Georgia Tech vs. Louisville: Official matchup breakdown and prediction

Georgia Tech is opening the season against Louisville tonight

Jackson Caudell | Sep 1, 2023

Georgia Tech vs. Louisville: Official matchup breakdown and prediction /

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Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

The long offseason is finally over for Georgia Tech. Tonight, the Yellow Jackets will begin the Brent Key era with a game at Mercedes Benz Stadium against Louisville.

Key got the job last December after going 4-4 as the interim coach and getting signature wins against Pitt, North Carolina, and Duke. As a former alum, Key injected life and energy into the program and is hoping that it will carry over into 2023.

His first opponent in 2023 is not going to be an easy one though.

Louisville comes into this game under new leadership, with former Cardinals quarterback Jeff Brohm taking over at his alma mater. The Cardinals were picked to finish 8th in the ACC, but there are some who think the Cardinals could make a run this season, in part due to their schedule. This Cardinals team has done a lot of work in the transfer portal and added some top talent. I think it will be interesting to see how long it might take for some of that talent to mesh together.

Tonight will mark the debut of several new coaches for the Yellow Jackets. Offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Buster Faulkner, running backs coach Norval McKenzie, wide receivers coach Josh Crawford, offensive line coach Geep Wade, defensive line coach Marco Coleman, linebackers coach/co-defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer, and special teams coach Ricky Brumfield. All of these coaches are hoping to make a positive impact on the roster starting tonight.

Let's break the game down.

Georgia Tech passing offense vs Louisville passing defense

Haynes King at spring game — Haynes King is set to make his Georgia Tech debut / Georgia Tech Athletics

This is going to be a fascinating matchup tomorrow night. Georgia Tech is breaking in a new starting quarterback, with Texas A&M transfer Haynes King set to take over under center for the Yellow Jackets and he is going to have a talented, but inexperienced group to throw to at wide receiver. Louisville has talent in the back of the defense but losing starting safety M.J. Griffin in fall camp because of an injury is a big blow.

The cornerback position for the Cardinals is a strength, with Jarvis Brownlee, Quincy Riley, and Storm Duck being the names to know.

Georgia Tech brought in four new receivers through the transfer portal and they are joining returning players such as Malik Rutherford, D.J. Moore, and Avery Boyd. Dominick Blaylock (Georgia), Abdul Janneh (Duquesne), Christian Leary (Alabama), and Chase Lane (Texas A&M) are all going to be rotating in and Key has said that we can expect to see 6-8 guys getting reps.

How the offensive line holds up in pass protection is going to be worth keeping an eye on. Louisville was one of the top teams in the country in terms of putting pressure on the quarterback, but they are losing a lot of production in the front seven. How the Yellow Jackets handle them could determine the game.

This is a talented wide receiver room for Georgia Tech, but they are playing their first game with a new quarterback against a talented trio of cornerbacks. Creating explosive plays will be a must in this game for the Georgia Tech offense.

Georgia Tech's rushing offense vs Louisville's rushing defense

Georgia Tech running back Dontae Smith — Georgia Tech will look to be successful in running the ball / Georgia Tech Athletics

Georgia Tech will look to establish the ground game against the Louisville front and it is a matchup that could lean in Georgia Tech's favor. Linebacker is not a position of strength for the Cardinals defense and if the GT offensive line improves, the Yellow Jackets could have a strong night running the ball.

The offensive line returns most of the snaps from last year and guys like Weston Franklin, Corey Robinson, and Jordan Williams are going to have to play well if the Georgia Tech offense hopes to have success.

Ashton Gillotte, Dezmond Tell, and Ramon Puryear are the guys to know on the Cardinal's defensive line. Gillotte could have a huge year and a guy I am expecting to take a big leap. Tell and Puryear have reportedly had good fall camps as well.

The linebacker position might be the weakest point on the Louisville defense. Keith Brown and T.J. Quinn are names to know, but Brohm mentioned freshman Stanquan Clark as a guy who should get playing time.

