Miami Hurricanes vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 9th 2024
Preview and Prediction
As each passing week goes by, the No. 4 Miami Hurricanes are getting closer to achieving their goal of winning the Atlantic Coast Conference title and securing a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Following the release of the CFP rankings on Tuesday, the Hurricanes now have a clear understanding of where they stand in the committee's eyes as they prepare for their upcoming game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Atlanta on Saturday.
Miami (9-0, 5-0 ACC), one of only five undefeated teams left in the nation, made its first appearance in the CFP poll since 2020 and currently holds its highest ranking since November 2017 when they were ranked No. 2.
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The Hurricanes' perfect conference record has them tied with SMU for the top spot in the ACC. Miami has only competed in the ACC Championship Game once, resulting in a 38-3 loss to Clemson in 2017.
Despite their flawless record, the Hurricanes have faced some close calls this season. They had to come back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Virginia Tech 38-34, and also overcame a 25-point deficit in a 39-38 win against California. Most recently, they had to rally against Duke, who gave them a tough fight before Miami pulled away for a 53-31 victory.
Led by quarterback Cam Ward's impressive stats of 3,146 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, the 2024 season has brought new life to a Miami program that hasn't won a postseason game in eight years.
Head coach Mario Cristobal believes that the team's hunger for success is only growing as they enter the crucial month of November. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on one game at a time and not getting ahead of themselves.
The Hurricanes have been dominating on offense, leading the nation with an average of 556.9 yards and 47.4 points per game. On the other hand, their opponent this week, Georgia Tech, has been struggling.
The Yellow Jackets (5-4, 3-3) have lost their last two games, including a 21-6 defeat at the hands of Virginia Tech where they failed to score a single touchdown. A major factor in their recent struggles has been the absence of starting quarterback Haynes King, who suffered a shoulder injury in their 41-34 win over North Carolina on October 12 and has not played since.
King, who has thrown eight touchdowns and only one interception this season, in addition to rushing for 353 yards and six touchdowns, has been replaced by Zach Pyron and Aaron Philo. However, neither backup has been able to fill the void left by King's absence. In their loss to Virginia Tech, Pyron completed just 10 of 22 passes for 76 yards before being replaced by third-stringer Aaron Philo, who threw for 184 yards.
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According to head coach Brent Key, King's status for Saturday's game is still uncertain and will be a game-time decision.
A win against Miami would make Georgia Tech bowl eligible for the second year in a row, a feat they haven't achieved since appearing in a bowl game every season from 1997-2014.