From Western Carolina to Georgia: Ranking Georgia Tech’s Toughest Opponents in 2011

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The Yellow Jackets are just two weeks away from kicking off their season against Western Carolina on September 1. The Catamounts should be a pushover for Paul Johnson's team, but it will only get tougher from there. Looking at Tech's 2011 schedule I don't see any 'definite losses'. However, I only see one 'definite win'.

With so many toss up games lets rank the Jackets games from easiest (12) to toughest (1).

12. vs Western Carolina September 1
Paul Johnson was undefeated against his alma mater when he was head coach at Georgia Southern. That string should continue with ease.

11. vs Kansas September 17
Oh, no. Tech's second easiest game comes against a team they lost to last season. I was in Lawrence last year and saw the Yellow Jackets easily gain a seven point lead and then fall apart. Motivation should not be an issue here. If it is then a bowl game may be difficult to achieve.

10. at Middle Tennessee St September 10
Tech easily handled the Blue Raiders last year 42-14. However, this will be MTSU's biggest home opponent of the year and the Yellow Jackets lack the cache to make the crowd fearful of a blowout. Georgia Tech has lost its last two road openers.

9. at Duke November 19
The Blue Devils come sandwiched between home games against Virginia Tech and UGA. Tech has not lost to Duke since 2003. I think this should be a Yellow Jacket win but ESPN's Heather Dinich disagrees.

8. vs North Carolina September 24
Despite all the talent the Tar Heels amassed under Carl Torbush, John Bunting, and especially Butch Davis, UNC is just 2-11 against Georgia Tech since 1998. Who knew that last year's Tech win over Carolina in week three would be the high point of the season?

To add to North Carolina's woes they will be playing this game without Davis who was fired days before Fall Practice starts. On second thought, maybe that helps the Heels.

7. vs Maryland October 8
These two have not met since 2007 which resulted in a Georgia Tech loss at College Park.  However, the Jackets are 7-3 against the Terps since 1997 and 8-1 in Atlanta all time.  Maryland has a game with someone named Towson the week before giving them a little more than usual prep time for Tech.

6. at Virginia October 15
Charlottesville had been a house of horrors for Tech until 2009 when the Yellow Jackets dismantled the Cavaliers. Still, that is Georgia Tech's only win since 1990 in Scott Stadium. Wins should have come in 2005, 2001, and 1999 but didn't for various reasons so never take this game as a win no matter how good or bad the Wahoos are. UVA will hope to improve on their rush defense that last season allowed the most ground yards ever in an ACC game.

5. vs Clemson October 29
The Tigers have more talent than the Yellow Jackets.  Despite that talent gap, Tech is 6-2* against Clemson in the last eight meetings. This game will be the 9th straight for Tech and Clemson so depth will be at a premium here.

4. at NC State October 1
If Kansas was not a wake up call for Tech last year the blowout loss at the hands of the Wolfpack certainly was. The Jackets porous defense allowed QB Russell Wilson to throw for a career high 368 yards. NC State has not beaten Georgia Tech in back to back years since 1993-1994. Including last year's loss Paul Johnson is 0-2 against Navy alum Tom O'Brien. State will get two days extra preparation facing Cincinnati on a Thursday night the week before.

3. vs Virginia Tech November 10
The winner of this game has represented the Coastal each season in the ACC Championship Game. Last time here Georgia Tech beat the Hokies. Last season the Jackets led 14-0 before succumbing to a Hokies rally via a kickoff return for a touchdown 28-21.

If ACC Championship hopes weren't enough to raise the temperature in this rivalry, Frank Beamer raised the bar commenting on the Jackets blocking schemes following the loss in 2009.

Some Tech fans don't like Thursday night games, but I think the atmosphere in these games is some of the best I have experienced in Bobby Dodd Stadium. I think that environment could help lift Georgia Tech a little and will be needed against the best team they will face all season.

2. vs Georgia November 26
I almost put this game as the toughest and for good reason.  Georgia Tech has lost 9 of its last 10 and 16 of its last 20 to its arch rival. The Jackets last win at home against Georgia was in 1999 and the last win before that was 1989.

UGA will not the advantage of a bye week like last year (though it didn't seem to help their defense much).  I don't think the Bulldogs are the best team the Yellow Jackets will face at home, but their dominance in this series makes a win less likely.

1. at Miami October 22
As I am writing this, Yahoo is releasing an article detailing major NCAA violations by Miami over the last eight seasons. This is really big news in mid August, but by the time October 22nd roles around it will be old news.

The Hurricanes are the only ACC team entering Paul Johnson's fourth season to beat him and back to back years - and beat is a kind word considering the 33-17 and 35-10 scores.

Miami has the talent to win the Coastal Division and is the best team Tech will face on the road all season.

Am I overestimating how tough the Hurricanes will be and underestimating Virginia Tech and Clemson? Let me know what you think

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