Week 2 College Football Picks will be heating up as the action picks up the pace Saturday and we’ve got our eyes on an ACC matchup.
There’s a new sheriff in town in Tallahassee. Florida State moved on from Willie Taggart after just two seasons, bringing in Mike Norvell from Memphis to become the program’s fourth coach since 1976.
The Seminoles are hoping that he was a home run hire akin to Bobby Bowden and Jimbo Fisher, as the athletic department reportedly had to pay Taggart a $20 million buyout. Norvell has a good chance to get started on the right foot as the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets were picked to finish dead last in the ACC during the conference media days.
College Football Week 2 Odds
These teams haven’t met since 2015, but the Seminoles are 14-3 against the Yellow Jackets since joining the ACC. Georgia Tech’s three victories came when the program was running the triple option under Paul Johnson, but it’s a very different team under second-year head coach Geoff Collins.
Georgia Tech Betting Analysis
So Long Triple Option
Collins installed a pro-style system last year at Georgia Tech, moving away from the quirky triple option that had defined the program for over a decade. It typically takes two years for a school to transition away from the option considering the huge differences in the types of players you recruit for that offense, so it wasn’t surprising to see the Yellow Jackets struggle to throw the ball last year.
Freshman James Graham emerged as the best option at quarterback last season for Georgia Tech. Graham had the mobility needed to smooth the transition, but he completed just 45.1 percent of his passes, averaging 6.0 YPA. He threw 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions last year, yet the Yellow Jackets have not tipped their hand on who the starter will be in 2020. While Graham was an incumbent, it seems as if freshman Jeff Sims may have beat him out for the job. Sims is a four-star recruit from Jacksonville that was the 10th ranked dual-threat quarterback in the country.
Young Jackets to be tested
Everyone knew that this offense would be a mess last season, so the coaching staff did well to get as many young players snaps as possible. Eight underclassmen saw playing time along the offensive line, and the leading running backs and receivers were all freshmen and sophomores too. Jordan Mason returns after averaging 5.2 YPC, while Ahmarean Brown is the top wideout after catching 21 passes for 396 yards and seven touchdowns in his freshman campaign.
It could be a long day for Georgia Tech’s offensive line as Florida State has one of the best defensive linemen in the country in Marvin Wilson. Wilson was projected to be a first or second round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but he decided to return to Tallahassee for his senior year.
The Seminoles’ secondary has a very good cornerback in Asante Samuel Jr., and Jaiden Lars-Woodbey is a playmaker at free safety. However, the linebackers are still an issue and hard-hitting strong safety Hamsah Nasirildeen will miss the opener
Florida State Betting Analysis
Young Guns in Tallahassee
James Blackman was named the starting quarterback to enter the season for the Seminoles. Blackman has a lot of experience after being the primary signal caller in 2017 and 2019, but injuries are a concern for him. He has put on some muscle in the offseason in order to better withstand the grind of the campaign, and that should keep him healthier throughout this year.
He has an elite talent to throw to in Tamorrion Terry. Terry is an incredible big play threat, averaging 21.3 YPC in 2018 and 19.8 YPC in 2019. He came on strong at the end of last year with strong performances against Boston College, Florida, and Arizona State, and Terry should be a 1,000-yard receiver in 2020 if he stays healthy. Another receiver needs to emerge though as Terry had three times the number of receiving yards as any other player.
For the first time in almost a decade, the Seminoles don’t have a supremely talented running back. After Devonta Freeman, Dalvin Cook, and Cam Akers were all seen as incredible players in their time, this position is a question mark entering the season opener. Jashaun Corbin is slated to start after transferring in from Texas A&M, and he is a big bruiser.
In the Trenches
This offensive line is still a major weakness though. FSU’s offensive line woes have been well documented since Jimbo Fisher left for College Station, and that is likely to keep this offense from reaching its potential once again.
Almost all of Georgia Tech’s top defenders from last year return. Jordan Domineck is an up-and-coming defensive end that has the potential to really take off in 2020, and defensive end Antonneous Clayton and safety Derrik Allen were added as transfers. This secondary has the potential to be very good with Tre Swilling and Juanyeh Thomas in the mix.
ACC Picks Georgia Tech vs. Florida State
The under appears to be a solid play given the questions along the offensive line for FSU and the questions surrounding Georgia Tech’s offense as a whole. Florida State should get the win, but the under is the play.
- Score Prediction: Florida State 27 Georgia Tech 14
- Best Bet: Under 52.5