Louisville passing offense vs Georgia Tech's passing defense

Georgia Tech defensive back LaMiles Brooks — Georgia Tech has one of the best secondaries in the ACC / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

This is the matchup of the night. Georgia Tech has one of the best secondaries in the ACC and Louisville has a talented quarterback and skill position group.

LaMiles Brooks is the leader of the Georgia Tech secondary and a captain for tomorrow night's game. He is one of the best safeties in the country, but he is not the only talented safety that Georgia Tech has. Jaylon King makes his return from injury and freshman Clayton Powell-Lee is hoping to be even better than he was during his stellar freshman season. Myles Sims will have one side of the field at cornerback, but Georgia Tech has been having an open competition for the other spot. Kenyatta Watson could be the first guy up and he has talent and experience.

Georgia State transfer Jamari Thrash is going to be the top target for the Cardinals and he is likely in line to put up huge numbers this season. In any offense coached by Broh, he heavily targets his top receiver and Thrash is going to be that for Louisville. Georgia Tech will need to know where he lines up at all times.

Jack Plummer has played in Jeff Brohm's offense before and should be comfortable leading it. He is an efficient passer that knows where to go with the ball and does not turn it over.

One of the areas of concern that I have for Georgia Tech is the pass rush against this passing attack. Keion White is in the NFL and experienced players like Kyle Kennard, Sylvain Yondjouen, Etinosa Reuben, and Kevin Harris are guys who have played in college games but don't have a lot of production yet. Georgia Tech must affect the quarterback if they want to have a chance to win.

Other guys to know as receivers for Louisville will be Ahmari Huggins-Bruce and Chris Bell. Louisville is looking for a threat at the tight end position this season.

Louisville's rushing offense vs Georgia Tech's rushing defense

D'Quan Douse — Georgia Tech will look to hold down the Louisville rushing offense / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Louisville has new faces on the offensive line, but they also have one of the best centers in the country in Bryan Hudson, Last year's leading rusher Jawhar Jordan is back and could be used more in the passing game as well.

Georgia Tech had a tendency to give up a big play in the run game from time to time, but the depth at defensive tackle should help in that area. D'Quan Douse, Makius Scott, Zeek Biggers, Reuben, and Jason Moore are all going to play a role in the middle of the defense.

Georgia Tech is going to be replacing two really good linebackers in Charlie Thomas and Ace Eley and who steps up is going to be something to watch. Trenilyas Tatum should be one starter, but one guy to watch will be transfer Paul Moala, who has had a great fall camp.

Brohm is known for having a good passing attack, but how the rushing offense balances out the offense will be interesting.

Special Teams

Georgia Tech kicker Gavin Stewart — How will the special teams perform for Georgia Tech? / Georgia Tech Athletics

Special teams was a disaster during the first four games but did improve when Key took over and he hired Ricky Brumfield as the special team's coordinator during the offseason. Gavin Stewart was solid at kicker and David Shanahan is going to be back at punter. Georgia Tech had an obscene amount of punts blocked early in the year, but that should be cleaned up heading into 2023.

X-Factor

It is hard to just pick one, but I am going with the Georgia Tech pass rush. They are going against an offense that is capable of scoring points and if they can't put pressure and affect Plummer, it could be a long night for the defense. Coordinators Andrew Thacker and Kevin Sherrer are going to have to find ways to affect the rhythm of Plummer and knock him off his spot.

Score prediction

I do think that Georgia Tech has a chance to win this game, a much better chance than most are giving them, but I am going to pick Louisville to win a close game. The pass rush has me concerned and if they can't consistently get to the quarterback, Brohm is a very good offensive coach and will pick the defense apart. I think Georgia Tech has upgraded the talent at the skill positions, but the offensive line is still a question mark and with it being the first game for the quarterback and receivers together, there could be some bumps in the road. I think this is a game that will come down to the end, but the Cardinals win in Mercedes Benz.