Georgia Tech Football: Way Too Early Game Predictions for 2024
The ACC schedule for the 2024 season has been slowly coming out over the past week or so, but it was just fully released this evening and all of the dates are known.
This is no surprise to Georgia Tech and its fans, but they Yellow Jackets have arguably the toughest schedule in the ACC and maybe the country. 11 of Georgia Tech's 12 opponents made a bowl game last season and they have to face several of the ACC's top contenders in 2024. It is going to be challenging for Georgia Tech to improve their win total, but they will have one of the ACC's best offenses and Brent Key has made some smart hires on defense.
Is January too early to be making game predictions for the 2024 season? Probably, but we are going to take our best shot to predict Georgia Tech's 2024 record.
1. vs Florida State (Aug. 24th, Dublin, Ireland)
Georgia Tech will open the season against Florida State
This is going to be the headlining game from week zero and a huge test to see if Georgia Tech has taken a step forward. Florida State is coming off of an ACC Championship season and is one of the favorites to make it back. They are going to have a mostly new roster, but FSU head coach Mike Norvell has retooled the roster through the transfer portal and solid recruiting classes.
I think this will be a closer game than most think. With such a brand-new roster and this being the first game of the year, it is possible that Florida State struggles. Georgia Tech has continuity and a really good offense and can win this game. I think the talent edge belongs to Florida State though and the Seminoles will win a close game.
Final Score: FSU 34, GT 31 (0-1, 0-1 ACC)
2. vs Georgia State (Aug. 31st, Bobby Dodd Stadium)
Georgia Tech will face Georgia State at Bobby Dodd Stadium and after a trip to Ireland to face Florida State, they will need to be sure there won't be a letdown.
From our own Najeh Wilkins:
"This will be the first meeting between the teams on the gridiron and the campuses are only separated by less than two miles. Georgia State had one of its best starts in program history starting the year 4-0. The Panthers went on to finish the season with a 45-22 win against the Utah State Aggies in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Another interesting storyline to follow in this game is the two former Georgia Tech players CB Kenyatta Watson II and QB Zach Gibson transferring to Georgia State. It will be interesting to see what role they will have on their new team."
Is it a possible let down spot? Yes, but I think Georgia Tech will handle the Panthers.
Final Score: Georgia Tech 38, Georgia State 21 (1-1, 0-1)
3. At Syracuse (Sept. 7th, Syracue, NY)
Syracuse hired Georgia defensive backs coach Fran Brown to be its new head coach and the Orange are going to have a new look. Former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord is taking over under center and Syracuse is going to be one of the most intriguing teams in the ACC this year.
Syracuse is one of the most interesting teams in the ACC this year because of the hire of Brown and Syracuse is a hard place to play. Because of all of the changes, I will give the edge to Brent Key's team.
Final Score: Georgia Tech 35, Syracuse 20 (2-1, 1-1)
4. vs VMI (Sept. 14th, Atlanta, GA)
This will be the easiest game on a tough schedule. Georgia Tech should be rolling in this game by multiple scores.
Final Score: Georgia Tech 49, VMI 7 (3-1, 1-1)
5. At Louisville (Sept. 21st, Louisville, KY)
Georgia Tech faced the Cardinals at Mercedes Benz Stadium last season and almost pulled off the upset. The Yellow Jackets blew a double-digit lead in the second half and could not finish the job. They will have to face the Cardinals on the road this year and head coach Jeff Brohm has retooled this roster after losing some key players.
From Najeh Wilkins:
"Louisville is coming off a historic first season under head coach Jeff Brohm including a hot 10-1 start that saw them net ranked wins against Notre Dame and Duke to clinch their seventh ten-win season in program history. 2023 was also the first year the Cardinals made the ACC Championship Game for the first time since joining the conference in 2014. It will also be a chance for the Yellow Jackets to get revenge, especially after losing last season’s opener to the Cardinals to open the season."
These two teams are evenly matched in my opinion, but the home-field advantage makes me lean toward the Cardinals.
Final Score: Louisville 31, Georgia Tech 28 (3-2, 1-2)
6. vs Duke (Oct. 5th, Atlanta, GA)
Georgia Tech will host Duke in 2024
Duke lost head coach Mike Elko and quarterback Riley Leonard this offseason and former Miami head coach Manny Diaz and former Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy are replacing them.
I think the Blue Devils are an intriguing team. Murphy has talent and Diaz is one of the best defensive minds in the sport. However, he still has a lot to prove as a head coach and it is tough for me to think Duke will be as tough as they were the last two seasons. Georgia Tech wins in Atlanta, just as they did in 2022.
Final Score: Georgia Tech 28, Duke 17 (4-2, 2-2)
7. At North Carolina (Oct. 12th, Chapel Hill, NC)
Georgia Tech has won three straight against North Carolina and this Tar Heels team looks like it has taken a step back in terms of roster. Not only that, former Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins is the new defensive coordinator for the Tar Heels.
Gone are quarterback Drake Maye and wide receiver Tez Walker. North Carolina's offense will likely revolve around running back Omarion Hampton and be a more run-centric focused attack. North Carolina is a team I am down on heading into the season and I like Georgia Tech to win this game.
Final Score: Georgia Tech 41, UNC 28 (5-2, 3-2)
8. Vs Notre Dame (Oct. 19th, Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA)
This will be one of the toughest games on Georgia Tech's 2024 schedule. The Fighting Irish have hit the transfer portal and done well recruiting and 3rd year head coach Marcus Freeman could have a college football playoff team in 2024.
From Najeh Wilkins:
"Despite Notre Dame losing a good amount of their production offensively in Sam Hartman, Audric Estime, and Chris Tyree, the Fighting Irish finished with a top-10 recruiting class and will have players ready to come in and contribute early. The Fighting Irish also finished top 10 defensively in scoring defense, total defense, yards allowed per play, pass defense, and red zone defense. Notre Dame will return a good amount of defensive starters in Howard Cross III, Rylie Mills, and Jack Kiser. Head coach Marcus Freeman has led Notre Dame to nine wins or more in his two seasons at the helm and has proved they are a gritty bunch that plays at a high level."
I think Notre Dame is set for a really good season in 2024 and Georgia Tech does not have the roster to win this game.
Final Score: Notre Dame 31, Georgia Tech 20 (5-3, 3-2)
9. At Virginia Tech (Oct. 26th, Blacksburg, VA)
Virginia Tech is a lot like Georgia Tech coming into the season. They both finished the season strong and return high-profile quarterbacks and running games. The defenses are going to be what needs to improve for both teams in 2024.
From Najeh Wilkins:
"Virginia Tech ended its season winning four of its last six games average of 36 points during that span. Kyron Drones is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the ACC. He passed for 2,084 yards and 17 touchdowns through the air and on the ground, he was the second-leading rusher on the team with 818 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Drones led the Hokies to their first winning season since 2019 and the fifth-best record in the ACC."
Blacksburg is a tough place to play, but I think that Georgia Tech has the edge in this game. This could be one of the most entertaining games of the 2024 ACC schedule.
Final Score: Georgia Tech 38, Virginia Tech 35 (6-3, 4-2)
10. vs Miami (Nov. 9th, Atlanta, GA)
Nobody will ever forget how this game ended last season and the two teams will rematch in Atlanta. Miami has had the best recruiting class in the ACC two years in a row and persuaded former Washington State quarterback Cam Ward to come back to college to try and bump up his draft stock.
This is a hard game to predict. Miami has arguably the top roster in the conference and the top quarterback. The holdback is the coaching. Mario Cristobal has not proven he can elevate a roster with his coaching and this makes this game winnable for Georgia Tech.
This is a make-or-break year for Cristobal at Miami and while the Yellow Jackets can certainly win this game, I think Ward gives Miami the edge.
Final Score: Miami 34, Georgia Tech 27 (6-4, 4-3)
11. vs NC State (Nov. 21st, Atlanta, GA)
This game was announced yesterday and after not having a Thursday night game last year, Georgia Tech will host the Wolfpack, who are going to be a contender in the ACC this year.
From Najeh Wilkins:
"It will be the first time the Wolfpack has traveled to Atlanta since 2019. NC State has added new transfers at vital positions in QB Grayson McCall, RB Jordan Waters, TE Julius Joly, and wide receivers Noah Rogers and Wesley Grimes. The Wolfpack finished 2023 at 9-4 and 6-2 in the ACC."
Because the game is at home, I will give the edge to Georgia Tech in this game, but it will not be easy.
Final Score: Georgia Tech 27, NC State 24 (7-4, 5-3)
12. At Georgia (Nov. 30th, Athens, GA)
This is the game all Georgia Tech fans look forward to. While the Yellow Jackets have not beaten Georgia since 2016, Brent Key has kept it close and played well against the Bulldogs.
From Najeh Wilkins:
"Georgia will return some of their starters from the 2023 season including Heisman hopeful Carson Beck. Beck was fifth in the country in QBR (86) and threw for 3,941 yards and 24 touchdowns. The Bulldogs also have emerging tight end Oscar Delp ready to take on a bigger role in 2024 and they may have one of the best defensive back rooms in the country with Malachi Starks returning and the addition of Demello Jones and KJ Bolden from the 2024 class."
Anything can happen in college football and as I said, Key has played Georgia well in the two games against the Bulldogs. However, the game is in Athens and Georgia will be looking to punch its ticket to the playoff.
Final Score: Georgia 38, Georgia Tech 20 (7-5, 5-3)
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