Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at BYU Cougars

TALE OF THE TAPE

BYU Cougars Georgia Tech Recent Form 3-2 ← 2-3 Pass Offense (YPG) 213.2 → 263.3 Rush Offense (YPG) 184.4 → 203.0 Total Defense (YPG) 355.8 ← 397.0 Key Injuries RBs (OUT) WRs (OUT)

Gary's Take Bowl games often come down to who is left standing, and while both teams have significant opt-outs, the structural damage to the BYU Cougars' offense is far more critical. BYU enters this game without its top two running backs, LJ Martin and Sione Moa, leaving the backfield to players who have barely seen the field all season. That puts an immense burden on true freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who is talented but playing on a healing ankle against a Power 4 defense.

Conversely, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets retain their most important piece: quarterback Haynes King. While losing top receiver Eric Singleton Jr. hurts the explosive passing game, King's dual-threat ability is the engine that drives this offense. Georgia Tech averages over 200 rushing yards per game, and even without their offensive coordinator, the identity of this team remains physically imposing on the ground with Jamal Haynes.

Expect Georgia Tech to control the clock and keep the pressure off their struggling defense by exploiting BYU's inability to run the ball. When you can get more than a field goal with the better, more experienced quarterback in a chaotic bowl environment, you take it every time.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets +3.5 -105.