The Pop-Tarts Bowl is one of the more entertaining games on the college football calendar. It’s the one bowl where the action takes a back seat to the antics elsewhere, including a giant Pop-Tart coming out of a toaster.
This year's matchup will feature Georgia Tech and BYU, two teams that finished the regular season ranked in the top 25 but short of the College Football Playoff. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on ABC.
Below, we'll break down a Georgia Tech vs. BYU prediction and pick for the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Use PrizePicks CFB to make picks on player projections for this game and several others.
Georgia Tech vs. BYU Prediction, Over/Under, Spread
The Yellow Jackets and Cougars meet for the fifth time, with BYU holding a 3-1 all-time record in the series.
BYU comes into the game as 3.5-point favorites, returning a 1.81x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they cover.
Georgia Tech is the underdog, with a 1.92x payout if they cover the 3.5 points and a 2.43x payout if they win outright.
- Spread: BYU Cougars -3.5
- Over/Under: 56.5
- Game Winner Payout: Georgia Tech 2.43x | BYU 1.49x
Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.
BYU Cougars Preview vs. Georgia Tech
BYU has the talent to be in the College Football Playoff, but it just couldn't get past Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship. For the Cougars, they aim to control the clock, as their 32:40 average time of possession per game ranks 11th.
They accomplish this through an excellent run game led by BYU QB Bear Bachmeier. The true freshman is a great dual threat with 2,708 passing yards, 527 rushing yards, and 25 total TDs. They also have one of the top RBs in the nation in L.J. Martin, who is ninth with 1,305 rushing yards and seventh with 893 yards after contact.
Martin could cook against a Georgia Tech defense that ranks 126th in yards allowed after contact, per Pro Football Focus.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Preview vs. BYU
BYU ranks 34th in run play percentage (55.9%), but Georgia Tech isn't far behind at 43rd (54.8%). The Yellow Jackets also have a dual-threat QB in Haynes King, one of four QBs in the FBS to throw for 2,600+ yards and rush for 900+ yards.
King leads the team in rushing, but GT also has RBs Malachi Hosley — whose 7.4 yards per carry is third among RBs with at least 80 carries — and Jamal Haynes, who was second on the team with 116 carries.
The offense helps Georgia Tech contend, but the defense struggles. It regressed at the end of the season, giving up 30+ points in three of their last four games.
Georgia Tech vs. BYU Prediction on Spread
The Cougars' ability to drain the clock could cost the Yellow Jackets a few possessions, and the GT defense might struggle in the battle at the line of scrimmage.
Turnovers may also be significant, with BYU ranking 18th in turnover margin (+0.7) while Georgia Tech is 103rd (-0.5).
Make Georgia Tech vs. BYU Picks on PrizePicks
Georgia Tech and BYU had high hopes for the season, and either side could still accomplish something neat by winning a giant, edible Pop-Tart trophy.
With PrizePicks, you can’t win Pop-Tarts, but you can earn real money by predicting college football games. Just pick players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and follow the gridiron action to see if your picks hit.
Stay tuned to the Playbook for college football predictions, picks, and news throughout the playoffs and bowl season.
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