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Preview and prediction for Georgia Tech vs. BYU in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday, December 27.
The BYU Cougars had a pretty strong College Football Playoff resume, but they find themselves playing the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on December 27. All things considered, it could be worse for the Cougars. For starters, they’re arguably playing in the best non-CFP bowl game around. The Pop-Tarts Bowl has a cult following thanks to some of the goofy stuff they pull with the Pop-Tarts mascots — including a 2025 resurrection, set to “See You Again” (R.I.P. Paul Walker) from Fast & Furious 7, of the edible strawberry mascot that was killed off in 2024. There will be a lot of eyeballs on this game because people will be interesting in seeing how all of that is followed up. BYU also retained head coach Kalani Sitake, who was pursued heavily by Penn State. All of that should mean that the Cougars will have some juice, which could make this an exciting showdown at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Keep reading for our Georgia Tech vs. BYU betting thoughts.
These are two good football teams that will be in good shape when looking at the depth charts for this one. BYU had a few players that looked like threats to opt out, but it sounds like the Cougars will have pretty much everyone here. Meanwhile, the Yellow Jackets will be without starting center Tana Alo-Tupuola, but none of the other transfers are impact players. With that in mind, this is a game in which everything we saw during the regular season will be 100% relevant. Well, that favors BYU in a big way. When looking at the numbers, it’s just clear that the Cougars are on another level than the Yellow Jackets. Sitake has a top-15 team when it comes to both EPA per play (0.185) and EPA per play allowed (-0.144). Meanwhile, Georgia Tech is 26th in the nation in EPA per play (0.111), so Haynes King and the Yellow Jackets offense aren’t too much worse than the Cougars when it comes to scoring. However, Georgia Tech is 85th in the country in EPA per play allowed (0.045). And perhaps more troublesome is that the Yellow Jackets are at their worst when it comes to Rush EPA per play allowed (0.033, 90th in NCAA). The Cougars have a good quarterback in Bear Bachmeier, but this is a team with a run-first identity. They were sixth in the nation in Rush EPA per play (0.175), plus they were 34th in Rushing Play Percentage (55.92%). It’s just hard not to feel like LJ Martin is going to absolutely punish the Yellow Jackets between the tackles, which will then set up high-percentage throws for Bachmeier. Then, on the other side of the ball, BYU should be able to keep Georgia Tech from going wild. The Yellow Jackets will be without offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, who left to take the same position at Florida. Well, any small slip that causes will kill Georgia Tech in this specific matchup. Sitake is also a perfect 3-0 both straight-up and against the spread versus ACC opponents with BYU. On top of that, BYU is 25-22 ATS when facing opponents that average at least 5.9 yards per play.
Georgia Tech managed to put up a fight against Georgia in the final game of the season, but the defense was an absolute mess towards the end of the year. I’d be surprised if the Cougars can’t find a way to move the ball, and I’m not sure the Yellow Jackets will have an easy time scoring. That said, I think laying the points here is the right move. Keep in mind that we still haven’t seen BYU lose to anybody but a very good Texas Tech team. Pick: BYU -4.5 (-105)