Georgia State Panthers vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Betting Pick & Prediction 8/31/24

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are favored by -20.5 points as they host the Georgia State Panthers at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. Kick-off is set for 8:00 ET, and the game will be broadcast on ACCN. This is the first game of the season for both teams, and the over/under line is currently at 56.5 points.

GEORGIA STATE PANTHERS VS GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Georgia State Panthers +20.5

This game will be played at Bobby Dodd Stadium at 8:00 ET on Saturday, August 31st.

WHY BET THE GEORGIA STATE PANTHERS:

• We have the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets winning this one by a score of 32 to 22
• Even though we like the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to win, our ATS pick is to take the Georgia State Panthers at +20.5
• We see this game finishing below the line of 56.5 points

Will The Georgia State Panthers Pull Off An Upset As Road Underdogs

Georgia State is coming off a season in which they finished with a 7-6 overall record. They were 5-1 as the underdog, but just 2-4 when favored. The Panthers were 3-3 at home and 4-3 on the road. This season, they are ranked 89th in our pre-season power rankings, with a 63.9% chance of being bowl-eligible and a 7.2% chance of winning the Sun Belt.

Looking at the futures odds, the Panthers are at +4860 to win the Sun Belt, giving them just a 2% chance, which places them 13th out of the 7 teams in the conference.

Georgia State’s offense was 50th in the country in scoring last season, putting up 27.2 points per game. The Panthers were strong on third down, converting 45.5% of their opportunities (18th nationally). They were also effective in the running game, averaging 188.2 rushing yards per game, which ranked 28th in the country. In the passing game, the Panthers averaged 205.5 yards per game through the air.

Quarterback Darren Grainger returns after throwing for 2,625 yards and 20 touchdowns last season. He also rushed for 736 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Panthers also added quarterback Christian Veilleux, who transferred from Pittsburgh. In the backfield, Freddie Brock returns, and the team added Michel Dukes from South Florida. Tailique Williams, who had 615 receiving yards last season, is the top returning wide receiver for the Panthers.

Georgia State’s defense allowed an average of 30.1 points per game last season, ranking 77th in the nation. They struggled against the pass, giving up 279.5 passing yards per game (172nd), and opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of 101.2. On the ground, the Panthers allowed 146.2 rushing yards per game, placing them 71st in the country. Overall, their defense will need to improve in the upcoming season.

Are The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Going To Defend Home Field Advantage?

Georgia Tech is ranked 54th in our pre-season power rankings after finishing with a 7-6 record last season. The Yellow Jackets were 3-4 at home and 4-2 on the road, and they were favored in just four of their 13 games. As underdogs, they went 3-6, while going 4-0 as the favorite.

Currently, we are giving Georgia Tech a 36.8% chance of being bowl-eligible this season. However, their chances of winning the Atlantic Coast Conference are only 1%. In the futures market, they are listed at +8700 to win the conference, which places them 11th out of 17 teams in the Atlantic Coast.

Georgia Tech’s offense was balanced last season, averaging 224.1 passing yards per game and 205 rushing yards per game, which ranked 13th in the nation. The Yellow Jackets were 34th in scoring, putting up 31.1 points per game. They were also efficient on third down, converting 43.7% of their opportunities (31st).

Haynes King, who threw for 2,884 yards and 27 touchdowns last season, is the top returning quarterback for Georgia Tech. He also rushed for 737 yards and 10 touchdowns. The team’s top returning running back is Jamal Haynes, who rushed for 1,059 yards and seven touchdowns. Eric Singleton Jr., who had 714 receiving yards and six touchdowns, is the top returning wide receiver for the Yellow Jackets.

Georgia Tech’s defense struggled last season, allowing 29.5 points per game. They were particularly weak against the run, giving up 221.7 rushing yards per game, which ranked 169th in the nation. Despite ranking 75th in passing yards allowed, the Yellow Jackets were 76th in points allowed. Opponents also averaged 40.8 rushing attempts per game against them.