College Football Picks: Georgia Tech vs. BYU Best Bets
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the BYU Cougars head to Orlando, FL to battle for the pasty crown. The Pop-Tarts Bowl has become one of the most high-profile non-CFP bowl games each season and this year's version should not disappoint. Both teams suffered disappointing ends to their regular seasons, but a win here would make for a successful season.
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Georgia Tech vs. BYU Betting Odds for the Pop-Tarts Bowl
Spread: BYU -3.5 (Caesars Sportsbook); Georgia Tech +4 (BetMGM)
Total: Over 55.5 (FanDuel Sportsbook), Under 56.5 (BetMGM)
Moneyline: BYU -180 (DraftKings Sportsbook), Georgia Tech +155 (BetMGM)
This line opened at BYU -2.5 and has jumped a point or two since then. Visions of the Yellow Jackets' putrid performance against Pittsburgh are undoubtedly lingering in the minds of the public. The total has moved upwards as well, as it opened at 55.5 and has since moved up a point in most spots. Again, likely driven by Georgia Tech and its generous defense.
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Georgia Tech vs. BYU Betting Picks for the Pop-Tarts Bowl
I mentioned earlier about the disappointing end of the season for both teams, so let's dive into that quickly.
BYU's end came in the Big 12 Championship game, where the Cougars were again unable to solve the Texas Tech Red Raiders. BYU wasn't the only team unable to solve the Red Raiders this season, so the Cougars need not hang their heads, but nonetheless, they did have a chance to secure a playoff berth, and they failed. The committee could have selected them anyway, but obviously, they went in another direction.
As for Georgia Tech, they had a path to the CFP as well, but they lost at home to Pittsburgh, which ended its hopes for the ACC Championship. That was followed up by a decent effort against Georgia the following week, but it mattered not as the Yellow Jackets failed to win that game as well.
What we have now are two teams that can't help but wonder how things might have been if they'd only played their best when it mattered the most.
Speaking on their best, it's safe to say that BYU Is probably the better team if both teams play to their peak, but can we expect that in this game after these teams were hoping to be elsewhere?
Georgia Tech has had a little more time to process its loss, and we've already seen the Yellow Jackets bounce back in a gutty effort against Georgia.
This will be BYU's first game since being dismissed from the playoffs, so we can't be sure how the Cougars will respond. The Cougars, however, might have something working in their favor, and that's the "chip on the shoulder" factor. Not many gave BYU a chance for an at-large bid into the CFP, but the Cougars did have a decent case to be considered. After all, they were ranked in the top-12 prior to the Big-12 Championship and only fell out because they lost...something that didn't happen to Alabama after the 'Tide were embarrassed against Georgia.
Okay, that's how things ended, but let's look at how these teams fared during the season.
Georgia Tech had plenty of success on offense this season, ranking in the top-30 in both passing yards per game and rushing yards per game. The defense was a different story, though, as the Yellow Jackets were 85th against the pass and 94th against the run.
BYU was more balanced, ranking 85th in pass yards per game and 36th in rush yards per game on offense and 49th against the pass and 32nd against the run on defense.
It's the run defense that is going to be a problem for Georgia Tech in this game. BYU prefers to run, but can pass as well. LJ Martin is out for this game, but whoever takes his place should have success against this defense. That threat of the run will open up the passing game for the Cougars and capable QB Bear Bachmeier.
Prior to the Pittsburgh game, the Yellow Jackets' offense was humming, but since then, they've struggled. Perhaps the blueprint to solve 'Tech QB Haynes King is now out there, and if he's ineffective, then Georgia Tech is toast. Even if King plays well, there's still that defense to worry about. BYU simply has too many paths to a cover in this spot.
Georgia Tech vs. BYU Expert Pick: BYU -3.5 (Caesars Sportsbook)
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Georgia Tech vs. BYU Predictions for the Pop-Tarts Bowl
Both teams would rather be somewhere else, but it's not like this bowl is a consolation prize. The Pop-Tarts bowl has become a high-profile bowl game, and by the time this game starts, I'm expecting both teams to be ready.
BYU, however, has something to prove in this game after the players felt slighted for being left out of the playoff. Anger can be quite a motivator, which is why I'm expecting a fast start.
As mentioned earlier, the blueprint might be known on how to stop Haynes King, and if that's the case, this game might look eerily similar to the Pittsburgh game, where the Panthers jumped out to a big lead, only to let Georgia Tech back into the game well into the 4th quarter.
BYU will establish the run with ease and mix in some passing, facing little resistance along the way. Georgia Tech will get some on offense, but it won't be enough.
BYU 35 - Georgia Tech 24
Georgia Tech vs. BYU Player Props for Saturday, December 27th
Haynes King, QB, Georgia Tech - Over 0.5 Rush TDs (PrizePicks)
This is the goblin for King, but as of Friday morning, Prizepicks did not have a lot of options to choose from, so I had to take the easy way out with a goblin. Anyhow, King has failed to score on the ground in two of his past three games, but for the season, he's scored via the ground in nine of eleven games. BYU has a good defense, but it can be had. The Cougars have surrendered 20+ points in eight of their past 10 games, so I'm expecting the Yellow Jackets to score 3-4 TDs, one of which should be a rushing TD by King.
Bear Bachmeier, QB, BYU - Over 237.5 Pass Yards (Underdog)
Georgia Tech can be had on the ground or through the air, but considering BYU will be without star RB LJ Martin, I'm expecting the Cougars to focus on the passing game once they've opened up the defense with some runs. Bachmeier is not the most consistent QB, but he's certainly capable of getting on top of this mid-range number. He's topped this number in three of his past four non-Texas Tech games. Texas Tech is on another level on defense, so I feel fine throwing those games out when looking at Bachmeier's numbers.
