Georgia Tech vs. FSU Prediction
ACC foes square off in Week 2 of the college football season on Saturday when Florida State hosts Georgia Tech at 3:30 p.m. ET. Will the new-look Seminoles open the season with a resounding win over their conference rivals or will the underdog Jackets hang?
Game Snapshot
399 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+12.5) at 400 Florida State Seminoles (-12.5); o/u 54.5
3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, September 12, 2020
Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FL
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Notes
The Athletic’s Tori McElhany reports that Georgia Tech redshirt sophomore QB James Graham’s strengths and understanding of the game have improved “leaps and bounds.” Graham is the incumbent starter for the Yellow Jackets, but the 6-foot-1, 192-pound quarterback needs those steps forward after completing under 50 percent of his passing attempts (45.08 percent, to be exact) and a pedestrian 12/7 TD/INT ratio. While Graham has the most experience of the returners at quarterback now that Tobias Oliver is moving to corner, he’s far from a lock to get that starting job to begin the season. The Yellow Jackets signed two quarterbacks that enrolled early in Jeff Sims and Tucker Gleason, and Jordan Yates is also going to get a chance to start. Sims is considered the most talented of the group — he was a four-star recruit who McElhaney calls an “athletic freak,” but the lack of practice time could mean Graham begins the year as the starter with a very — and we do mean very — short leash.
Florida State Seminoles Notes
Florida State named redshirt junior QB James Blackman starter for the coming season. Blackman (6’5/190) won out in competition over Jordan Travis, Tate Rodemaker and Chubba Purdy (brother of Brock). While he struggled last season to maintain his starting job — Alex Hornibrook ate at him like a gnat — Blackman came into preseason camp the prohibitive favorite to start once more upcoming. All told, he has started 23 games with the program. We have reasonably high expectations for Blackman in Year 1 of HC Mike Norvell’s rebuild in Tallahassee. He has the experience and he’ll be playing for a head coach who knows how to build high-powered offensive attacks. Your first chance to see the Blackman-Norvell marriage in action will come when FSU takes on Georgia Tech on Sept. 12.
Georgia Tech at Florida State Betting Prediction
Following Memphis’ American Athletic Conference Championship Game victory, Florida State hired Mike Norvell to replace Willie Taggart. The 38-year-old was highly sought after by many programs and now has the challenge of turning FSU back into the perennial powerhouse. That said, it’ll take Norvell time to turn things around, specifically FSU’s offense. Without a full offseason to install the offense, give his players reps and prepare as if it were a normal season, I can’t see the Seminoles stomping any opponent, nevertheless a conference foe in their opening game. Georgia Tech is 5-0-2 against the spread in its last seven meetings with FSU and I see the Yellow Jackets staying within two touchdowns on Saturday.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 2 PREDICTION: GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS +12.5