Georgia Tech Football: 2023 schedule breakdown and game predictions

Can Georgia Tech make a bowl game in 2023?

It is now one month until Georgia Tech kicks off its 2023 season against Louisville in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets are going to be starting the first full season under Brent Key and he is hoping to take his alma mater back to the postseason for the first time since 2018. 

Doing that is not going to be easy though. Georgia Tech always plays one of the toughest schedules in the country and that is still true in 2023. However, there are plenty of winnable games on the schedule if Georgia Tech improves enough in certain areas and that is a possibility. The sportsbooks have projected Georgia Tech's win total at 4.5. 

Let's break down the schedule and predict whether the Yellow Jackets go over or under that win total. 

Game 1: vs Louisville (Sept. 1st, 7:30 ESPN)

Will Georgia Tech defeat Louisville in week one?  / Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

This is going to be a very interesting season opener for a number of reasons. 

First, it pits two first-year head coaches against each other as they take over their alma maters. Jeff Brohm and Brent Key will be looking to start their 2023 seasons off with a win. The game is also being played at Mercedes Benz Stadium. 

Like Georgia Tech, Louisville dipped into the transfer portal this offseason in hopes of reshaping the roster. Quarterback Jake Plummer (Cal) and Jamari Thrash (Georgia State) are two instant impact players and Plummer has the benefit of having played for Brohm before at Purdue. The Cardinals are losing a lot in their front seven on defense and it could take a few weeks for that group to get right. 

The Cardinals are eight-point favorites in the game. 

As many unknowns as there are about Louisville, there are just as many about Georgia Tech and I think the Cardinals have the better roster right now. I think Georgia Tech can cover in this game, but Louisville starts the season with a win on Friday night. 

Prediction: Louisville 34, Georgia Tech 28 (0-1, 0-1 ACC)

Game 2: vs South Carolina State (Sept. 9th, 1:00 p.m.)

Georgia Tech running back Dontae Smith / Georgia Tech Athletics

I'll keep this brief. Georgia Tech should win this game handily. The big thing for the Yellow Jackets is to leave the game healthy ahead of the trip to Oxford to face Ole Miss. 

Prediction: Georgia Tech 49, South Carolina State 10 (1-1, 0-1)

Game 3: At Ole Miss (Sept. 16th, 7:30 SEC Network)

Georgia Tech travels to Ole Miss in week three / Georgia Tech Athletics

In a rematch of last year's 42-3 blowout in Atlanta, Georgia Tech will travel to Oxford to take on Ole Miss. The Yellow Jackets hope to have a better showing than they did last season, but that game did take place before Brent Key took over the program. 

An interesting aspect of this game to follow will be the former Georgia Tech players on the Ole Miss sideline. Last offseason, defensive end Jared Ivey transferred to Ole Miss and this year, cornerback Zamari Walton and defensive tackle Akelo Stone made the decision to play for the Rebels. 

Ole Miss is also going through a quarterback battle themselves. Last year's starter Jaxson Dart, Oklahoma State transfer Spencer Sanders, and LSU transfer Walker Howard are competing for the job and GT could face multiple guys in this game if things are not settled. 

Ole Miss has a talented roster and the game is in Oxford. It would be a surprise to me if the Yellow Jackets won this game, but it won't be the same kind of blowout as last year. 

Prediction: Ole Miss 28, Georgia Tech 13 (1-2, 0-1)

Game 4: At Wake Forest (Sept. 23rd, Time and TV TBA)

Georgia Tech wide receiver Malik Rutherford vs North Carolina / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

This could be a huge game for both teams in terms of their hopes to make a bowl game. 

Both teams have tough schedules and could need this game to get that important sixth win. Wake is going through a quarterback change, but their wide receiver room is still one of the best in the conference. The defense leaves a lot to be desired though and if Georgia Tech has its act together on offense, I think they can go on the road and steal a win in Winston-Salem. 

Prediction: Georgia Tech 35, Wake 31 (2-2, 1-1)

Game 5: vs Bowling Green (Sept. 30th, Time and TV TBA)

Georgia Tech tight end Dylan Leonard / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

This will be the Yellow Jackets' second easiest game of the year and one they should win big. One interesting Bowling Green player to watch is former Missouri and Indiana quarterback Connor Bazelak, but Bowling Green is one of the worst teams in the MAC and the country. 

Prediction: Georgia Tech 45, Bowling Green 13 (3-2, 1-1)

Game 6: At Miami (Oct. 7th, Time and TV TBA)

Georgia Tech travels to Miami on October 7th.  / Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia Tech opens up its October schedule with a trip to South Beach. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal is hoping his program bounces back from a dismal 5-7 season a year ago. 

The Hurricanes have won two straight over Georgia Tech, including last year's game in Atlanta. The game was close until Yellow Jackets quarterback Zach Pyron got hurt. 

On paper, Miami holds a big talent advantage, but after last season, it is anyone's guess what the Hurricanes look like. Miami is strong on the lines of scrimmage and that is a position I am concerned about with Georgia Tech and I think that will give the Hurricanes the edge. 

Prediction: Miami 24, Georgia Tech 10 (3-3, 1-2)

Game 7: vs Boston College: (Oct. 21st, Time and TV TBA)

Georgia Tech defensive end Kyle Kennard / Georgia Tech Athletics

After a bye week, Georgia Tech returns home and prepares to kickstart the second half of their schedule with a game against Boston College. The Eagles are another ACC team looking to make a bowl game after a tough 2022 season and both teams figure to need this game in order to get there. 

