Charlottesville, VA -- (Sports Network) - The 11th-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are fresh off their biggest win of the season, and they are set to face Virginia on the road this weekend.

Georgia Tech showed a great deal of toughness in a 28-23 victory over Virginia Tech last weekend. Paul Johnson's Yellow Jackets are now 6-1 overall and 4-1 in ACC play, impressive to say the least. The remaining schedule is extremely favorable, so Tech seems to have an outstanding opportunity to run the table and claim the conference title. Don't count the Jackets out of the national title conversation.

After three straight losses to open the campaign, including a double-digit setback to William & Mary, Virginia found a way to turn things around. The Cavaliers have won their last three outings to move to 3-3 overall and 2-0 in ACC action. They have gotten the job done defensively, holding the last three opponents to a grand total of 19 points. The most recent triumph occurred over Maryland last weekend by a 20-9 final.

Virginia owns a 16-14-1 edge in the all-time series with Georgia Tech thanks to wins in five of the last six meetings. Overall, the home team has won 12 of the last 14 encounters.

Georgia Tech relies heavily on its ground game to move the ball and score points, but while opposing defenses know to expect a one-dimensional attack, stopping the Jackets has proven to be extremely difficult. Against Virginia Tech last weekend, Georgia Tech rushed for 309 yards on 63 attempts, an average of nearly five yards per carry. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt led the charge with 122 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. As for star tailback Jonathan Dwyer, he managed 82 yards on 20 attempts. It is remarkable that Georgia Tech was able to defeat one of the nation's top teams despite a 1-of-7 passing effort by Nesbitt.

"Josh is such a competitor," said Johnson after the game. "He would be the first to tell you he didn't play well in the first half, but in the second half, I think he might have had two bad reads on the option. All-in-all, he does what it takes to win the game."

The Yellow Jackets were not dominant defensively against Virginia Tech, but they did play well enough to win. The Hokies finished with 334 total yards and three offensive touchdowns, but the Yellow Jackets posted two big interceptions and a pair of sacks. They held the Hokies to 2-of-8 success on third down conversion attempts and limited them to fewer than 22 minutes of possession time.

"Well, it seems like we have to make every game come down to the end," said coach Johnson after the win. "I'm proud of our guys, especially our defense who came back and played fast, which is the way you want to see them play."

Georgia Tech is racking up 32.4 ppg this season to go along with 417.1 total ypg. Of the 27 offensive touchdowns that the team has scored, 22 have come on the ground along with 281.6 ypg. Nesbitt leads the way with 625 yards and nine scores, while Dwyer has 593 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Demaryius Thomas doesn't get many opportunities to make plays on the outside, but the fact that the stud receiver has turned 27 catches into 671 yards and four touchdowns speaks to his explosiveness.

Opponents are scoring 26.0 ppg while gaining 377.9 total ypg against a Georgia Tech club with what can best be described as an average defense. The Yellow Jackets have surrendered 22 touchdowns to opposing offenses, 16 of which have been passing scores. The fact that the club is giving up 13.3 yards per pass completion is concerning. Keep an eye on Derrick Morgan, as he has 7.5 sacks already.

Another week and another stellar defensive showing for Virginia in the win over Maryland. The Cavs limited the Terps to 284 total yards and forced them into four turnovers, the most obvious key to the victory. Virginia permitted fewer than four yards per rushing attempt and allowed well below 50 percent of their passes it faced to be completed. Defensive tackle Nate Collins made a huge play for the defense, intercepting a pass late in the third quarter and racing 32 yards for a touchdown.

"They really, really played," said coach Al Groh of his defense. "I have nothing but the highest level of admiration for what these kids gave tonight and how they've stuck together and kept believing and been unified."

Offensively, the Cavaliers struggled their way to 201 total yards and one touchdown, a two-yard run by Rashawn Jackson late in the fourth quarter that sealed the win. However, that two-yard run was the only play of that drive, as the defense set the offense up with ideal field position. Jackson ran for 90 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries, while Jameel Sewell completed 13-of-23 passes for 137 yards. The quarterback injured his ankle in the tilt, making his status for this weekend questionable.

Overall this season, Virginia is averaging 24.2 ppg and a modest 304.3 total ypg. The ground attack has accounted for only 2.8 yards per attempt despite being responsible for 11 of the 16 offensive touchdowns scored. Sewell has been average at best under center, completing 55.1 percent of his passes for 1,093 yards and five touchdowns with five interceptions. The fact that the Cavs have allowed 24 sacks suggests that the quarterback hasn't had a great deal of time to throw, so that has to be taken into account when evaluating his play.

Opponents are scoring 18.7 ppg against Virginia, which is yielding 293.8 total ypg. The fact that the Cavaliers are permitting only 8.8 yards per pass completion with three passing scores allowed in six games is remarkable. They have surrendered just nine total touchdowns to opposing offenses and have played well against the run. There isn't a star player on the defensive side of the ball, making the accomplishments of the unit all the more impressive.