INSIDE SLANT

During the mediocrity that was the Chan Gailey era, Georgia Tech didn’t get any sympathy from Georgia in the series appropriately known as “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.”

Now it’s Tech’s turn to deliver a beat-down.

The Yellow Jackets were underdogs when they went into Sanford Stadium last season, wiped out a 28-12 halftime deficit and shocked the star-laden Bulldogs 45-42. Tech handed NFL-bound Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno a stinging loss in their home finale.

Tech enters Saturday’s matchup as the ACC Coastal Division champion. Coach Paul Johnson just got a contract extension, and his Jackets are on an eight-game win streak. And they’re fresh after a bye.

Georgia just coughed up a home game to Kentucky. The Bulldogs committed four second-half turnovers and lost 34-27.

Basically, things couldn’t be setting up any better for Georgia Tech.

While the outcome won’t affect Tech’s bid to play in the Orange Bowl—that will be determined by the Dec. 5 ACC title game against Clemson—Tech cannot afford to waste this chance to whip its bitter rival.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Coach Paul Johnson, whose 19-5 mark through two seasons is the best in Tech history, signed a one-year contract extension through 2016.

• QB Josh Nesbitt has run for 16 touchdowns, second-most in Tech history, and has thrown for eight more. He’s rushed for at least two touchdowns six times this season. No other player in the ACC ranks in the top 10 in rushing and total offense.

• Forty-nine percent of players who enrolled between 1999 and 2002 graduated within six years, according to the latest NCAA report. The national average for football players was 67 percent.

Series History:   Georgia leads 59-39-5 (last meeting, 2008, 45-42 Georgia Tech)

Scouting The Offense:   Georgia Tech leads the ACC in scoring (36.0) and total offense (449.6). The Yellow Jackets control the clock with their option-based attack, and they’ve developed a dangerous downfield passing game. WR Demaryius Thomas leads the nation in yards per catch (24.4), which also is the best mark in Tech history. He has an incredible seven catches of at least 50 yards.

Scouting The Defense:   The Jackets rank fifth in the ACC in scoring defense (23.5). They’ve gotten great seasons out of DE Derrick Morgan (12.5 sacks) and LB Brad Jefferson (76 tackles), but the secondary has been vulnerable. The back end again will be under duress from Clemson WR Jacoby Ford and RB C.J. Spiller, who splits out wide sometimes. DT Ben Anderson has come on late. He got two sacks in the win over Duke, taking some pressure off Morgan.

Quote To Note:   “It goes without saying how much we value what Paul Johnson continues to do for the Georgia Tech program and the energy he has created within the Yellow Jacket family. We remain committed to Paul in every way, and we foresee a long-term relationship with much continued success in the coming years.”—Athletics director Dan Radakovich, after signing Johnson to a one-year extension through 2016.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

This Week  ‘S GAME: No. 7 Georgia Tech (10-1) vs. Georgia (6-5), Nov. 28—The Yellow Jackets snapped a seven-game losing streak in the series last year, rallying from a 28-12 halftime deficit to win 45-42. Tech is favored to make it two straight over the reeling Bulldogs.

Players To Watch:  

S Morgan Burnett—The junior has four interceptions and could add to that total against Georgia’s shaky quarterbacks. In last year’s 45-42 win in Athens, Burnett picked off Matthew Stafford and returned it for a touchdown.

A-back Roddy Jones—He hasn’t had a spectacular season, but Jones has fond memories of Georgia. He exploded for 214 yards and two touchdowns on just 13 carries in last year’s win.

B-back Jonathan Dwyer—The junior has surpassed 100 yards rushing in four straight and is averaging 129.4 yards over his last eight. Dwyer’s long touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage after halftime sparked Tech’s comeback win over Georgia last year.

Roster Report:  

• Starting C Sean Bedford, who hurt his ankle in the win over Duke, is questionable for Georgia. If he can’t play, senior Dan Voss would start. Bedford has started every game after winning the job from Voss in fall camp.

• Backup G Omoregie Uzzi, who missed the Duke game with a sore back, should be available Saturday.

• DE Derrick Morgan’s 12.5 sacks rank first in the ACC and second nationally. The junior is an All-America candidate who could be a high first-round draft pick if he leaves after this season.