2008 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets College Football Predictions Courtesy of Alex Smart, A Professional award winning College Football Handicapper. If you are betting college football this season and need current college football odds and picks be sure to visit Touthouse.com

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7-6, 4-4 in 2007, 3rd place in ACC Coastal)
The Ramblin’ Wreck of Georgia Tech has an entirely new face to its football program. Former Navy HC Paul Johnson takes over the Jackets, which means the triple option is headed to the ACC. Not only is the entire offense changing, but DC Jon Tenuta has left to join the Notre Dame staff. Expect lots of changes in a rebuilding year for Georgia Tech.

2007 Highlight: Hindsight 20/20, knocking off the Fighting Irish probably wasn’t the most difficult task in the world in 2007, but any time you can pound Notre Dame by 30 points in front of the Touchdown Jesus statue, you’ve done something right. Tenuta’s defense flat out dominated the Irish offense, holding them to just 122 total yards for the game. The offense wasn’t spectacular, but RB Tashard Choice did rumble for 196 yards and two TDs in the 33-3 victory for GT to open their 2007 campaign on the right foot.

2007 Lowlight: In a nationally televised game, the Jackets took on #11 Virginia Tech in the friendly confines of Bobby Dodd Stadium. The offense laid a giant egg, only scoring three points against the Hokies’ defense, but giving up 486 total yards was what had to really annoy former HC Chan Gailey and Tenuta. Yes, G-Tech was overmatched in this game, but their 27-3 defeat was embarrassing and probably marked the beginning of the end for the Chan Gailey era.

Offensive Outlook: A very young Tech offense will be centered around sophomore QB Josh Nesbitt and fellow sophomore RB Jonathan Dwyer. Dwyer filled in nicely for Choice at times last year, and his nine touchdowns from a year ago should increase dramatically in the triple option attack that Johnson will bring to the team. The Yellow Jackets only return five starters on offense, three of which are on the offensive line, which should be strong in ’08.

Defensive Outlook: If Georgia Tech has any hope of going bowling this year, the defense must continue its strong play from a year ago. The defensive line is going to be scary with three returning seniors. There are expected to be more starting sophomores on the defense (6) than seniors (4), which is never a good sign. They’re a talented group that will probably turn out to be amazing in a year or two, but this defense likely isn’t ready to compete with the big boys just yet.

2008 Preview: Welcome to ACC football, Mr. Johnson. After a tune-up against Jacksonville State, the Jackets jump right into the ACC slate, traveling to Boston College and Virginia Tech. If they have any chance of being a bowl team this year, GT has to win their three easy non-conference games (Jacksonville State, Mississippi State, and Gardner-Webb), and find a way to notch a few victories in conference. The deeper into the season this team gets, the better off they will be.

2008 will be a success if… the option has signs of success against the quick ACC defenses. Speed is what kills the option, and there’s plenty of that on the defenses in this conference. If Johnson can pull this transformation off, he’ll know that his Jackets are well on their way to becoming an elite program in the ACC once again.

Asking Johnson to install an entirely new offense and defense is way too much for one season, especially when you consider the quantity of sophomores that will get significant playing time. Tech fans should be thrilled with a bowl game, but unless they’re going to shock a Georgia, Clemson, or Virginia Tech, they’ll probably come up short.

Prediction: 5-7, 4th place in ACC Coastal