Sharp bettors pushed the Georgia Tech-Florida State spread from -14.5 to -10.5 in favor of the Seminoles. However, savvy gamblers placed their bets on the Yellow Jackets’ moneyline, recognizing that this upset wasn’t as improbable as it seemed.
Georgia Tech’s top-10 victory over their ACC rival in Dublin, Ireland, not only establishes them as a genuine contender but also signals that the ACC race is wide open.
Georgia Tech’s Week 0 Win Over Florida State Should Not Be Surprising
After four straight losing seasons to conclude Geoff Collins’ tenure in Atlanta, Brent Key sparked an instant turnaround, leading the Yellow Jackets to a 7-6 record and a bowl victory last season.
Despite the turnaround, Georgia Tech entered the 2024 season facing the nation’s second-toughest schedule. Aside from a likely win against VMI, formidable challenges against Florida State, Notre Dame, Miami (FL), and Georgia loomed large.
To post back-to-back 7+ win seasons for the first time since 2013-14, Key’s squad needs to reach their potential — after Week 0, it’s fair to say they are on their way to doing just that.
Returning key starters like star QB Haynes King and 1,000-yard RB Jamal Haynes, Georgia Tech was expected to rely on its offense. Yet, it was the defense, led by new defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci — who oversaw Duke’s top-ranked ACC scoring defense last year — that truly shined against FSU.
After a quick seven-play, 75-yard scoring drive to open the game, Santucci’s unit stifled the Seminoles, as they scored just one touchdown the rest of the way.
Clemson and Oregon State transfer QB DJ Uiagalelei, expected to lead FSU to the promised land, averaged just 7.1 yards per attempt without a single passing touchdown. Additionally, he carried the ball six times for just seven yards, with Georgia Tech overpowering Florida State up front.
In fact, the Seminoles gained just 98 yards on 31 carries — that’s a paltry 3.2 yards per attempt for those counting. TV viewers heard former USC defensive lineman Romello Height’s name several times as he proved too much to handle off the edge.
His two solo tackles and one TFL don’t seem all that impressive, but Height had a sack negated by a face mask penalty and routinely forced ball carriers to test another gap.
Meanwhile, the Yellow Jackets exerted their will on offense as well, taking 36 rushes for 190 yards and three scores, with Haynes leading the way (11-75-2 rushing line).
King didn’t have his best game, completing 11 of 16 passes for 146 yards and struggling to hit his WRs downfield. He also fumbled twice while gaining 54 yards on 15 carries. But he didn’t have to, with the Yellow Jackets owning the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
Week 0 was a big test for both teams, but Georgia Tech came out on top. The result leaves the ACC wide open at the top, as FSU was expected to maintain its spot on the throne. With Clemson, SMU, Virginia Tech, and Miami (FL) also in the conference, the Seminoles will need to regroup and hunker down the rest of the season to have a chance at the title game.
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Of course, the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff offers more room for error, but Florida State’s margin for mistakes just got thinner. Georgia Tech’s victory not only shakes up the ACC hierarchy but also sets the tone for a season where no team can afford to take a week off.
The Yellow Jackets have sent a resounding message: Last season was no fluke — they are here to claim their place among the ACC’s elite. As the season progresses, Georgia Tech’s blend of gritty defense and balanced offense will be tested against a grueling schedule. But if Week 0 is any indication, Key and Co. are more than capable of rising to the occasion.
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