Unfortunately, this is not the week to be playing Georgia Tech.
Whether you are reading the scouting reports or the tea leaves, Carolina’s chances Saturday in Atlanta against Georgia Tech are not very promising. Realistically, the most the Tar Heels can hope for is to come back with the same number of injured players they went down there with. That would be a major win.
Having added tight end Carl Tucker, defensive tackle Tyler Powell and wide receiver Austin Proehl, Carolina now has an unlucky number of 13 players out for the season, plus four more out for this game, one doubtful and one questionable. That has to be the worst-looking injury report in college football.
Plus, after 16 years of tormenting Carolina with 14 victories, the Yellow Jackets have lost three straight to Larry Fedora’s Tar Heels and will be looking to get back into the victory column and begin building another streak against UNC like the five and six straight they won during that stretch of domination.
Want more? It is damn near impossible to prepare for Tech’s flex bone offense, or triple option, in one week. On their last trip to Grant Field at Bobby Dodd Stadium, the Heels had dismantled Delaware the week before while already working on the Jackets. Carolina came back from 21 points down to post a thrilling 38-31 win, its largest comeback margin in the series.
And more? After an opening-day loss to Tennessee in double overtime, Paul Johnson’s Jackets have won easily over Jacksonville State and Pitt, two patsies around the cancelled game at Central Florida on hurricane weekend. The result is a healthy team ready to post its second straight ACC Coastal Division victory and get ready for the meat of its schedule.
Having veteran players who have faced Georgia Tech is hard enough, but Carolina will throw so many young, untested troops onto the field turf down there that trying to stop Johnson’s low-blocking option offense will be tougher than ever. The Jackets are 9 ½-point favorites, which seems low to me.
Sure, stranger things have happened in college football, but this one looks darn near impossible. Carolina’s defense could play its second straight strong game and still give up 35 points. And the Tar Heels’ regular recipe for victory – scoring 40 – is just not on the table with a depleted offensive line and receiving corps. Let’s just get everyone home healthy and go on from there.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines