Florida State vs. Georgia Tech Picks, Predictions and Odds: FSU to Make a Statement in the Season Opener

• Florida State and Georgia Tech open up the season playing in Dublin Ireland

• Georgia Tech’s spread continues to take money as we near kickoff

• DJ Uiagalelei makes his first start for the Seminoles after transferring to Florida State

After a long offseason full of transfers, coaching changes, and plenty of drama, college football makes its return this Saturday with the Florida State Seminoles set to battle it out against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Dublin, Ireland. Expectations are high for the Seminoles coming into 2024 college football season as they enter the year listed as the betting favorites to win the ACC Championship, as well as make the College Football Playoff. With clear advantages on both sides of the ball for Florida State, this one may get ugly in a hurry.

Florida State vs. Georgia Tech Odds 

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Florida State vs. Georgia Tech My Pick

• My Pick: Florida State -10 (-115) at Caesars Sportsbook

Even with new faces at key positions, Florida State looks to pick up right where they left off as a sizable favorite against the Yellow Jackets. Their ground game gets the opportunity to round back into form after a lackluster performance last year, getting the fortunate opportunity to run wild against a decimated Georgia Tech front seven. Factor in a Seminoles defense that is expected to bottle up Haynes King’s dual threat ability while forcing him to throw into tight windows and the Seminoles have all the tools to make a statement and cover the spread in the season opener.

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Florida State vs. Georgia Tech Predictions 

Florida State

With Jordan Travis gone, the Seminoles desperately needed to find a quarterback who could maintain their high level of production in order to remain a viable contender for the ACC Conference Championship. They managed to do just that by making one of the biggest transfer portal additions this offseason, grabbing Oregon State’s DJ Uiagalelei after a successful season with the Beavers last year.

Uiagalelei has had a roller coaster of a career due to his own sporadic level of play, but he remained to be the best option for the Seminoles entering this season. DJ brings a dual-threat ability that the Seminoles relied on heavily last year, setting up the play action to keep defenses reeling and give their quarterback the option to either pick apart the gaps in coverage or tuck the ball and sprint out to the open field.

With a new face at quarterback, it’s safe to say the Seminoles playbook may be limited to simple concepts and a heavy dose of the run in their season opener. That puts Florida State in a favorable position, limiting the variance that comes with Uiagalelei’s arm while taking advantage of a thinned out Georgia Tech front seven. Florida State’s ground game may have underwhelmed last season, but expect a bounce back performance against a Yellow Jacket defense that ranked 123rd in Def Rush Success Rate.

Georgia Tech

After finishing the year ranked 47th in Off Success Rate, 12th in Explosiveness, and 37th in Finishing Drives, Georgia Tech’s offense looks to maintain their productive offensive marks with the return of Haynes King under center. King possesses a dual-threat ability that helped sustain drives down the field, turning broken plays into sizable gains when their offensive line inevitably broke down under pressure.

While that style of play worked against a majority of their competition last year, their offense is poised to struggle against a dominant Florida State front seven that excelled at bottling up opposing offensive production in the trenches. Expect the Seminoles to take advantage of their poorly ranked offensive line, collapsing the pocket at a routine rate while their linebackers screen down the gaps to keep King from scrambling.

With Georgia Tech’s ground game expected to struggle, that forces them to potentially revert to a heavier dose of the pass at their own peril. Especially since the Seminoles can anchor their linebackers while their front line holds their ground, smothering Georgia Tech’s anemic playmakers in coverage. With limited spacing, King will be forced to throw into tight windows that will result in either a turnover or a quick three and out. 

How to Watch Florida State vs. Georgia Tech

• When: Saturday, August 24, 12:00 p.m. ET

• Where: Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland

• Where to Watch: ESPN

Florida State vs. Georgia Tech Best Promos and Sportsbooks

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Florida State vs. Georgia Tech Injuries

Florida State

• LT Darius Washington - Questionable

• C Maurice Smith - Questionable

• RT Jeremiah Byers - Questionable

• DL Darrell Jackson - Questionable

Georgia Tech

• N/A

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