
"We've shown at Wake Forest and at (BC), we could play with them. That's going to help us. We are already past that. We know we can play with top opponents in the nation."
Playing is one thing, winning is another. It's a lot to ask for a team that committed seven turnovers in a 47-23 loss at Central Michigan last week.
When asked about the positives heading into Georgia Tech, Army coach Stan Brock said half-jokingly, "The positive is our punter. Owen (Tolson) will do a good job punting the football. They are a very good football team. We are going to have to play to the very best of our ability to compete with them. It's really as simple as that. We're not afraid of them. We're going to Atlanta and figuring on winning."
After watching upset after upset this college football season, why shouldn't Brock feel like it's Army's day?
Army at Georgia Tech
Time/site: Noon today at Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta
TV/radio: No TV/WABC 770-AM, WBNR 1260-AM, WLNA 1420-AM
Line: Georgia Tech by 24 points
Records: Army 3-4; Georgia Tech 4-3.
Army's game plan: Slide strong safety Caleb Campbell up and play eight defenders in the box to stop Georgia Tech senior Tashard Choice, who had a career-best 204 yards against Miami (Fla.) last week. ... Force Tech quarterback Taylor Bennett to beat them. Bennett has only thrown two TDs. ... "The strength of our team is our defense. If they put in a solid game and we force turnovers, then offensively, we just need to protect the ball," Army senior running back Mike Viti said. "Offensively, we have to put together one of our better offensive performances of the year."
Georgia Tech's game plan: Like most defenses against Army, Georgia Tech will play to stuff the run. The Yellow Jackets will likely double-cover Army senior receiver Jeremy Trimble, forcing quarterback Carson Williams to find another go-to guy. Offensively, Choice is Georgia Tech's workhorse. He has 101 carries and 484 yards in his last three games. Choice also takes direct snaps from center.
Watch out for Georgia Tech freshman RB Jonathan Dwyer: When Choice needs a breather, Dwyer's the man. He has rushed for six scores and can also be a game-breaker on kick returns.
Gut check: Army's running game - which averages less than 80 yards per game (115th in Division I-A) - needs to chew up clock. But Georgia Tech's defense gives up less than 83 yards per game (11th in the nation).
Crystal ball: If Army can contain Choice, which is a big if, the Black Knights will make it closer than the oddsmakers think. Georgia Tech's offense has scored a combined 30 points in its last two wins. If Army is turnover-free, it has a shot at an upset. Georgia Tech 24, Army 17.
Stanford stunned USC.
Oregon State knocked off Cal.
Michigan is still haunted by its early-season loss to Appalachian State.
So why can't Army, a 24-point underdog, pull off an upset at Georgia Tech?
Army senior running back Mike Viti marked down today on Army's football schedule in preseason.
"We've seen Georgia Tech enough ... to know what they are all about," Viti said. "We are pretty excited about the opportunity."
Georgia Tech (4-3) is Army's third and last Atlantic Coast Conference road opponent this season. A shocker over last year's ACC Coastal Division champ would get Army (3-4) back to .500.
"It seems like a few times a year since I've been here, we rise above and play bigger teams, some better teams, really well. Hopefully this is one of those games," Viti said.
Army beat Baylor last year, and while Baylor plays in a major conference, it had a losing record on the year. Army also came up short against Texas A&M in 2006 and Iowa State in 2005.
But Viti and his teammates can look at this year's games against No. 3 Boston College and Wake Forest, two ACC schools, for inspiration. Army trailed No. 3 Boston College 16-10 with four minutes in the third quarter before losing 37-17. The Black Knights were a play or two away from upsetting Wake Forest. Wake Forest scored on a punt and an interception return in a 21-10 win.
"At the beginning of the season, some might have fully believed we couldn't hang with them," senior wide receiver Jeremy Trimble said.
"We've shown at Wake Forest and at (BC), we could play with them. That's going to help us. We are already past that. We know we can play with top opponents in the nation."
Playing is one thing, winning is another. It's a lot to ask for a team that committed seven turnovers in a 47-23 loss at Central Michigan last week.
When asked about the positives heading into Georgia Tech, Army coach Stan Brock said half-jokingly, "The positive is our punter. Owen (Tolson) will do a good job punting the football. They are a very good football team. We are going to have to play to the very best of our ability to compete with them. It's really as simple as that. We're not afraid of them. We're going to Atlanta and figuring on winning."
After watching upset after upset this college football season, why shouldn't Brock feel like it's Army's day?
Army at Georgia Tech
Time/site: Noon today at Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta
TV/radio: No TV/WABC 770-AM, WBNR 1260-AM, WLNA 1420-AM
Line: Georgia Tech by 24 points
Records: Army 3-4; Georgia Tech 4-3.
Army's game plan: Slide strong safety Caleb Campbell up and play eight defenders in the box to stop Georgia Tech senior Tashard Choice, who had a career-best 204 yards against Miami (Fla.) last week. ... Force Tech quarterback Taylor Bennett to beat them. Bennett has only thrown two TDs. ... "The strength of our team is our defense. If they put in a solid game and we force turnovers, then offensively, we just need to protect the ball," Army senior running back Mike Viti said. "Offensively, we have to put together one of our better offensive performances of the year."
Georgia Tech's game plan: Like most defenses against Army, Georgia Tech will play to stuff the run. The Yellow Jackets will likely double-cover Army senior receiver Jeremy Trimble, forcing quarterback Carson Williams to find another go-to guy. Offensively, Choice is Georgia Tech's workhorse. He has 101 carries and 484 yards in his last three games. Choice also takes direct snaps from center.
Watch out for Georgia Tech freshman RB Jonathan Dwyer: When Choice needs a breather, Dwyer's the man. He has rushed for six scores and can also be a game-breaker on kick returns.
Gut check: Army's running game - which averages less than 80 yards per game (115th in Division I-A) - needs to chew up clock. But Georgia Tech's defense gives up less than 83 yards per game (11th in the nation).
Crystal ball: If Army can contain Choice, which is a big if, the Black Knights will make it closer than the oddsmakers think. Georgia Tech's offense has scored a combined 30 points in its last two wins. If Army is turnover-free, it has a shot at an upset. Georgia Tech 24, Army 17.
