A Further Look At The 2017 College Football Season

After reviewing the University of Georgia in last week’s column, it’s only fair to try and forecast how the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets might do in 2017.

Coach Paul Johnson has built a solid program during his time in Atlanta. Bad seasons are the exception rather than the rule and 2016 was a nice bounce back year for the Yellow Jackets including a victory against UGA.

Despite some key personnel losses, Georgia Tech should be fine in 2017, at least well enough to win nine games or so and give the Bulldogs fits once again.

Competing in the ACC Coastal division, the Yellow Jackets will be challenged by Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Miami. Duke always seems to give Georgia Tech fits but I think the Miami Hurricanes are the team to beat in this half of the ACC. Former UGA coach Mark Richt is primed for a big season in south Florida and should be in the ACC title game.

Still, Georgia Tech’s triple option will continue to give opponents fits and even allow for an upset win here and there. No one knows the offense as well as Johnson as he has operated it for decades going back to his time as offensive coordinator at Georgia Southern in the 1980s under the legendary Erk Russell.

Admittedly, there are some Georgia Tech fans who don’t like the option-based offense but as long as Johnson continues to win games he isn’t going anywhere. And as long as he continues to get wins against Georgia, I’m not sure why Yellow Jacket fans would want him to.

Georgia Tech prediction in 2017: 9-3.

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In looking at Georgia Southern and Georgia State, who also compete at the Division I-A level, the 2017 season will be interesting to watch for both the Eagles and the Panthers although for different reasons.

Georgia Southern was a major disappointment under first-year head coach Tyson Summers. The hiring of Summers was questioned by many Eagle fans to begin with and when the pure triple option was not used then long-timers really got into an uproar.

Summers placed his two co-offensive coordinators on the sacrificial chopping block and said the team will return to an option-based offense for 2017. Even so, if Georgia Southern doesn’t get back on track by at least going to a bowl game this upcoming season, Summers will be the one sacrificed this time around.

It’s a new era at Georgia State University as former South Carolina assistant Shawn Elliot is now leading the Panthers. Elliot worked for several years as an assistant for Steve Spurrier and then was interim coach when the Old Ball Coach stepped down during the 2015 season.

Elliot is also known for helping build Appalachian State into a Division I-AA power, winning three national titles in a row as well as the famous upset of Michigan in the 2007 season opener. (That game is still must watching for any fan of the underdog.)

Georgia State, despite some success in football, has struggled to gain its footing. However, a new stadium (the program played in a near empty Georgia Dome previously) and a new energetic head coach could be just what the doctor ordered.

The talent in this state alone should supply Georgia State’s roster with enough players to be successful. It will be interesting to see how well Elliot does in Atlanta. A rivalry has already developed between Georgia Southern and Georgia State. Look for that to continue.

Monticello native Chris Bridges is a long-time newspaper columnist. He welcomes feedback from readers of The Monticello News at pchrisbridges@gmail.com