Georgia Tech blows its chance at CFP with ugly loss to Pitt

Georgia Tech entered Saturday's game against Pitt with a very simple task. Just win. 

Just win the game, and it would have clinched a spot in the ACC Championship Game, where it would have been one win away from the College Football Playoff. Instead of accomplishing that task, Georgia Tech failed, and it failed badly in a 42-28 loss that probably was not as close as the final score indicated. 

Now its ACC Championship Game chances, as well as its College Football Playoff chances, are pretty much finished. 

Georgia Tech lost this game in the first quarter

It is hard to overstate just how poorly prepared Georgia Tech seemed to be at the start of this game, giving up 21 first-quarter points to Pitt and eventually falling into a 28-0 hole early in the second quarter. It was every bit as lopsided and one-sided as that score. 

Pitt freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel was doing whatever he wanted in the passing game. Pitt's running game with Ja'Kyrian Turner was gashing the Yellow Jackets defense. Georgia Tech's Heisman hopeful quarterback, Haynes King, looked as bad as he has at any point this season. 

Even with that early 28-point deficit, Georgia Tech still had moments where it seemed like it could get back into the game. But every time it did, it managed to self-destruct.

Penalties got the Yellow Jackets in trouble all night, including several pre-snap penalties.

But the biggest game-changing play came in the third quarter when Georgia Tech seemed to be on the verge of cutting the deficit to seven points. That was when Pitt's Braylan Lovelace picked off a King pass at the goal-line and raced 100 yards untouched for a touchdown and a 14-point swing in the game.