The SEC-ACC rivalries have been entertaining all season, but this one may be the biggest. Georgia Tech won the ACC Coastal and enters the Orange Bowl with one of the nation's most prolific running games. Mississippi State spent time as the nation's No. 1 team and narrowly missed winning the powerful SEC West. So which team has the edge in this matchup? Here's what to watch for ...
Pressure against Prescott: In Mississippi State's 10 wins, QB Dak Prescott had a QBR of 81.4. In its two losses, his QBR was just 34.0. That makes the job for Tech's defense clear: Rattle Prescott. That job won't be easy, of course. Prescott was a Heisman favorite for much of the season, and he's one of the nation's top QBs. Moreover, Georgia Tech has struggled to consistently get pressure on the passer, ranking 105th nationally in sack rate. When it recorded two or more sacks in a game, Tech was 6-0 and allowed just 18 points per game. When it didn't, Tech was just 2-3 vs. FBS foes, allowing an average of 36 points per game. Of course, even if the Yellow Jackets can get to Prescott, they've still got Mississippi State running back Josh Robinson to deal with.
Deep ball for Thomas: Justin Thomas was exceptional in his first season as Georgia Tech's starting QB, and he's been a perfect fit for Paul Johnson's option offense. One of the keys was Thomas' ability to complete the deep ball, and his 9.1 yards-per-attempt average ranked fifth nationally, and he led the nation in yards-per-completion (17.9). But the problem for Tech is Thomas will be without star receiver DeAndre Smelter, who was responsible for 41 percent of the Yellow Jackets' receiving yards this season.
Stopping the option: Georgia Tech's option offense can frustrate even the best defenses in the country, and the Yellow Jackets averaged 6.6 yards per play this season. Mississippi State's D, led by linebacker Benardrick McKinney, had an up-and-down year against the run, allowing just 11 rushing TDs all season, but five of them came in the team's two losses, and in their last game against Ole Miss, the Bulldogs coughed up 205 yards and three TDs on the ground. Georgia Tech clearly has options in the rushing game, with Zach Laskey and Synjyn Days turning in exceptional seasons.
Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers: During its five-game winning streak to close out the regular season, Georgia Tech's D collected 17 turnovers. In its ACC title game loss to Florida State, the Yellow Jackets couldn't match that production, and the Seminoles moved the ball with ease. Quayshawn Nealy & Co. will look to get back to that ball-hawking play in the Capital One Orange Bowl, and it's worth noting Mississippi State had multiple turnovers in seven games this season -- but none in its final two.
Power of the SEC West: The ACC went 4-0 against the SEC in the final weekend of the regular season, which was a nice feather in the cap of the conference that has struggled to find much national love. Of course, the answer from the SEC was simple: Those wins came against the lackluster East. The West has the real power. So now Georgia Tech gets its shot to prove the ACC can play with the big boys, and Mississippi State gets its shot to erase that ugly final weekend for its league and secure conference bragging rights.
