The story of Week 0 was Georgia Tech's upset win in Ireland over Florida State.
The Yellow Jackets now head back home to Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta to face their crosstown foe, Georgia State, at 8:00 pm ET on ACC Network.
Did the week zero win signal that Georgia Tech will be a force this season, or was it just an early season aberration?
Let’s look at my Georgia State vs Georgia Tech predictions and best bet to find out what I think of this team in Week 1 and in the future.
Georgia State vs Georgia Tech Prediction
- Georgia State vs. Georgia Tech Pick: Under 55.5
My Georgia State vs Georgia Tech best bet is on the under, with the best line currently available at FanDuel, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Georgia State vs Georgia Tech Odds
| Georgia State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+20.5 -110 | 55.5 -110o / -110u | +950 |
| Georgia Tech Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-20.5 -110 | 55.5 -110o / -110u | -1700 |
- Georgia State vs Georgia Tech Point Spread: Georgia State +20.5 (-110) · Georgia Tech -20.5 (-110)
- Georgia State vs Georgia Tech Total: Over/Under 55.5 (-110/-110)
- Georgia State vs Georgia Tech Moneyline: Georgia State +950 · Georgia Tech -1700
Georgia State vs Georgia Tech Preview
Georgia State Panthers Betting Preview: New-Look Panthers
Georgia State went 7-6 a year ago, but Shawn Elliott left the program in the spring for an assistant job at South Carolina.
This has thrust Dell McGee into his new spot as head coach after being the run game coordinator at Georgia for the last five seasons.
Georgia State returns just four starters on offense. They lose their top two rushers, two of their top three receivers, and four offensive linemen from last year's offense. They will also be replacing quarterback Darren Grainger with Pitt transfer Christian Veilleux.
Last season, the team ranked 72nd nationally in Success Rate and 66th in Finishing Drives. They were a rush-heavy team (56% of plays) that finished the season ranked sixth in rushing Explosiveness but 103rd in Rush Success Rate. As their head coach and offensive coordinator are rush-heavy coaches, I expect them to lean toward the run game.
Six starters return to a defense that ranked 80th in Success Rate allowed last year. They ranked 118th in Pass Success Rate allowed and 116th in Pass PPA allowed. However, they also ranked 46th in Rush Success Rate allowed and 64th in Rush PPA allowed, which may help their case against Georgia Tech.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Betting Preview: Slow-Paced Jackets?
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets started their season with a bang by defeating No. 10 Florida State in Ireland in Week 0. They now head back to Atlanta and will look to replicate this success against Georgia State.
Last weekend, Georgia Tech posted a 98th-percentile Success Rate and 92nd-percentile EPA per Play against Florida State's defense. They averaged 6.46 yards per play and thoroughly dominated the 'Noles in most aspects.
This game moved at a snail’s pace regarding the number of drives. According to Brian Fremeau, the 14 possessions in this game were the fewest in any FBS game since 2020. Georgia Tech averaged 25.2 seconds per play last season but 33.9 in week zero, which would have been far slower than any FBS team last year. I wouldn’t expect them to be this much of an outlier, but it is an interesting note to watch, as this could be attributed to the new helmet communication systems.
Eight starters returned from last year's offense, including quarterback Haynes King. The Yellow Jackets also brought back their top two receivers, four offensive linemen, and most of their rushing production. Last year, this team ran the ball at the 32nd-highest rate in FBS and ranked 18th nationally in Rush Success Rate.
Georgia Tech struggled on defense last season, ranking 119th in Success Rate allowed. This season, defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci came over from Duke after serving in the same position for them a year ago.
The primary source of GT’s defensive problems last season was their rush defense, which ranked 124th in Success Rate allowed and 123rd in PPA allowed. Only five starters return from that defense, so while we saw them succeed against Florida State, I have concerns about this unit going forward.
Georgia State vs Georgia Tech Pick & Prediction
Georgia Tech should have the bodies to bully the Panthers in the trenches, especially with this offensive line. Georgia State was skilled at stopping the run last season, but I worry about the Panthers' ability to hold up against Georgia Tech’s rushing attack.
The Panthers are replacing most of the offense, and while I have concerns regarding Georgia Tech’s defense going forward, I think the Yellow Jackets can keep pace.
I expect both of these teams to lean on the rushing game and see this game playing out at a slow pace. I don’t know where the final score will land concerning the spread. Still, I expect Georgia Tech to handle business here, even after returning across the Atlantic at a rest disadvantage.
My favorite bet on this game is the under on the full-game total, as both teams should be run-heavy and reduce the total number of possessions in this game.
Currently, this total is set between 55.5 and 56. I would take it at the current number and down to 55, but not below, as that is the biggest key number in college football totals, according to Action Network's own Collin Wilson.
Pick: Under 55.5 |
What is QuickSlip?
QuickSlip is an Action Network feature that allows users to automatically pre-load their bet slip at FanDuel Sportsbook.
How to Watch Georgia State vs Georgia Tech Live: Start Time, TV Channel, Location
| Location: | Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia |
| Date: | Saturday, Aug. 31 |
| Kickoff Time: | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ACC Network |
Georgia State vs Georgia Tech Betting Trends
- Georgia State went 7-6 SU and ATS last season, including 4-3 ATS as an underdog and 4-2 ATS on the road.
- Georgia Tech went 7-6 SU and 8-5 ATS last season, but they started 2024 with an outright win over Florida State as 10-point underdogs.
