2023 Aflac Kickoff Game Preview: Georgia Tech vs Louisville

The Aflac Kickoff game on Sept. 1 pits Georgia Tech against Louisville at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It’s a matchup that features two new head coaches making their debuts at their respective alma maters. Georgia Tech football leads the all-time series 2-0. The game will be televised on ESPN and Toe Meets Leather at 7:30 PM ET.

Coach Brohm is going to be leaning on transfers to help while he installs his systems and doing so with some key departures. The Cardinals will be replacing playmakers like Malik Cunningham, Yasir Abdullah, and YaYa Diaby. Jeff Brohm is an offensive-minded coach with an emphasis on a high-octane passing attack. The challenge will come with replacing starters on the Offensive Line and at TE. Coach Brohm has transfers coming in to run his offense, and it should be interesting to see how everyone gels. The defense is going to look a little different in 2023, not just because they lost some key pieces, but because the Cardinals are transitioning from a 3-4 scheme to a 4-2-5 system. The linebacker position looks to be a huge question mark coming into the season.

There were key departures for the Yellow Jackets but every position that lost a starter is plugging in an experienced backup or transfer. Georgia Tech football head coach Brent Key named Texas A&M transfer Haynes King the Yellow Jackets’ starting quarterback for 2023. King was competing with redshirt freshman Zach Pyron for the starting role. Wideouts Christian Leary (Alabama) and Dominick Blaylock (UGA) have transferred in to provide some deep-threat ability on the outside

On defense, LaMiles Brooks is one of the shining stars that return. The six-foot-two, 192-pound safety from Jacksonville is an expected playmaker on the Jackets defense. Sylvain Yondjouen has contributed since his freshman season and he has made his share of trips to the opposing backfield and should be a leader this year.

Georgia Tech football vs Louisville prediction

This is a game that is going to be closer than most think. Louisville has a brand new team full of transfers and while Jeff Brohm is a great coach, it is still his first game as the head coach. The Cardinals have a lot to replace along the front seven on defense. The timing feels right for Georgia Tech in this matchup as the Yellow Jacket defense should take advantage of the Cardinals’ offensive line. The Yellow Jackets also have a decent rushing attack that should take advantage of the Louisville linebacker play. The Cardinals might have the most overall talent but Georgia Tech takes advantage of the neutral field and some early mistakes by the Cardinals in Week 1.

Score: Georgia Tech 31 – Louisville 27