On Friday, December 27th, we’ll see the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets face the Vanderbilt Commodores in the Birmingham Bowl. This is the second of five games on the schedule for Friday, and it’ll be interesting to see how this one goes. Keep reading for odds, analysis and predictions for this showdown. But make sure you also check out our College Football Bowl Games Hub for all of our VSiN college football betting content.
Birmingham Bowl: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Vanderbilt Commodores
How To Watch Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt
Where: Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama
When: 3:30 pm ET on Friday, December 27th
Channel: ESPN
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Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt Odds
Moneyline: Georgia Tech -142, Vanderbilt +120
Spread: Georgia Tech -2.5 (-115), Vanderbilt +2.5 (-105)
Total: Over 51.5 (-110), Under 51.5 (-110)
Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publish. They can change. Shop around for the best prices!
Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt Prediction
The list of opt-outs and transfers is pretty lopsided in this game. Georgia Tech will be without Eric Singleton, Corey Robinson, Taye Seymore and Romello Height, as all four of them are transferring. The team also got a little banged up in the Georgia game a couple of weeks ago, so there are a few other players that are supposed to play but could end up missing this one. The good news for the Yellow Jackets is that Haynes King will be out there, and it seems like Jackson Hawes and Zeek Biggers will join him. But as of right now, the only major loss for Vanderbilt is starting tackle Gunnar Hansen.
If Georgia Tech was a little closer to full strength, I’d probably roll with the Yellow Jackets here. They’re a little more explosive offensively, as they’re 14th in the nation in EPA per play (0.084) and the Commodores are 24th (0.063). Georgia Tech also has a small edge on the defensive side of the ball, as the team is 51st in EPA per play allowed (-0.022) and Vanderbilt is 67th (-0.001).
The Yellow Jackets also happen to have their own version of a Diego Pavia. The electric Commodores quarterback is a master of improvisation, and he’s a tricky player to have to match when it comes to offensive output. However, King is also capable of making highlight-reel plays with his legs. However, he does it with more of your prototypical quarterback size, and he’s a little more polished as a passer. With that in mind, I don’t think you can just say Pavia will steal this one for Vanderbilt with a big play or two. King will make some of his own. After all, he nearly led Tech to a win over Georgia.
I definitely have a slight lean on Georgia Tech in this game, as I think they’re just a little stronger on both sides of the ball — even with their absences. Brent Key is also 3-1 against the spread in his four meetings with SEC opponents as the head coach of the Yellow Jackets. This Georgia Tech team also has a really strong culture, so winning a bowl game will be important to the group.
Having said all of that, the Over is my favorite play in this game. While I trust King and the Yellow Jackets offense to make a few more big plays in this game — and their defense to come up with more timely stops — I do think both of these offenses are going to march down the field pretty regularly. During the regular season, Georgia Tech averaged 29.1 points per game. Vanderbilt averaged 26.8. The offenses will also be the two best units on the field, and it’s not like this game will be played in freezing cold temperatures. And while the weather is calling for some rain, these offenses should shine as long as it’s not absolutely pouring.
The Over is 3-1 in the four games Georgia Tech has played against SEC opponents under Key, and it’s also 4-0 in the four games the team has played against defenses that allow at least 8.0 passing yards per attempt. Meanwhile, under Clark Lea, Vanderbilt is 14-5-1 to the Over in games with totals between 49.5 and 56. The Over is also 13-3 in the 16 non-conference games the Commodores have played under Lea.
Pick: Over 51.5 (-110)