BC is finally healthy on the offensive line and their receiver room should be solid. However, the defense still holds plenty of questions on defense and at the quarterback position. It will be close, but the home-field advantage gives GT a win. 

Prediction: Georgia Tech 34, BC 24 (4-3, 2-2)

Game 8: vs North Carolina (Oct. 28th, Time and TV TBA)

Georgia Tech faces North Carolina on Oct. 28th / Georgia Tech Athletics

Georgia Tech pulled one of the biggest upsets in college football last season when they went to Chapel Hill and beat North Carolina, who was 9-1 at the time. The Tar Heels have not beaten Georgia Tech since 2019. Can GT pull another upset?

It is not out of the realm of possibility. While North Carolina was picked to finish 3rd in the ACC Preseason poll, they are a team that is heavily dependent on star quarterback Drake Maye. The defense has been abysmal for a couple of years and the line of scrimmage is a strength. 

It is a homecoming game and the crowd will be active in Atlanta. I think an upset is possible again, but Maye is a superstar and will find a way to outscore Georgia Tech. 

Prediction: North Carolina 38, Georgia Tech 31 (4-4, 2-3)

Game 9: At Virginia (Nov. 4th, Time and TV TBA)

Georgia Tech will look to avenge its 2022 loss to Virginia / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia Tech lost an ugly game against a bad Virginia team last season, a result that ultimately kept this program out of their first bowl game since 2018. Virginia is projected to be one of the worst teams in the ACC this year and Georgia Tech has to pick up a win here. 

While the Yellow Jackets are looking to fight for a bowl game at this point in the season, I don't think Virginia's season will be going well. The Cavaliers are still rebuilding under Tony Elliott and I think the Yellow Jackets will be looking for revenge after last season's loss. 

Prediction: Georgia Tech 27, UVA 13 (5-4, 3-3)

Game 10: At Clemson (Nov. 11th, Time and TV TBA)

Georgia Tech travels to Clemson on Nov. 11th / Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia Tech's final road game will be on Nov. 11th against Clemson, who was once again picked to win the ACC in the preseason media poll. Georgia Tech has not beaten Clemson since 2014 and has had a hard time keeping it close. The last time the Yellow Jackets played Clemson in Death Valley, they almost pulled a stunning upset in 2021. 

The Tigers have been the class of the conference for the last decade and are just farther along as a program than Georgia Tech right now. The talent disadvantage and the fact the game is on the road make this a likely loss for Georgia Tech. 

Prediction: Clemson 40, Georgia Tech 20 (5-5, 3-4)

Game 11: vs  Syracuse (Nov. 18th, Time and TV TBA)

Georgia Tech defensive tackle D'Quan Douse / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

If the schedule plays out like this, the game against Syracuse could be the biggest of the season. If the Yellow Jackets lose, they would need to pull a massive upset against Georgia the next week to make a bowl game. 

Syracuse had a solid season in 2022, but lose a lot of talent in the secondary and at running back. Quarterback Garrett Shrader and tight end Oronde Gadsden are back and should be a productive duo on offense. 

Because the game is at home, I think Georgia Tech wins and gets bowl eligible for the first time since 2018. It won't be an easy win, but I think the Yellow Jackets get it done. 

Prediction: Georgia Tech 28, Syracuse 21 (6-5, 4-4)

Game 12: vs Georgia (Nov. 25th, Time and TV TBA)

Georgia Tech ends the year vs Georgia in Atlanta / Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

One of the biggest rivalries in college football will see the second matchup between Kirby Smart and Brent Key. Georgia Tech played the Bulldogs close in the first half, trailing only 10-7 at halftime, but lost 37-10. The Yellow Jackets have not won in this rivalry since 2016 and the games frankly have not been close. That is something that Key has acknowledged this offseason and he is working to change it: 

"There is one thing I want everyone in this room to understand and everyone associated with Georgia Tech understands... There is an opponent in this state we will work 365 days a year to defeat. We will work 365 days a year to dominate. When we all wake up in the morning, we want to dominate our opponent. The feeling of dominating your opponent is like no other and whatever team is on our schedule, that will be our goal. That is what we will work towards every single day.

Players in here, understand that. That is our goal and that is our mindset. We have an opponent in this state that is included in that. For 365 days, we will work to dominate that opponent. Understand that."

ESPN's David Hale wrote an intriguing piece about how Key wants to change the narrative of the rivalry and Key made some interesting comments:

"Is it annoying? Heck, yeah," Key said Tuesday of the Georgia accolades. "Kirby [Smart] has done a great job -- he has. And I told him, 'We've got to do something about it."

"What pisses me off is to look at lists of the 10 or 20 best rivalries in the country and, not to have [Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate] on there, that's bulls---," Key said. "But at the present time, they're probably right. So we've got to do something about that."

Offensive lineman Jordan Williams also talked about the rivalry:

"It really gets on my nerves," Williams said. "But rivals or not, they're the best. You've got to beat the best, and it's kind of a burn-the-boats mentality, stake everything on it. That's the place we want to be." 

Georgia has not lost a regular season game since they lost to Florida in 2020. The Bulldogs roster is loaded once again and they are the favorites to win another national championship. Key and Georgia Tech might close the gap and help change the narrative around this rivalry at some point, but I don't think it will be this year. 

Prediction: Georgia 42, Georgia Tech 14 (6-6, 4-4)

Final Record: 6-6, 4-4 ACC

This would be a good season and a good start to the Brent Key era for Georgia Tech. Making a bowl game in his first season would be a step in the right direction for the program. 

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