The NC State Wolfpack and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are trending in opposite directions, and while each has had a bye week to settle from emotional lows and highs, respectively, this still has the makings of a potentially weird game. Each team is in a spot to potentially look ahead to their rivalry games or let the last game bleed into this one, so the coaches will need to have their teams ready to handle the moment.
The team that handles its emotions best will have the best chance to emerge victorious on Thursday. Keep reading to find out which way we think this one will go in our NC State vs. Georgia Tech prediction.
NC State vs. Georgia Tech Betting Preview
All NC State vs. Georgia Tech odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Georgia Tech -8 - Spread
Georgia Tech -9 - Moneyline
Georgia Tech -310, NC State +250 - Over/Under
52.5 points - Game Time
Thursday, Nov. 21, 7:30 ET - Location
Bobby Dodd Stadium | Atlanta - Predicted Weather at Kick
47 degrees, clear, 12 mph winds - How To Watch
ESPN
This season has not gone the way NC State fans expected this year, and the Wolfpack is coming off an ugly showing against the Duke Blue Devils before the bye. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech is fresh off a huge upset over the Miami Hurricanes two weeks ago.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
The spread here is currently sitting at nine points, the same as it was at release. The total, originally set at 55.4, has been bet down to 52.5 points. That spread and total imply a final score close to 31-22 in favor of the Yellow Jackets.
NC State’s Winning Probability
CFN’s FPM is closely aligned with Vegas, giving the Wolfpack a 26.6% chance to win Thursday. That translates to a spread of about eight points. The Wolfpack will finish the year on the road against the North Carolina Tar Heels in a game the metric likes as a toss-up.
- at Georgia Tech: 26.6%
- at North Carolina: 50.4%
Georgia Tech’s Winning Probability
Already bowl-eligible, the Yellow Jackets are looking to clinch a winning season before they play their in-state rival Georgia Bulldogs. The Yellow Jackets have a 73.4% chance to win Thursday before a tough game to end the year.
- vs. NC State: 73.4%
- at Georgia: 17.4%
Prediction for NC State vs. Georgia Tech
Whenever I write these previews, I always have an initial reaction to the spread before digging into the advanced numbers and matchups. My initial reaction to this spread is that I don’t think there are almost 10 points of separation between the two.
The Yellow Jackets have picked up three of their four conference wins by one score, including a bizarre win over North Carolina when the Yellow Jackets lucked into a last-minute touchdown while trying to run out the clock to get to overtime.
NC State hasn’t been as sharp as we’re accustomed to seeing from the Wolfpack. However, it has endured a lot of injuries and seemed to be playing better before a slip-up two weeks ago against Duke.
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CJ Bailey has flashed elite potential and has shown the ability to carve up below-average defenses and he’s getting better every game.
Both of these teams love to play close games, and I think the difference between them might be that NC State is 2-3 in one-score contests while Georgia Tech is 3-1.
So I’m leaning toward taking the Wolfpack against the spread, but can they win outright?
There are some really weird dynamics going on with the Wolfpack. The team has never been elite, but it has won between eight and nine games in six of the last seven seasons. There are some close to the program who think this final stretch is critical to not just this offseason but the future of the team under Dave Doeren, and I think the Wolfpack will play well because of that.
The NC State defensive front isn’t what it used to be, but it’s one of the better front sevens on Georgia Tech’s schedule. That’s significant because the Yellow Jackets struggle when they can’t control the line of scrimmage.
Likewise, the Georgia Tech front four should hold the advantage over the Wolfpack offensive line, so this could come down to turnovers and a couple of big plays. Swing that in favor of either team and it’s probably your winner.
I’m leaning toward taking the Wolfpack straight up with Georgia Tech in a letdown and look-ahead spot — not just because picking an outright underdog sparks conversation.
I’m not confident enough to actually put money on the moneyline, but I do think the Wolfpack can eke this out at Bobby Dodd in a low-scoring game.
Prediction: NC State 24, Georgia Tech 22
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