The college football season kicks off in Dublin, Ireland for the third straight year, and this may be our best export yet. The Florida State Seminoles begin a revenge tour after one of the greatest snubbings in the history of college football, while the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets hope to parlay last season’s prolific offense into a second straight bowl appearance.
But the FSU offense is nothing to sneeze at, and my Florida State vs. Georgia Tech predictions and free college football picks will lean the Seminoles' way in what should be a high-octane thriller on Saturday, August 24.
Florida State vs Georgia Tech prediction
My best bet
Over 55 (-110 at Caesars)
My analysis
Both Florida State and Georgia Tech ended last season with some of the best offenses in the country. Choose your measuring stick, they were worth noting. Using expected points added (EPA) per play — a metric that factors in game state, such as down, distance, field position, time, and score — the Seminoles ranked No. 7 heading into the ACC title game, at which point they were without star quarterback Jordan Travis, and the Yellow Jackets ranked No. 23 after the regular season.
Georgia Tech’s success went largely unnoticed; a 6-6 regular season will do that. But quarterback Haynes King accounted for 37 touchdowns while running back Jamal Haynes cracked 1,000 yards rushing.
And both those crucial playmakers are back, along with three of King’s top-four receivers and four starting offensive linemen. This offense should pick up right where it left off, while the Jackets’ defense last season was a weak spot (No. 104 in EPA).
Florida State returns no such burst of continuity, but with a full summer to scheme, head coach Mike Norvell should easily call plays to the scoreboard’s delight. The combination of a veteran quarterback in former Clemson and former Oregon State passer DJ Uiagalelei with a veteran offensive line will only burgeon that cause.
The Seminoles have the pieces necessary to score right now. Their defense will come along quickly, but it may not be whole just yet. It certainly should not look whole against Tech’s offense.
Good news college football fans. We not only get to return to games, we get to return with an exciting one.
Florida State vs Georgia Tech same-game parlay (SGP)
Over 55
Florida State -10.5
DJ Uiagalelei anytime touchdown
Tailing the Seminoles is very much a testament to Mike Norvell. As good a coach as Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key looks to be — taking the Jackets from 10 wins in the three-plus seasons before he took over to 11 wins in less than two full seasons should be lauded far more than it has been — Norvell is one of the better play callers in the country.
He knows quite well what dozen or so plays his offense has taken to best this preseason. He knows what throws Uiagalelei is most comfortable with.
And he also knows that Uiagalelei is an excellent goal-line threat. Oregon State ran a physical offense last season, one aided by DJU’s six rushing touchdowns.
If and when Florida State finds itself inside the 5-yard line in Dublin, expect Uiagalelei to get a chance to cross the goal line, adding to his 21 career rushing touchdowns.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Florida State vs Georgia Tech odds
Florida State vs Georgia Tech live odds
Florida State vs Georgia Tech opening odds
- Spread: Florida State -11.5 (-115) | Georgia Tech +11.5 (-105)
- Moneyline: Florida State -490 | Georgia Tech +365
- Over/Under: Over 51.5 | Under 51.5
Florida State vs Georgia Tech spread and Over/Under analysis
- Florida State spent most of the summer as a 12.5-point favorite, but the last week has seen that steam down as low as -10 at DraftKings.
- Some of that line move should be directly tied to Georgia Tech’s finding competence under Key thus inspiring offseason conversations buying in on his long-term plan. The narrative may have pushed further than it should have in this specific instance.
- The total jumped before this week, originally hitting the board at 51.5 and climbing to 54.5 in June. It peaked at 56.5 a couple of weeks ago before settling at 55.5.
Florida State vs Georgia Tech betting trend to know
Georgia Tech cleared the total in nine of its 12 regular-season games last season. Find more college football betting trends for Florida State vs Georgia Tech.
Florida State vs Georgia Tech game info
| Location: | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland |
| Date: | Saturday, 8-24, 2024 |
| Kickoff: | 12:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN |
Florida State vs Georgia Tech latest injuries
Florida State vs Georgia Tech weather
The weather at kickoff is expected to be mostly sunny with temperatures in the high-50s and winds of 13 mph.
Monitor gametime conditions with our College football weather info.
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