Carolina opponent preview: Georgia Tech

Saturday, Oct. 5 (TBA) at Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta

2018 result: 7-6 (5-3 ACC), lost to Minnesota 34-10 in Quick Lane Bowl.

Last meeting: Georgia Tech 38, Carolina 28 (Nov. 3, 2018).

All-time series: Georgia Tech, 30-20-3.

Head coach: Geoff Collins, first season.

ACC preseason poll: Seventh, Coastal.

Key losses: Coach Paul Johnson, QB TaQuon Marshall, RB Clinton Lynch, WR Brad Stewart, LG Parker Braun, RT Will Bryan, RT Andrew Marshall, DE Anree Saint-Amour, DE Desmond Branch, DT Brandon Adams, DT Kyle Cerge-Henderson, LB Brant Mitchell, S Jalen Johnson, S Malik Rivera, CB Lamont Simmons.

Key returners: QB Tobias Oliver, QB Lucas Johnson, RB Jordan Mason, RB Jerry Howard, WR Jalen Camp, LG Kenny Cooper, LT Zach Quinney, DE Antwan Owens, LB David Curry, LB Charlie Thomas, LB Bruce Jordan-Swilling, S Tariq Carpenter, CB Ajani Kerr, S Tre Swilling.

Top newcomers: RB Jamious Griffin, TE Tyler Davis (graduate transfer, UConn), WR Marquez Ezzard (transfer, Miami; must sit this season), CB Myles Sims (transfer, Michigan; must sit this season).

Getting to know the Jackets, quickly

Georgia Tech begins a complete reboot of the program in its first season under Collins, who went 15-10 at Temple, leading the Owls to two straight bowl appearances.
The first act for Collins has been embracing Atlanta, which produces more than its share of high school football talent. He's been a branding wizard in previous stops, and so far in Atlanta, he's launched #404theCulture as a nod to Atlanta's area code, is rarely seen without a Waffle House cup and repped Big Boi's clothing brand.
Collins, who played linebacker at Western Carolina, comes from a defensive background and that was his calling card as the head man at Temple, too, where the Owls ranked third nationally in forced turnovers last season.
The back of the defense is proven, but the Jackets are starting over on the defensive line.
The Jackets have some talent on offense, but whether it produces comes down to how quickly and efficiently it can learn to operate in a pro-style, spread after previously running Johnson's flexbone option.
Yes, you will be thinking about hash browns scattered, smothered and covered every time Georgia Tech is mentioned this season.
You're thinking about them right now, and because Waffle House never closes, you could make the trip.
We won't tell.

In conclusion...

No one has any idea what to expect from the Jackets this season in making such a dramatic transition away from the option.

Projections aren't terribly optimistic, but that's completely discounting that the Coastal Division tends to get extremely weird.

One way or another, Collins' team will play strong defense. Will it score enough? We'll see.

What would a win mean for Carolina?

Based on voting in the preseason ACC poll, this is the only game in which the Tar Heels will be favored in league play.

Carolina has the edge in overall talent and will be battle-tested by the time it heads to Atlanta. Picking up a road win in the ACC is always a big deal, and this would be a major boost heading into an open week.

What would a loss mean for Carolina?

This is the first game of the season where Carolina should feel it is the significantly better team and a loss would raise concerns more than any to this point in the season.

If Georgia Tech wins, it likely means the Jackets have built a heck of a mean defense already and figured out how to move the ball.

Neat college football thing

Collins' affection for Waffle House isn't manufactured.

When he was first hired at Georgia Tech, Collins began every morning at a restaurant near the university's campus, getting a head start on work and having the same breakfast every day.

Ken Sugiura of the Atlanta Journal Constitution landed the big story on Collins' Waffle House fixation, finding out that the coach orders four scrambled eggs with cheese, a double order of bacon, coffee and Diet Coke in a to-go cup.

And he's got a specific reason for the to-go cup, too.

Not only is Collins getting his day started with a great breakfast, but he's also building goodwill for the Jackets as a "local" program and relating with the common fan.

#404theCULTURE 👑👑👑👑 pic.twitter.com/ckxqavYqKI
— Coach Collins (@CoachCollins) June 19, 2019

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