Nick Saban calls Georgia Tech an ACC sleeper, raves about FSU's personnel entering Week 0
Ahead of his debut tomorrow on College GameDay, Nick Saban has broken down the show’s highlighted matchup between No. 10 Florida State and Georgia Tech from Dublin, Ireland.
Saban analyzed the Week 0 matchup in an appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Friday. It’ll be a game between two teams that he expects to have great seasons this fall out of the ACC.
Saban began with the Yellow Jackets as they enter their second full season under Brent Key, a former offensive line coach of his during his tenure at Alabama. In his opinion, GT is under the radar in their conference this season with several starters back for their offense that averaged 31.1 ppg. in 2023.
“Well, you know, I really think Georgia Tech is one of the sleepers in the ACC,” Saban said. “I mean, last year, they were in the top-three in almost every offensive category. They just needed to improve their defense for this year because they have a lot of those players coming back.
“I think they’re going to be very, very competitive and have a great chance to be one of the teams that have a factor in the ACC.”
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On the other side, Saban doesn’t just think the ‘Noles will be great in their conference but nationally too. He sees them as one of the five or so best teams in the nation just based on what they have on their roster with returners and portal pieces.
“Florida State, to me, has one of the best five, probably, personnel-wise, teams in the country,” Saban said. “The way they’ve been able to reload through the portal as well as having good recruiting and good young players coming up in the program that they’ve developed.
“I think they’re one of the best teams in the country. Looking at them on the field, they’re a very physical, good-looking team.”
This should be a quality conference matchup to kick off the start of the season in college football. Saban thinks so too with his expectations for both the Seminoles and Yellow Jackets in 2024.
Kirk Herbstreit breaks down Florida State-Georgia Tech
No. 10 Florida State and Georgia Tech will play the biggest game of Week 0 on Saturday from Dublin, Ireland. Now, with College GameDay set to start the season there this weekend, Kirk Herbstreit has given his analysis for the conference matchup across the pond.
Herbstreit broke down the matchup between the Seminoles and Yellow Jackets during an appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Thursday. He sees it as game that’ll come down to the smaller aspects. He also views it as a very quality game this early in the ACC.
“I think it’s just going to come down to overall speed. Special teams, field position. Who handles all the travel well?” said Herbstreit. “I think it’s a hell of a matchup to start the season. Have to travel all the way over there and play a conference game? It’s going to be a lot of fun.
“Do not just assume. You look at the two brands – ‘Ah, it’s Georgia Tech.’ Brent Key is doing a good job of getting these guys to buy in to his system,” Herbstreit added. “I think it’s a competitive game. I think Georgia Tech can hang around.”