Georgia Tech looking for hot ACC start

Georgia Tech will be looking for its second win in ACC play in as many weeks when it hosts North Carolina at noon on Saturday in a game televised by ESPN2.

The Yellow Jackets (2-1, 1-0 ACC) rolled to a 35-17 win last Saturday over Pittsburgh to open conference play. That came following a week off caused by Hurricane Irma.

North Carolina (1-3, 0-2) lost 27-17 to Duke last week. The Tar Heels also have losses to California and Louisville, with the lone win coming against Old Dominion.

Georgia Tech leads the nation in rushing yards per game with 393.7. The Yellow Jackets are also third in the ACC and 14th nationally in yards allowed per game with 264.3.

Some other storylines to consider, as provided by the Georgia Tech sports information office:

• Although the Yellow Jackets have only won their first two ACC games four times in the past 18 seasons, three of those have come since 2011 (2011, 2013 and 2014).

• The last time the Yellow Jackets started 2-0 in conference play (2014), they went on to win the ACC Coastal Division championship and beat No. 8 Mississippi State in the Orange Bowl.

• North Carolina has won three straight in the series.

• Georgia Tech won their conference opener for the eighth time in head coach Paul Johnson’s 10 seasons on The Flats last Saturday. The Yellow Jackets outgained Pitt by nearly 250 yards (484-235) despite committing a season-high four turnovers.

• Georgia Tech’s defense was the story of the win over Pitt, as it turned in seven three-and-outs in 13 defensive series and limited the Panthers to just 37 rushing yards in the convincing victory.

• For the season, the Yellow Jackets’ have forced 19 three-and-outs in 37 defensive series (51.4 percent). The only team in the nation that has forced three-and-outs at a higher clip this season is Michigan (30 in 53 possessions – 56.6 percent).