Florida State vs. Georgia Tech Expert Pick and Prediction – August 24, 2024

FLORIDA STATE VS. GEORGIA TECH EXPERT PICK AND PREDICTION – August 24, 2024 — The last time we saw the Seminoles, Florida State was seething about the playoff committee’s unfair treatment in the wake of Jordan Travis’ injury. This isn’t the same Florida State team that got drilled by Georgia, but it’s also not the same team that went undefeated and uncrowned.

And that makes this a difficult matchup to figure out. The Seminoles are simultaneously a team on a mission and a team with a lot of questions. They open with an opponent that’s on the rise in Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets have steadily improved after the disaster left behind by the previous regime, and they’re coming off a bowl win. They’ve got a big name at quarterback under center, as well as a veteran offensive line.

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But is this defense ready to handle what the Seminoles bring to the table? Georgia Tech did win seven games last season, but it was a really soft seven wins. The Yellow Jackets’ most impressive win all season was North Carolina, and defense is barely a word that exists in Chapel Hill. Otherwise, Tech beat up on the weaker sides in the ACC to earn its spot in a bowl.

Meanwhile, Florida State brings back D.J. Uiagalelei for his second crack at the ACC. And even though he couldn’t meet Clemson’s standards, he did well for himself the last time he faced Tech, crushing the Jackets by 31 points.

The Odds

Kickoff

When: Saturday, August 24 at Noon EST

Where: Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland

TV: ESPN

Public Bets: Unavailable

Public Money: Unavailable

Odds courtesy of DraftKings, as of August 22nd, 2024.

Florida State vs. Georgia Tech In-Season Trends

Tech has actually covered seven of the past eight meetings between the teams, but that’s a little misleading. The teams were in separate divisions and thus didn’t play very often, meeting just three times in the past decade. That also proved concurrent with Florida State’s decline until Mike Norvell arrived in Tallahassee, which left the Seminoles disappointing both fans and bettors. 

The Seminoles last faced the Jackets in 2022, and that game wasn’t particularly close. Florida State beat Georgia Tech by 25 and never let the Jackets into the game. The Seminoles are now 8-4 ATS in their past 12 games against ACC competition, and they’re facing an opponent that has been inconsistent with double-digit spreads. Tech beat Miami and North Carolina straight up while catching double digits, but failed to cover against either Mississippi or Clemson while facing spreads of at least 10 points. Georgia Tech is 4-4 ATS in its past eight games as a double-digit underdog, but just 2-4 when the opponent isn’t the North Carolina squad it owns a three-game winning streak against.

Weather

Ireland is going to feel more like October than August. Temperatures are expected to hit around 62 degrees and stay there in the Irish capital, with showers in place. Rain won’t affect too much, but kicking could be tricky with winds gusting up to 32 miles per hour.

The Difference-Makers

Florida State needs to get a strong showing out of D.J. Uiagalelei. The quarterback Clemson ran off enjoyed a fine season at Oregon State, and now he’s back in the ACC. Emotions might run a little high in his first game back in the league, and he needs to show how far he’s come since he left the Palmetto State. Uiagalelei tossed 21 touchdowns against seven interceptions with the Beavers, and he’ll need to attack the secondary regularly.

Haynes King has shown himself to be an exciting player, but one who doesn’t necessarily make the best decision. He threw for 27 touchdowns, but he also got picked off 16 times. The Jackets’ offense did look like it was figuring things out in November of last year, but King has to do it against better opponents. Tech struggled against Clemson and Mississippi, and falling in an early hole would be disastrous.

The Pick

The lines keep moving toward Georgia Tech, as the public seems to be quite sour on Florida State. And that’s increased the value on the Seminoles. FSU has built a real program, while Tech is still looking to get itself there. This also won’t be a home game for the Jackets; they’ve got to go to Ireland and face a team with a point to prove.

Florida State looks like the best team in the ACC, and that’s not ideal for these Jackets to face. FSU has the edge here.