NC State football game predictions: Georgia Tech

By Ethan McDowell

NC State football (5-5) travels to Atlanta this week for a Thursday night showdown with Georgia Tech (6-4) — a smash-mouth football program that is coming off its most impressive win of the season over a top-10 Miami team. Both teams spent last week on a bye.

The Yellow Jackets are 4-3 in the ACC with wins over the Hurricanes, FSU, Duke and UNC. NC State needs to win one of its next two contests to comfortably reach bowl eligibility.

Here are TheWolfpacker.com’s predictions for this conference clash between NC State and the Yellow Jackets.

Ethan McDowell’s prediction for NC State vs. Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech is a bad matchup for NC State. The Pack gives up 141.3 rushing yards per game, and the defense is susceptible to the occasional explosive rush, especially from a quarterback. Coming into this game, the Yellow Jackets feature the No. 3 ground attack in the league.

NC State’s Week 13 opponent averages 5 yards per rush, puts up 186.2 yards per game and sits tied for the ACC lead with 24 rushing touchdowns. In Georgia Tech’s four ACC wins, there’s a common theme. This team wants to rely on its running game.

The Yellow Jacket offense ranks in the league’s bottom half overall, scoring 27.7 points per game. Injuries to star running back Jamal Haynes (681 rushing yards on 5.4 yards per carry) and starting quarterback Haynes King (16 total touchdowns, 1 interception, 446 rushing yards) have slowed down this offense at times. If that duo is fully healthy, they form a dynamic backfield duo that will be difficult to slow down.

After defeating Miami in its home stadium, Georgia Tech will be riding a major wave of momentum for its matchup with the Pack. The program also ranks No. 4 in the ACC with a defense that gives up 22.5 points per game.

Quarterback CJ Bailey will need to put together another big performance on the road. Georgia Tech gives up 226.5 passing yards per game, which ranks No. 7 in the conference. Efficiency through the air will be critical, especially if the program cannot slow down the Yellow Jackets’ potent ground attack.

This feels like a relatively high-scoring game that comes down to NC State limiting explosive plays. It’s tough to win on the road in the ACC. The Pack is 1-2 away from Carter-Finley Stadium this fall.

Prediction: Georgia Tech 38, NC State 34

Previous predictions:
NC State 45, Western Carolina 10 (Actual: NC State 38, Western Carolina 21)
Tennessee 41, NC State 28 (Actual: Tennessee 51, NC State 10)
NC State 34, Louisiana Tech 3 (Actual: NC State 30, Louisiana Tech 20)
Clemson 38, NC State 24 (Actual: Clemson 59, NC State 35)
NC State 27, Northern Illinois 24 (Actual: NC State 24, Northern Illinois 17)
NC State 30, Wake Forest 20 (Actual: Wake Forest 34, NC State 30)
Syracuse 38, NC State 31 (Actual: Syracuse 24, NC State 17)
California 21, NC State 17 (Actual: NC State 24, Cal 23)
NC State 34, Stanford 14 (Actual: NC State 59, Stanford 28)
NC State 24, Duke 23 (Actual: Duke 29, NC State 19)

Noah Fleischman’s prediction

NC State has a chance to reach bowl eligibility for the fifth straight season, but Georgia Tech is the first team in the Pack’s way. And it’s not the best of matchups for NC State to deal with on the road. 

The Yellow Jackets will likely lean on their rushing attack, which is third in the ACC at 186.2 yards per game. That includes an average of 5.0 yards per carry, with quarterback Haynes King and running back Jamal Haynes leading the Georgia Tech offense on the ground. 

Pair that efficient run game with NC State’s average run defense — 10th in the ACC at 141.3 yards allowed per game — and it could be a challenge for the Pack to slow the Yellow Jackets down. But in order to win the game, NC State needs to force Georgia Tech to throw the ball with freshman quarterback Aaron Philo, the team’s go-to passer while King deals with a shoulder injury. 

If NC State can make Georgia Tech chase the score through the air, the Wolfpack would have a decent shot to pull off the upset in Atlanta. If not, it could be a long night for Tony Gibson’s unit in primetime. 

With that in mind, the Yellow Jackets will be able to keep the ball on the ground and kill the clock in a game where each possession is going to be key. The Wolfpack has struggled with scoring touchdowns in the red zone, and that could be even more hurtful if that continues against Georgia Tech. 

Georgia Tech should be able to take an early lead and salt the clock away with long, sustained drives on the ground. 

Prediction: Georgia Tech 28, NC State 21

Previous predictions
NC State 47, Western Carolina 3 (Actual: NC State 38, Western Carolina 21)
NC State 38, Tennessee 37 (Actual: Tennessee 51, NC State 10)
NC State 43, Louisiana Tech 10. (Actual: NC State 30, Louisiana Tech 20)
Clemson 35, NC State 20. (Actual: Clemson 59, NC State 35)
NC State 30, Northern Illinois 17 (Actual: NC State 24, Northern Illinois 17)
NC State 27, Wake Forest 17 (Actual: Wake 34, NC State 30)
Syracuse 30, NC State 17 (Actual: Syracuse 24, NC State 17)
Cal 24, NC State 20 (Actual: NC State 24, Cal 23)
NC State 30, Stanford 17 (Actual: NC State 59, Stanford 28)
NC State 35, Duke 28 (Actual: Duke 29, NC State 19)