The Alcorn State Braves are looking to build on a successful 2014 campaign, in which they won the Southwestern Athletic Conference title for the first time since 1993. As for the No. 16 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, the game against the Braves should be a good measuring stick for them to know whether they can sustain their success last year, when they finished with an 11-3 overall record and 6-3 in the ACC.
Read on for a preview of this matchup. You can also click here for a breakdown of the huge Big Ten-SEC showdown between No. 20 Wisconsin Badgers and No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide.
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Alcorn State Braves vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Preview
[sc:NCAA240banner ]They may be an FCS team going up against an FBS-bowl team, but expect the Braves to take no prisoners when they head to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech.
Alcorn State was one of the best team in the FCS last year, especially on offense. The Braves ranked second in scoring (44.0 points per game), and eighth in total offense (493.1 yards per game). They were also among the most efficient in converting third-down opportunities with a .447 clip on such situations. The backfield should remain Alcorn State’s top strength after averaging 285.2 rushing yards per game last year—fifth overall in the FCS.
Expect the Braves to run the gamut of their rushing plays opposite Georgia Tech’s defense that looked poor at times against the run. Take for example the Yellow Jackets’ 2014 season opener, wherein they allowed Wofford to rush for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Leading the Braves’ rushing attack is the pair of Arron Baker (725 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns in 2014) and Darryan Ragsdale (691 yards, seven touchdowns). Even the Braves’ quarterback, John Gibbs Jr., can run the ball effectively. Last year, Gibbs rushed for 996 yards and 11 touchdowns.
On defense, the Braves lost four of their top five tacklers last season. How the Braves will stop Georgia Tech’s vaunted running game will largely depend on those left behind their front seven like Damon Watkins (79 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions) and Darien Moody (34 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks).
Alcorn State is 5-1 SU in its last six games overall.
Like Alcorn State, the Yellow Jackets like to run the ball down their opponents’ throats. Matched up against a team that mirrors their offensive philosophy, quarterback Justin Thomas and the rest of the Yellow Jackets will look to show Alcorn State who’s the boss when it comes to the ground game when they host the Braves at home on September 3. Georgia Tech is 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS in its last three games as the home team.
Thomas was undoubtedly the catalyst of Georgia Tech’s offense last year, one that ranked 12th in the FBS in scoring (37.9 points per game) and 12th in rushing (342.1 rushing yards per game). A dual threat quarterback, Thomas led the team in passing (1,719 passing yards and 18 touchdowns) and in rushing (1,086 rushing yards and eight touchdowns). We’ve mentioned earlier that Alcorn State does possess a decent run defense, but “decent” won’t cut it for any defense that crosses path with the Yellow Jackets’ rushing offense.
That said, Georgia Tech will have to overcome a backfield that lost the trio of Synjyn Days, Zach Laskey and Charles Perkins. With those losses, a lot will fall on the shoulders of the offensive line that must open up holes for the likes of senior running back Broderick Snoddy and Stanford transfer Patrick Skov. When Georgia Tech decides to generate yards through the air, Thomas will look for Ricky Jeune, Antonio Messick, and Micheal Summers as his top options.
On defense, the Yellow Jackets have some depth issues, but that shouldn’t be much of a problem in the Alcorn State game. For one, they have a terrific first team that features senior All-ACC defensive tackle Adam Gotsis and last year’s Freshman All-America honoree KeShun Freeman. Back in 2014, Georgia Tech was 53rd in scoring defense with 25.7 points allowed per game.
