Humanitarian Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Fresno State

Teams: Georgia Tech vs. Fresno State
Date: Dec. 31, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Location: Bronco Stadium, Boise, Idaho

Analysis
Georgia Tech will take the long plane ride from one corner of the nation to the other to face its third Bulldog team of the season. Tech is 1–1 against Bulldogs this season, defeating Samford handily but falling to rival Georgia. We know that’s the kind of hard-hitting analysis you’re looking for in this preview. You’re welcome.

Tech will try to finish Dog days with a winning record, but Fresno coach Pat Hill might make that difficult. After a rare down year last season (4–8), Hill has his team back in a bowl for the eighth time in nine seasons — something a little more consistent with the ‘Anyone, anywhere’ mentality he’s preached in Fresno for so long. Hill’s counterpart, former Jackets’ defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta will be coaching his first game as the head man after taking over for the departed Chan Gailey on an interim basis.

If there’s one thing Tenuta knows, its tough, aggressive defense, and that’s exactly what he’ll have his team prepared to play in this game. He also knows that senior running back Tashard Choice is the team’s best weapon. Choice — 1,310 yards, 10 TDs — should be featured heavily after having an entire month off to recover from some lingering hamstring issues that kept him out one game completely and limited him in several others.

The Bulldogs have been dealing with plenty of injuries of their own, including leading rushers Ryan Matthews and Lonyae Miller and stud tight end Bear Pascoe. A month away from football cures a bunch of nicks and bruises, however, so look for both of these teams to be close to full strength come game time.

This is a tough one to call. Fresno State has competed against tough teams all season but emerged with only a 1–4 record against bowl teams. Georgia Tech’s defense has carried the team all season and might have to do so again in this one. It might be a little tougher with their defensive coordinator now handling head-coaching duties as well.

Breakdown: Georgia Tech
Campus Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Distance to Boise: 2,176 miles
All-Time Bowl Game Record: 22–13
2007 Season: 7–5, 4–4 ACC

NCAA Rankings (yards/points per game totals):
Rush Offense: 18 (203)
Pass Offense: 102 (183)
Scoring Offense: 68 (26)
Rush Defense: 12 (100)
Pass Defense: 32 (210)
Scoring Defense: 17 (19)
Turnover Margin: 83 (-0.33)

Additional Notes:
The Jackets defeated Tulsa, 52-10, in the 2004 Humanitarian Bowl … Georgia Tech ranks third in all-time bowl winning percentage … Fresno State won these teams’ only prior meeting in 2002, 30-21, in the Silicon Valley Classic in San Jose, Calif. … Defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta will coach the Yellow Jackets in this game following the firing of Chan Gailey … Tech went 3–0 against non BCS Conference schools (Army, Notre Dame, Samford).

Breakdown: Fresno State
Campus Location: Fresno, Calif.
Distance to Boise: 723 miles
All-Time Bowl Game Record: 11–9
2007 Season: 8–4, 6–2 WAC

NCAA Rankings (yards/points per game totals):
Rush Offense: 16 (205)
Pass Offense: 82 (202)
Scoring Offense: 33 (32)
Rush Defense: 86 (183)
Pass Defense: 59 (227)
Scoring Defense: 61 (27)
Turnover Margin: 102 (-0.75)

Additional Notes:
State has played in a bowl game in eight of the last nine seasons under coach Pat Hill … The Bulldogs are 2–0 against ACC teams in bowl games — wins against Georgia Tech and Virginia (in the Humanitarian Bowl) … Fresno went 1–2 against BCS teams this season, defeating Kansas State on Nov. 24 and losing early on at Oregon and in OT at Texas A&M … Marcus Riley was named the WAC defensive player of the year.

Prediction: Fresno State by 3

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