Georgia Tech Prediction

I am done with my hibernation and am ready to watch the black and gold take the field against Georgia Tech.

Overview-

Last time Iowa was in a BCS game, they got their doors blown off by USC, that was Kirk's first time leading a team to a bowl of that magnitude and after the game he said that he did a poor job preparing the team for the game. Since that bowl game, Iowa has taken more or a business trip approach to their bowl game trips. The weather at game time will be cold, not Iowa cold, but cold for Florida. That is something that Iowa will be a little bit more used to than Georgia Tech and could be an advantage.

When Iowa has the ball-
Georgia Tech is by no means a good defensive team, they give up over 6 yards per play and the only reason that they aren't worse than the 52nd ranked national defense is that their offense controls the ball for most of the game. The Iowa offense should be able to move the ball and score points as well as they did at any point of the season. It will also be the first game in a long time that Iowa will be at 100% health wise. Dace Richardson will be healthy along the line and Robinson and Wegher are both at full go in the backfield. Look for Iowa to have a balanced attach of both running and passing the ball. Stanzi will be back under center for the Hawks and should be ready to set the groundwork for a 2010 senior season. The match up to watch will be Bryan Bulaga and GT defensive end Derrick Morgan. Both players are juniors and have a decision to make after this game and if they both come out, they will probably both be 1st round picks.

When Georgia Tech has the ball-
Think back to the glory days of Oklahoma in the 60's or Nebraska in the 90's and that is what you will see with the Ramblin Wreck offense Tuesday night. They will roll out with a 3:1 run pass ratio. Their most prominent offensive set is double wing single back, running the triple option out of this set. Their quarterback, Nesbitt, is very good at running the option and isn't a great passer, but is effective with it due to the play action. Their fullback, Dwyer, is averaging over 6 yards per carry and resembles Shonn Greene in his ability to run people over. If they do pass the ball, Demaryius Thomas has 46 of their 76 pass receptions on the year. If GT goes to the pass they basically run three go routes and rely on the defensive backs biting on the play action. The match up to watch on this side of the ball is Pat Angerer vs Jonathon Dwyer, Angerer will probably be assigned to take away the dive part of the option and controlling that play, could really help out the rest of the Iowa defense to control the quarterback and pitch man on the option.

What will happen-
Look for GT to score on their first drive, no matter how good the Iowa scout team ran the GT offense in practice, there is not way they ran it at the same speed and it will take some adjusting for the Iowa defense. After the first drive though, look for the Iowa defense to control their offense, Norm Parker has shown over the years that he is great at taking away what a team wants to do and will show us all again, why he is one of the best defensive coordinators in the nation. Iowa's offense will have no problem moving the ball, but will have problems with GT's athletesism.

Score prediction:
Iowa - 27
GT - 17

Predictions-
Iowa defense causes 3 to's (2 fumbles, 1 int)
GT defense causes 2 to's (1 fumble, 1 int)
Tyler Sash will be defensive player of the game (8 tackles, 1 FF, 1 Int)
Ricky Stanzi will be the offensive player of the game (250 yards passing 2 td's)
The Iowa defense will hold GT to less than 200 yards rushing (more than 100 off their average)
Marvin McNutt will have 5 catches for 95 yards a 1 TD
Adam Robinson will have 125+ yards rushing
Wegher will rush for 45 yards and a TD
Iowa will hold GT to 3 second half points
Game will be over by 10:15, including halftime