Most of the time, the notion of contrasting styles in a sporting event is attractive. Being told that two different kinds of cats will be found on the same field is usually an invitation to pull up a chair and enjoy some pigskin.

Not this Saturday. Not in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

No, when Georgia Tech and Wake Forest take the field at Groves Stadium this evening, the contrasts at work will not serve as the equivalent of honey to the Yellow Jacket fans in attendance. The Wake Forest fans on hand for this game will not be enraptured by the 180-degree differentials in evidence for this week-five throwdown.

Sadly, this clash of cultures doesn't do much to stir the soul of even the most demonic Deacon. Without further ado, here's the skinny on Tech-Wake:

The homestanding Demon Deacons bring very little pop to this party; coach Jim Grobe has a listless offense that has not been able to make much of an impact in recent weeks. Wake ran wild in its season opener against FCS tomato can Presbyterian and then frolicked against a very bad Duke team in week two (the same Duke team that got smashed by Army on Sept. 25), but in recent weeks, a funeral has been held for Wake's offense. The Deacs reeked against Stanford in week three, scoring a lonely first-half touchdown before adding a bunch of empty garbage points in the second half of a 68-24 loss. Stanford smothered Wake's offense in the first 30 minutes of that game and pounded Grobe's group into submission.

The following week was, improbably yet undeniably, even worse for Wake's offense.

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Yes, this past weekend, the folks at the Forest got bageled at Florida State... yes, the same defense that made an inconsistent Oklahoma offense look like a polished juggernaut earlier this season. Wake dropped a 31-0 decision against the Seminoles, with quarterbacks Ted Stachitas and Tanner Price both failing to generate any production whatsoever. The two signal callers completed a combined total of just 11 passes for 82 yards while throwing an interception. Wake's so-so rushing total of 103 yards pushed the Deacs' total offense to a grand total of only 185 yards, a brutal showing in an ACC contest. Wake went 3-of-14 on third downs and added a fumble to its litany of woes. It's safe to say that Wake's offense is not a force to be reckoned with.

However, in turning to the Georgia Tech camp, it becomes quickly apparent that if Wake's offense is the resistible force, the Yellow Jackets' defense - which completes this contrast in styles - is the very movable object in this matchup.

Tech's defense allowed 28 points to a shaky Kansas crew in week two, but last week was the topper, as the Yellow Jackets - who were supposed to get better on defense thanks to new coordinator Al Groh - got eviscerated by Russell Wilson and North Carolina State, 45-28. The Wolfpack ate up Tech from start to finish, despite a Tech pick-six that briefly made the proceedings interesting in Atlanta. Georgia Tech surrendered 527 yards to NC State, 368 of them in the air. When Tech briefly climbed within three points - at 31-28 - in the early stages of the fourth quarter, the Wolfpack immediately drove downfield and converted a 3rd-and-11 from the Yellow Jackets' 23. Wilson threw a 23-yard strike to not only get a first down, but a backbreaking touchdown on a day when NCSU converted 8-of-15 third downs.

As impotent as Wake Forest has been on offense, Georgia Tech has been leaky on defense.

There's your contrast in styles. Enjoy seeing which side will give way to a greater degree on Saturday evening in the Carolinas.