Game Preview: NC State at Georgia Tech

NC State (5-5, 2-4 ACC) at Georgia Tech (6-4, 4-3 ACC)

Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field, Atlanta, Georgia

Date and time: Thursday at 19.30

Spread: Georgia Tech -9, O/U 52.5

TV: ESPN, ESPN App, WatchESPN.com

Broadcast Team: Matt Barrie (play-by-play), Dan Mullen (analyst), Harry Lyles Jr. (sideline reporter)

Radio: 680 AM/93.7 FM Fan/SiriusXM 106 or 205

Radio team: Andy Demetra (play-by-play), Andrew Gardner (analyst), Chris Mooneyham (sideline reporter)

History of the series: Georgia Tech leads 20-11 (no streak, NC State won last)

Last meeting: NC State won 23-13 at NC State on Dec. 5, 2020

Last week: Georgia Tech was inactive after a 28-23 win against Miami on Nov. 9; NC State was inactive after a 29-19 loss to Duke on Nov. 9

State comparison: Points per game (Georgia Tech 27.7, NC State 28.6), Points Allowed per game (Georgia Tech 21.9, NC State 30.6), Total Offense (Georgia Tech 417.1 yards per game, NC State 362.1 yards per game), Total Defense (Georgia) Tech 334.6 yards per game game, NC State 374.9 yards per game)

GEORGIA TECH Offensive Key Players: Haynes King (QB, RS-Jr.), Jamal Haynes (RB, RS-Jr.), Jordan Williams (RT, Sr.)

NC STATE Key Offensive Players: CJ Bailey (QB, Fr.), KC Concepcion (Slot WR, Soph.), Jacarrius Peak (RT, RS-Soph.)

GEORGIA TECH Key Defensive Players: Sylvain Yondjouen (End, RS-Jr.), Kyle Efford (LB, RS-Soph.), Taye Seymore (FS, Soph.)

NC STATE Key Defensive Players: Sean Brown (LB, RS-Jr.), DK Kaufman (S, Sr.), Davin Vann (DE, Gr-Sr.)

Game Preview Analysis: The rollercoaster season that is Georgia Tech Football in 2024 has reached the final two weeks of the regular season. The Jackets are coming off their biggest highlight of the 2024 season and the Brent Key era to this point with a home win a couple of Saturdays ago over then-No. 4-ranked Miami in front of a raucous atmosphere at Bobby Dodd Stadium. They have another big game coming up next Friday at that school up the road in Athens. But sandwiched between those two games is a Thursday night showdown under the lights of Bobby Dodd Stadium against ACC foe NC State.

Much like Georgia Tech, the Wolfpack has experienced a wild ride in 2024, starting the season with high hopes as the team was ranked in the top 25 and led by transfer QB Grayson McCall after a couple of successful seasons at Coastal Carolina. But a few months later, NC State and head coach Dave Doeren are starting a freshman quarterback in CJ Bailey and just struggling to get bowl eligible after McCall had to retire from football due to concussion issues as well as several other on and off setbacks the game. field for the team in the autumn.

Bailey has shown glimpses of his potential at quarterback, as the former four-star recruit has had good games in wins against Cal and Stanford, but has looked like a rookie at times in losses to Syracuse and Stanford. He has the ability to air it out and hurt opposing defenses in the passing game with a huge receiver and tight end group, including preseason All-ACC pick Kevin (KC) Concepcion in the field, but he has shown the ability to turn the ball over at times, where he is under pressure or the game is picking up speed.

So it’s a cliché to say Georgia Tech’s pass rush and affecting the pocket is a key in this game, but it’s simply the truth. The Jackets’ ability to stop the run has improved dramatically this year under first-year defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci, so if they can be strong against the Wolfpack’s rushing attack and make them rely heavily on the pass, that would work in Georgia Tech’s favor.

Offensively for Georgia Tech, it remains to be seen what level of health to expect quarterback Haynes King at, but as the Jackets showed against Miami, even a King at less than 100 percent is pretty good (and brave). And Aaron Philo stepped up to make the big throws that King couldn’t in the upset win over the Canes because of King’s throwing limitations due to his injury.

The good news for the Jackets, coming off a big day against Miami, is that NC State’s defense has been hit by the run several times this season, giving up an average of 140.3 yards on the ground per carry. battle, which is good. for 10th in the ACC and 72nd nationally. Georgia Tech will look to exploit that area of ​​the game for sure on Thursday, but don’t be surprised if the Jackets’ offense tries to stretch the field with some play-action shots as well to prevent NC State from filling the box early.

Georgia Tech fans know this spot all too well over the several decades … the place where the team is coming off a huge win and immediately follows it up with a bit of a letdown. That’s the kind of thing Brent Key is trying to shake off now that he’s at the helm of his alma mater. It should work in Tech’s favor that there was a week off between the Miami win and this game, as the team might have been able to put the previous one behind them a little better and focus on being just as hungry and consistent.

It’s the last time out for Georgia Tech this season at Bobby Dodd Stadium, and the last time ever at home for the Jackets’ seniors. They will have to tap into that feeling and energy and use it the right way against an NC State team that would love to come into Atlanta and get a big win that would send them to the bowl game.

Expect a close game for a while, but the Jackets use their physicality and experience to pull away over the final two quarters.

Alex Farrer Score Prediction: Georgia Tech wins, 34-21.

Kelly Quinlan Score Prediction: Georgia Tech wins, 28-17.