NC State vs Georgia Tech Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Nov 21, 2024 4:31 AM ET

Georgia Tech has enjoyed a fun two weeks of basking in the win over Miami to get bowl eligible while changing up the College Football Playoff race.

Now it’s playing with house money. It can’t end NC State’s bowl hopes here, but it can dim them in a big way.

After this there’s the showdown against Georgia with a chance to - realistically, if it happens - knock the big dog out of the CFP.

NC State just can’t seem to get it all together. It lost a few close games, got it going against the ACC’s California teams, and then dropped the home finale against Duke. But win this, beat North Carolina, and go to a bowl game.

NC State vs Georgia Tech: How to Watch and Game Preview

Date: Thursday, November 21, 2024
Game Time: 7:30 pm ET
How To Watch: ESPN
Venue: Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Teams: Georgia Tech (6-4), NC State (5-5)
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Why NC State Will Win

NC State isn’t doing a ton of things right, but when it runs well it has a shot.

It beat Cal by throwing - QB CJ Bailey was fantastic - but the team needs the ground game to average over four yards per carry to help take care of the other parts.

The defense isn’t bad, but it needs the O to keep control of the clock and keep the tempo from getting too fast.

Georgia Tech has been a tad hit-or-miss with the run defense, and there’s not enough of a pass rush to worry about, but the big help is a D that just does NOT take the ball away. But …

Why Georgia Tech Will Win

The Yellow Jackets are painfully overdue for a takeaway or three.

Again, the defense isn’t bad, but it just doesn’t come up with a slew of big plays. It only has seven takeaways on the year, but those really, really mattered.

There was a pick against Notre Dame, but the other six takeaways came in wins. There weren’t any in the three losses. NC State has turned it over multiple times in six of the ten games going 1-5 in them.

But …

NC State vs Georgia Tech: Who Will Win?

Georgia Tech is at its best when it runs well.

QB Haynes King is the straw that stirs the drink, but the team is 6-0 when running for 190 yards or more, 0-4 - being held to under 115 yards in each game - when it doesn’t.

NC State has allowed more than 115 rushing yards seven times and will get hit hard in this.