Georgia Tech Football’s five biggest games of 2018 #5): Jackets travel to the Steel City

In our ranking of the five most important games of the 2018 season for the Georgia Tech football program, we rank the Jackets ACC opener against Pittsburgh at #5.

The Yellow Jackets open up their 2018 ACC schedule on the road in the Steel City on September 11th when they take on the Pittsburgh Panthers. Last season, the Yellow Jackets delivered the Panthers a 35-17 loss. Like this upcoming season, the match up represented both team’s first ACC game of the season.

In that game, the Yellow Jackets were lead by a breakout game from b-back KirVonte Benson who rushed for 196-yards and two touchdowns on the Pittsburgh defense over the course of 29 carries. Overall, the Jackets put up 484-yards of offense up against the Pittsburgh defense despite four turnovers.

This upcoming season, Pittsburgh could be a bigger threat and give the Jackets a quality challenge. While the Yellow Jackets are still the better team right now between the two programs, the Panthers will be fielding their best defense arguably in the Pat Narduzzi era. If the Panthers take a step forward with Kenny Pickett under center, the Panthers could make themselves at least a player in the ACC and could help decide the fate of the ACC coastal.

The importance of the game for the Yellow Jackets lies in that it is their ACC opener. As many know, their ACC schedule this year is one of the toughest in conference as they must face the usual duo of Miami and Virginia Tech but also have crossover games against Louisville and Clemson.

Next: Georgia Tech Football: What the Yellow Jackets are getting in LB Chico Bennett Jr

While the Jackets will hope to be contenders for the ACC Coastal division, winning six games may prove to be enough of a challenge with their schedule this season. Paul Johnson and the Yellow Jackets must get off to a good start in ACC play on September 15th with a win over Pittsburgh.