Georgia Tech “coaching circles” are forming around Kirby Smart, according to ESPN analyst

Georgia Tech, looking to win the rivalry game for the first time since 2016, outgained Georgia 307 yards to 137 for a 19-minute, 48-second lead over UGA, 10-12.

“They’re like a triple-option team, they pay you and they keep possession, we knew that from the start,” Smart said during his halftime interview. “They have a really good quarterback running it and throwing it. They do a great job on offense and we don’t leave the field in the third period.”

Tech quarterback Haynes King is 12 of 16 passing for 150 yards and a touchdown and has completed 12 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown.

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck is 10 of 17 passing for 109 yards and has two carries for minus-5 yards – a 6-yard run and an 11-yard sack.

The Bulldogs are on a 30-game home winning streak and a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Georgia Tech took a 3-0 lead on its first possession and forced a three-pointer after Arian Smith left a pass wide open.

“That’s been the problem all season for Georgia’s receivers, who are so talented but keep putting the ball on the ground,” ESPN spokesman Jesse Palmer said.

“This is an easy sub for Arian Smith, and he drops it.”

It was the 33rd drop of the season for UGA receivers, the most among all pass catchers in college football.

The Yellow Jackets made the score 10-0 on King’s 2-yard TD run with 4:40 left in the half.

The Bulldogs were just about to answer Georgia Tech’s touchdown when Dominic Lovett caught a pass and ran 9 yards before fumbling the ball back to the Yellow Jackets at the 37 at the 3-minute mark.

Georgia Tech capitalized by running 11 plays for 63 yards and a 4-yard Haynes touchdown catch from King to Jamal Haynes.