This Saturday, Georgia Tech will square off against No. 10 Florida State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, beginning at noon ET on ESPN. ESPN’s College GameDay will broadcast live from Dublin,  marking the first time that the show will be outside of the United States.  This will be Florida State’s 35th and Georgia Tech’s 6th appearance on GameDay. The Seminoles hold a 15 -11-1 all time advantage in the series against the Yellow Jackets.

Who: #10 Florida State at Georgia Tech
Where: Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
When: 12 p.m. on Saturday, August 24, 2024
TV: ESPN
Line: FSU is favored by 11.5 points 

Let’s get bold.

3. Georgia Tech will keep this close.

The recent history between these two teams and their knack for playing close games, as seven of their last eight matchups have been decided by six points or fewer tend to favor a close one in Ireland. This also isn’t the same FSU team that started 13-0 last season as the team lost 10 players to the NFL Draft, which is second-most amongst all college programs. Moreover, the Yellow Jackets return QB Haynes King, who led the ACC with 27 passing touchdowns a year ago, as well as RB Jamal Haynes, who had a 1,000-yard rushing season in 2023.

2. Noles to lean on the running game. 

While Florida State’s offense will look quite different after turning over a ton of key players. DJ Uiagalelei will need to discover who his top two to three catchers will be this season.  Coach Mike Norvell should be able to find answers against the Georgia Tech defense, however expect the Seminoles to be able to dictate the terms of engagement on the ground and move the ball relatively easily. There’s enough of a good rotation at running back to keep everyone fresh and control the action and tempo.

1. GT’s defense shows improvement.

The Yellow Jackets will also be breaking in former Duke defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci, who was hired during the offseason.  Coach Key hired three new assistants on that side of the ball in Jess Simpson, Kyle Pope, and Cory Peoples. Santucci will implement a 4-2-5 base defense and try to improve a Jackets unit in 2024.  Linebacker Kyle Efford is back after leading Georgia Tech in tackles while Clayton Powell-Lee and LaMiles Brooks are one of the best duos at safety in the ACC The defensive front will be anchored by veterans Makius Scott, Kevin Harris and Zeek Biggers along with incoming transfers DT Thomas Gore ( Da U), DT Jordan van den Berg (Penn State) and DE Romello Height (Auburn & USC(w)).  Georgia Tech made an incredible leap in offensive production in 2023, expect the Yellow Jacket defense to have an incredible leap in production in 2024.

Final Prediction: FSU 38 over GT 28. The Yellow Jackets have one of the nations toughest schedules coming into the 2024 season and it will be an uphill battle, but they are returning the majority of starters from one of the nations top offenses and if there is defensive improvement, this could be one of the ACC’s most dangerous teams, however Mike Norvell has done an amazing job once again in the transfer portal, picking up former Clemson and Oregon State 5-star Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei to replace Jordan Travis, who will lead FSU to victory in front of the Irish.