Georgia Tech is about to play its first game of the upcoming college football season and the Yellow Jackets face a tough challenge against Florida State, the defending ACC champion and the ACC media poll favorite to do it again. The Yellow Jackets return nine starters from one of the ACC’s best offenses and hope that a new coaching staff and an influx of transfers will help improve their defense. Georgia Tech was ranked No. 9 in the ACC preseason media poll.
Today, CBS Sports asked its college football analysts to pick the most overrated and most underrated team, as well as the order in which they rank, and there were some interesting results regarding Georgia Tech.
The Yellow Jackets received a vote for most overrated team from CFB analyst Tom Fornelli and here is what he had to say about his choice:
“The Yellow Jackets went 7-6 last season but won four of their last six games, including a close loss to Georgia and a bowl win over UCF. I think that late momentum has people a little too optimistic about their chances. Yes, the Georgia game was close, but the Bulldogs may have been more focused on the SEC Championship Game. Also, QB Haynes King loses the ball way too often for me to have too much confidence in them. Of Tech’s six losses, four were by double digits. Oh, and if it weren’t for a masterpiece of time management from Mario Cristobal, this team would finish 5-7 and the mood would be a lot different heading into 2024.”
CFB analyst Will Backus called Georgia Tech the most underrated team in the ACC:
“Four of Brent Key’s 11 career wins, including his time as interim coach, have come against teams ranked in the AP Top 25. The Yellow Jackets made life difficult for top-ranked Georgia late in the season last year and won their first bowl game since 2016. They had one of the most efficient offenses in the ACC in 2023 and are underwhelming on that side of the ball. The defense was a disappointment in most of the losses, so Key went out and hired defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci, who built the best defense in the ACC last season at Duke. I’m not saying the Jackets will win the conference, but don’t be surprised if they beat some teams they shouldn’t beat.”
In the predicted order of seeding, Backus was the top pick for Georgia Tech, picking the Yellow Jackets to finish 6th in the ACC behind Clemson, Florida State, NC State, Miami and Virginia Tech. Georgia Tech received one vote for 7th and 10th, two votes for 11th and one for 12th. The lowest pick was 15th, with only Duke and Virginia ahead of them.
Miami received four votes and won the ACC, Clemson two and FSU one.
Georgia Tech vs. Florida State is Saturday at 12:00 p.m. on ESPN.
