Jordan Allen produced four of Georgia Tech's eight explosive plays

The favorite had other plans — Georgia Tech just didn't get the memo. Colorado knocks off Georgia Tech, 14-13 at Bobby Dodd Stadium. It stayed within one score late, and Colorado made the plays down the stretch. Charlie Williams caught two passes for 28 yards, one of them for a touchdown.

We had this one the other way

Before kickoff we made Georgia Tech the pick by about 1. The model missed the side: it favored Georgia Tech by ~1, but Colorado won by 1 as the underdog.

Colorado lived in the backfield

Colorado sacked Georgia Tech's quarterback 3 times to Georgia Tech's 1, led by Lamont Lester Jr. (3 sacks). That's what carried Colorado.

The plays that turned it

Three snaps account for most of the difference. Dekalon Taylor's 2-yard run that came up short on 4th-and-3 at Q1 01:34. Then Julian Lewis's 16-yard throw to Joseph Williams on 3rd-and-11 at Q4 01:09. Later, Alberto Mendoza's 42-yard throw to Dalen Penson on 1st-and-10 at Q4 00:37.

The standouts

Charlie Williams caught two passes for 28 yards, one of them for a touchdown, including that score from inside the 20. Micah Welch ran 13 times for 58 yards and one score, with that score from inside the 20. Julian Lewis threw for 124 yards on 27 attempts with one touchdown and lost 12 yards on four carries, including that score from inside the 20, three third-down conversions and a hand in four plays of 15 yards or more. For Georgia Tech, Alberto Mendoza threw for 237 yards on 23 attempts and lost 22 yards on three carries, including four third-down conversions and a hand in eight plays of 15 yards or more. Jordan Allen caught eight passes for 113 yards, including two third-down conversions and a hand in four plays of 15 yards or more. Dalen Penson caught three passes for 73 yards. Lamont Lester Jr. was the disruptive one for Colorado: 3 sacks, 3.5 TFLs, 4.5 tackles.

How it unfolded

Colorado struck first through Micah Welch, Georgia Tech led 10-7 at the half and the final points came on a late touchdown by Julian Lewis.

The disruptive ones

Two names to keep: Lamont Lester Jr. (3 sacks, 3.5 TFLs, 4.5 tackles) for Colorado and Tawfiq Thomas (1 sack, 1 TFL, 5 tackles) for Georgia Tech. 3 of Colorado's 3 sacks came from the defensive line — a change from the 44% it had averaged over the previous 7 seasons.

Where it leaves them

A program win for Colorado; a gut-check loss Georgia Tech won't soon forget. Aidan Birr was responsible for 6 of Georgia Tech's points; there was not enough behind him.