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Georgia Tech Football: Is Friday A Must Win for Georgia Tech?

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

Sep 26, 2020; Syracuse, New York, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head coach Geoff Collins looks on against the Syracuse Orange during the fourth quarter at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2020; Syracuse, New York, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head coach Geoff Collins looks on against the Syracuse Orange during the fourth quarter at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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If the Jackets don’t win on Friday night against Louisville, it could very quickly become an ugly season on The Flats.

Entering Friday, the argument could be made that the game is a must-win for the Yellow Jackets but in the same token is a must-win for Louisville. A loss on Friday for either team would drop them to 1-3 on the season after both got off to good week one starts before putting in back-to-back disappointing efforts in weeks two and three.

For the Yellow Jackets, the season got off to such a good start, upsetting Florida State as a double-digit underdog. After starting off well against Central Florida the next week, the Jackets got too sloppy against the Knights and eventually saw UCF pull away to a 49-24 blowout victory in the Jackets home opener.

Then two weeks ago, the Jackets traveled to Syracuse and put in one of the most disappointing efforts of the Geoff Collins era, losing 37-20 in the Carrier Dome.

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Now, the Jackets are facing almost a must-win in their fourth game of the season against the Cardinals on Friday. With a loss on Friday, the Jackets season could truly spin out of control with an extremely tough schedule ahead.

Following their game against the Cardinals, the Jackets will face Clemson, Boston College, Notre Dame,  Pittsburgh, and Miami in their five games following. Everyone knows what Clemson and Notre Dame bring to the table. Boston College is looking like a much-improved team in 2020 while Pittsburgh will be an extremely tough team to beat thanks to having a usually high-performing defense. Then there’s Miami, who, no matter how this weekend’s matchup against Clemson goes is a team that will be at the top of the ACC.

It’s a very real possibility that with a loss on Friday, the Jackets could be starting down the possibility of an eight-game losing streak before finishing off the season against the Duke Blue Devils and NC State Wolfpack.

Louisville, on the other hand, has quite the easier schedule with Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, and maybe Virginia being the only teams that you could chalk up as definite losses. Outside of those three opponents, the Cardinals also have Florida State, Syracuse, Boston College, and Wake Forest on their schedule. A much easier path to success for the Cardinals to say the least.

All in all, when considering the remainder of the schedule for the Yellow Jackets, Friday night’s game quickly becomes a must-win. Even despite Louisville’s recent struggles, Vegas oddsmaker doesn’t like the Jackets’ chances, as the Cardinals opened as five-point favorites. That line has moved towards the Yellow Jacket since and now sits around -4 in favor of the Cardinals.

The Jackets will continue to prepare for their showdown against the Cardinals on Friday night at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Kickoff on Friday is currently set for 7:00 p.m.