Paul Johnson doesn’t think anyone should sleep on Georgia Tech

Sitting in front of a group of reporters at the ACC Kickoff last week, Paul Johnson was quick to shrug off the idea that his team would be picked to finish near the bottom of the Coastal Division.

The media’s predicted standings weren’t released until Monday, but it probably didn’t come as a surprise to the Georgia Tech head coach to see the Jackets penciled in at sixth in the division. After all, the Ramblin’ Wreck was tabbed as the preseason favorite a year ago before finishing dead last.

This year, though, Johnson believes his group is better than advertised.

“I think they’re hungry,” the 58-year-old said of his team. “Last year, I think, was an enigma for us. We’re not used to that.”

The 2015 season easily marked the worst of Johnson’s tenure in Atlanta. Georgia Tech posted a 3-9 record, missing a bowl game for the first time since 1996.

More often than not, though, Georgia Tech exceeds preseason expectations. Since joining the ACC 33 years ago, how often have the Jackets finished ahead of where they were picked by the media? To find out for free, sign up for basic access to ACCSports.com.