#14 Tech heads to Truist Park for COFH + USI Bracketology Update

The most anticipated game of the year heads back to Braves Country

COFH Preview

Tech heads up I-75 on April 15 for the 390th baseball edition of Clean Old Fashioned Hate. The Jackets carry a top-15 ranking into the matchup with top-5 u[sic]ga, rising to No. 13 after a pair of ACC sweeps out west. The in-state rivals both enter with momentum; u[sic]ga pulled off an upset series win over top-ranked Arkansas over the weekend.

The Jackets carry balanced strengths into the tilt, with several stats placing at or near the top of D1 or Power 4 ball. Tech sits in the top four in all of D1 in doubles, batting average, and runs per game, and adds a pitching staff that boasts a top-25 ERA. Kyle Lodise, Drew Burress, and Alex Hernandez all have double digit home runs, and Lodise and Burress are two of five Tech players with at least 11 doubles.

All three Jacket pitchers with at least 30 innings pitched have a sub-4 ERA, led by Mason Patel’s mark of 1.87. Projected started Brett Barfield has posted a 2.00 ERA in a dozen appearances in relief, and will look to begin this bullpen game with more of the same.

Tech has a 10-1 record so far this season away from Russ Chandler Stadium — the best start in program history, and has not lost any games by more than two runs regardless of venue. Their 29-7 record is the best at this point since 2010, and the only non-conference loss since February is a one-run decision to top-10 Auburn.

u[sic]ga holds an ERA a few ticks below 5, and complements that mark with clean fielding, holding a top-10 fielding percentage even after a five-error performance over the weekend. They hold opponents to a batting average of .227, but give up walks and extra base hits at a higher rate than Tech. Tuesday starter JT Quinn has posted a 2.50 ERA in 10 appearances, including four starts.

u[sic]ga’s batting average ranks within the top 40, but they pace the country in home runs, racking up nearly 100 long balls already this season. They are paced by Ryland Zaborowski and Robbie Burnett with 16 home runs apiece. Five different players with at least 29 appearances boast an OPS over 1.000.

Both teams are looking to boost their resume with a win as the two clubs seek a top-16 overall seed and hosting rights for the NCAA tournament. Tech looks to bounce back from a season-ending loss in Athens during the tournament last year and avoid another road trip in the postseason.

USI Bracketology

In our proprietary USI rankings, we currently have Georgia Tech slotted as the #8 team in the country, good enough for a hosting slot. That current projection has Tech hosting Vanderbilt, Dallas Baptist, and Tennessee Tech. Among ACC teams, Tech is the 2nd highest ranked team behind Clemson at #3. North Carolina sits right behind Tech at #9. Four ACC teams are currently in line for hosting spots, five more are projected to make the tournament, and two additional teams are in the first four teams outside the field.

Jake Grant

Jake Grant

Tech getting a run of Quad 1 wins and hopefully some future Quad 2 wins are doing good work to bolster their tournament projection profile. A win over Georgia likely won’t create a guarantee that Tech ends up hosting a regional, but it can be one of those differential games when it comes to seeing. Of Tech’s most recent ACC opponents, Stanford (away) currently rates as Quad 1 games while Cal (at home) would be considered Quad 3. Miami on the road would be considered Quad 2 currently. Tech will have four Quad 1 games left on the schedule (at Duke x3, at Auburn) after this midweek.

Full Projected NCAA Tournament Field (regionals not adjusted for geographic considerations), 4/14/2025

#1 Texas Regional: Kansas, Stanford, Alabama State

#2 Arkansas Regional: Troy, Richmond, Holy Cross

#3 Clemson Regional: USC, Florida, Penn

#4 Tennessee Regional: Virginia Tech UT-Rio Grande Valley, NJIT

#5 Georgia Regional: Lamar, Northeastern, San Jose State

#6 West Virginia Regional: Oregon, Mississippi State, Central Connecticut State

#7 LSU Regional: Wake Forest, Kansas State, Gonzaga

#8 Georgia Tech Regional: Vanderbilt, Dallas Baptist, Tennessee Tech

#9 North Carolina Regional: Coastal Carolina, ETSU, Bowling Green

#10 Alabama Regional: Cal Poly, Southern Miss, Oral Roberts

#11 Florida State Regional: Arizona, Western Kentucky, High Point

#12 TCU Regional: Louisville, Southeastern Louisiana, Fairfield

#13 UCLA Regional: Auburn, NC State, Wright State

#14 Ole Miss Regional: UC Irvine, Liberty, Murray State

#15 Oregon State Regional: UTSA, Texas A&M, Xavier

#16 McNeese Regional: Oklahoma, Stetson, Grand Canyon