Likely the coach on the hottest seat in the ACC this college football season is Georgia Tech’s Geoff Collins as the Yellow Jackets have yet to win more than three games in his three seasons. It might take a bowl trip in 2022 for Collins to keep his job. Here is a preview of the game for your NCAA Football Betting Odds.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Must-Bet Games Of 2022 Season
Georgia Tech finished 3-9 last season and lost its final six games – including its final two by a combined score of 100-0 to Notre Dame and Georgia. Those were two great teams, but 100-0? Collins’ overall record is 9-25. It’s the second-worst winning percentage of any coach in the program’s history after three seasons. Since the last year of the Paul Johnson era in 2018, 22 of the last 29 losses were by double digits.
“It’s Year 4, and it’s still not working,” said Roddy Jones, the former Georgia Tech running back and now a college football analyst for ESPN and SiriusXM radio who maintains close ties to the program. “You’re still trying to lay a foundation, and it’s a lot of the same guys. Why are they still so bad on defense? They’re worse.”
The only thing that likely saved Collins’ job after last season were the economic realities that accompany the buyout at a place like Georgia Tech, where the athletic department operates close to the margins. Collins’ buyout was approximately $12 million (salary plus other guarantees). The buyout drops to $7.2 million if the move is made after 2022, $4.8 million after 2023 and $2.4 million after 2024.
Collins did make some coaching changes after last year. Chip Long, who was rated as one of college football’s top offensive coordinators while leading high-powered offenses at Memphis and Notre Dame from 2016-19, was hired as the new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Long served as the offensive coordinator at Tulane in 2021. Despite the challenges caused by being displaced from campus for nearly a month due to Hurricane Ida, Tulane gained 396 yards in a 40-35 season-opening loss to No. 2 Oklahoma. The Green Wave closed the season with 501 and 452 yards, respectively, in a win over USF and a narrow loss to Memphis.
Defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker was spared in Tech’s coaching purge despite his unit allowing 455.2 yards per game and ranking at or near the bottom of the ACC in other key statistical categories like sacks (20) and interceptions (three). That defense that lost eight of its top 11 tacklers either to graduation or transfer.
Quarterback Jeff Sims is back from last season. He appeared in eight games and made six starts at quarterback while battling injuries throughout the campaign. Despite playing in the equivalent of just seven full games (as he only played one half against Northern Illinois and North Carolina, he led the team in passing yards (1,468), completions (113), completion percentage (.601), touchdown passes (12) and total offense (1,840 yards).
Top running back Jahmyr Gibbs transferred to Alabama. Gibbs ran for 746 yards and four touchdowns last season, earning a spot on the All-ACC team. He also caught 35 passes for 465 yards and two touchdowns. Though Collins was able to supplement his skill positions through the portal with Hassan Hall from Louisville (7.2 ypc on 38 attempts) and Dylan McDuffie from Buffalo (1,049 rushing yards and 11 TDs), this is almost a total reset for Long on offense. He will make some noticeable scheme changes, such as less shotgun and utilizing formations with multiple tight ends.
Leading receiver Malachi Carter is a pro prospect and needs to be used more – he led the team with 37 catches for 489 yards and two scores. The offensive front has to replace three starters, but help is on the way via the transfer portal for a group that gave up too many plays in the backfield and only pushed for 169 rushing yards per game.
Brutal nonconference schedules are never ideal for a coach who is on the so-called hot seat, but that’s exactly what Tech’s Geoff Collins faces in 2022. The Yellow Jackets get ranked Ole Miss at home the third week of the season, then turn around and play at UCF the following week. Then there’s the annual finale against Big Brother Georgia and that game is in Athens this year.
Georgia Tech Expert Prediction
- 3-9 record, Collins is fired
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