By: Kipp Branch

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Geoff Collins enters his second year at Georgia Tech after coming up with the best recruiting class in years for the Jackets.

Change is in the air in Atlanta. Will the buzz return in 2020? Let’s take a look at the Georgia Tech 2020 schedule and my win/loss predictions.

*ACC games

Thursday, Sept. 3 – Clemson* (Bobby Dodd Stadium): Will the Jackets be ready for prime time on a Thursday night kickoff to open the season?

The answer is no. Trevor Lawrence and Clemson start another college football playoff run, and drill the Jackets 48-13. GT is 0-1 on the year.

Saturday, Sept. 12 – Gardner-Webb (Bobby Dodd Stadium): Just what the doctor ordered for Tech or you would hope so. GT wins 33-14 and goes to 1-1 on the season.

Saturday, Sept. 19 – UCF (Bobby Dodd Stadium): As I look down the rest of the schedule this looks like one of the best opportunities for a win at home against the Knights.

I feel generous today by picking a GT win over UCF 24-22. Jackets go to 2-1 on the season.

Saturday, Sept. 26 – at North Carolina* (Chapel Hill, N.C.): Mack Brown is going to get Carolina back on track. The Jackets can be competitive here, but will not know how to win a road game like this yet. Paul Johnson left this program in bad shape.

Carolina beats GT 28-16. Jackets drop to 2-2 on the year.

Saturday, Oct. 3 – at Virginia Tech* (Blacksburg, Va.): October and November look bleak for the Jackets. Teams trying to rebuild, don’t pencil in wins in Blacksburg. VT 35-17. Jackets drop to 2-3.

Saturday, Oct. 17 – Virginia* (Bobby Dodd Stadium): Virginia is one of the better teams in the ACC and GT is not quite there yet. Virginia went the Orange Bowl last season and Tech was starting fights with George Pickens. Virginia 41-21. Jackets fall to 2-4.

Saturday, Oct. 24 – at Pitt* (Pittsburgh, Pa.): Could Tech win this one? Maybe in Atlanta, but not in Pittsburgh. Pitt wins 27-23. Ramblin’ Wreck falls to 2-5.

Saturday, Oct. 31 – at Syracuse* (Syracuse, N.Y.): The Cuse will beat GT at home 27-20. Jackets fall to 2-6 on the season.

Saturday, Nov. 7 – Duke* (Bobby Dodd Stadium): The Jackets will have this one circled on the calendar because this will be a winnable game. The Yellow Jackets beat Duke 35-23 to go to 3-6 on the season.

Saturday, Nov. 14 – Notre Dame (Mayhem at MBS, Mercedes-Benz Stadium): Nope not happening. Notre Dame wins 34-13. Jackets drop to 3-7 on the season.

Saturday, Nov. 21 – Miami (Fla.)* (Bobby Dodd Stadium): I’m not sold on Miami being a good team in 2020.

Yeah, I know they are the U, but they got shut out by Louisiana Tech in a bowl game last season. GT upset Miami in 2019, and this will be the Georgia Tech upset special for 2020. Yellow Jackets beat Miami in Atlanta 31-28 to go to 4-7 on the season.

Saturday, Nov. 28 – at Georgia (Athens, Ga.): Georgia will maul Tech in Athens by the tune of 49-10 and it could be worse.

GT will finish the 2020 season with a record of 4-8.

Best case scenario for the Yellow Jackets would be 7-5 and a bowl game if they can get by North Carolina, Pitt and Syracuse, and worst case scenario could be 1-11 with the only win being over Gardner-Webb.

Another couple of recruiting cycles that focus on the Atlanta metro area will be needed to rebuild this roster.

Will the buzz return in 2020? Not quite yet, but I hear a buzzing sound on the horizon for say 2021 or 2022.