The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets need a win over either the Duke Blue Devils (3-7, 1-5) or Georgia Bulldogs to preserve their 13-year bowl streak, tied for fourth-longest in the nation. Since no Tech fan wants to put the streak on the line in a prime time game in Athens against an equally desperate Dawgs team ... well, this is why you schedule Duke. Also you schedule them because they're in your conference.
But hold the phone, before you start dialing up the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, because these Devils should make you at least a little nervous. They've put up 34 or more points three times this year, outscoring Tech's efforts against common opponents Wake Forest and Virginia. They beat the Navy Midshipmen, who run the same offense as Tech but with a more experienced quarterback and more disciplined offensive line, on the road. Their quarterback, Sean Renfree, has caught a hot streak, completing 74 percent of his passes and throwing no picks in his last three games.
Duke still has a terrible defense, ranking 94th in rushing yards per play. If Tech can't control the clock against this defense enough to keep Renfree in check, they really don't deserve to go to a bowl anyway.