NC State football vs Georgia Tech: Scouting report, score prediction

On By Littum

NC State football needs to win one of its last two games to become bowl eligible for the fifth straight season and ninth time in 10 seasons.

The Wolfpack (5-5, 2-4 ACC) travel to Georgia Tech (6-4, 4-3) on Thursday (7:30 p.m., ESPN) to try to reverse its fortunes in Atlanta, where NC State has lost 11 of 15 meetings with Yellow jackets.

Coming off his week off, the Wolf pack will try to win at Georgia Tech for the first time since 2010.

Will NC State reach bowl eligibility?

Here’s a look at what to watch and a score prediction for NC State’s penultimate regular season game.

CJ Bailey, NC State football needs to get off to a quick start vs Georgia Tech

Silencing the crowd at Bobby Dodd Stadium will be a priority for the Wolfpack. To minimize the effectiveness of Georgia Tech’s home court advantage, NC State needs to come out of the gates with a solid start. Through 10 games, the Wolfpack has been outscored 95-37 in the first quarter.

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Georgia Tech is 77th in passing yards allowed per game, so NC State quarterback CJ Bailey will have opportunities for success. After a poor performance against Duke, Bailey will try to bounce back against a Yellow Jacket defense that allowed QBs to account for five TDs in losses to Virginia Tech and Notre Dame.

Will NC State’s defense be able to handle Georgia Tech QB Haynes King?

Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King has been broken up this season. King left the Yellow Jackets’ upset win against No. 4 Miami. But before he left the game, King had 93 rushing yards and a touchdown. A true, dual-threat QB, King has accounted for 2,046 yards and 16 touchdowns, including seven rushing TDs. In his previous games against North Carolina schools, King found the end zone on four occasions. If the Wolfpack want a chance at an upset, it starts with limiting King as a runner.

NC State vs Georgia Tech in turnover margin

The Yellow Jackets have been one of the best teams in the nation taking care of the ball and are tied for second nationally with six turnovers (four interceptions, two fumbles). But in its last two losses, Georgia Tech combined for four turnovers against Notre Dame and Virginia Tech. NC State needs the trend to continue Thursday.

The Wolfpack have struggled to stay on the positive side of the turnover margin with 18 turnovers (10 fumbles, eight interceptions) through 10 games. That ranks the Pack 108th nationally in ball security. If State doesn’t take care of the ball in Atlanta, the Ramblin’ Wreck will make quick work of the visitors from Raleigh.

NC State vs Georgia Tech score prediction

Georgia Tech 30, NC State 23: The Yellow Jackets will remain undefeated at home behind a great effort from quarterback Haynes King. The Wolfpack head to Chapel Hill for the regular season finale needing a win to play in the postseason.

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at [email protected] or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.