Georgia Tech Football: ESPN Analyst Gives Top Storyline for Yellow Jackets Bowl Game vs Vanderbilt

Georgia Tech is hoping to finish the 2024 season with a win over Vanderbilt in the Birmingham Bowl

Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King (10) celebrates with his teammates after scoring touchdown during the second half of a NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech in Athens, Ga., on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. / Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Georgia Tech is two weeks away from facing Vanderbilt in the 2024 Birmingham Bowl and the Yellow Jackets are hoping to end their regular season with a win and get to 8-5, but they are going to have to go through a tough Vanderbilt team to do so. Like Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt has pulled some big upsets this year and does not back down from a challenge and that might be the best thing about these two teams getting to face each other.

When naming the top storyline and reason to watch the game, ESPN analyst Bill Connelly echoed that:

"I love it when two of the season's main characters get paired. Georgia Tech began Florida State's 2024 disintegration with a last-minute win in Dublin and went on to upset Miami (playing a major role in the Hurricanes' elimination from CFP contention) and nearly upset Georgia (which would have done the same), eventually falling in eight overtimes. It was just about the most memorable way possible to go 7-5. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, beat Alabama for the first time in 40 years (playing a major role in the Crimson Tide's elimination from CFP contention) and nearly upset Texas as well. It was just about the most memorable way possible to go 6-6."

While it is way-too-early for bowl game predictions, ESPN's Adam Rittenberg gave his thoughts on the game and picked the Yellow Jackets to win:

"The game pairs two teams with unimpressive overall records but very impressive wins, which include Alabama (Vanderbilt), Miami (Georgia Tech) and Duke (Georgia Tech), as well as some agonizingly close losses to strong opponents. The quarterback matchup between Georgia Tech's Haynes King and Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia also should generate attention. Neither team finished the season particularly well, but Georgia Tech's ability to control the pace with King and running back Jamal Haynes, while mixing in downfield passes, could provide the edge. Few would be surprised if Pavia leads Vandy to its first bowl win since 2014, but I'm going with the Ramblin' Wreck."

Prediction: Georgia Tech 28, Vanderbilt 23

This is a matchup that has some history. Georgia Tech leads the all-time series with Vandy 20-15 and has won six in a row in the series and 12 of the last 13. The last meeting between the schools was in 2016 in Atlanta, a 38-7 win for Georgia Tech. Vanderbilt has not beaten the Yellow Jackets since 1941. The two teams tied 10-10 in a matchup in Nashville in 1965. This will give Georgia Tech to add to its success against Vanderbilt, who has had a really good season under Clark Lea. The Commodores started the season off with a big upset over Virginia Tech and of course, the signature win was against No.1 Alabama (one week after the Crimson Tide had beaten Georgia). Vandy also picked up wins vs Kentucky and Auburn, as well as having close losses to Texas and LSU.

Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt were conference-mates for 48 years – in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1916-21), Southern Conference (1922-32) and Southeastern Conference (1933-63). Their rivalry spawned a traveling trophy – a cow bell – that has been awarded to the winning team since 1924. Tech has had possession of the bell since its 13-0 win over Vandy in 1948

This season, Tech and Vanderbilt are among the 14 unranked teams that have knocked off top-10 opponents, with the Jackets beating No. 10 Florida State on Aug. 24 and No. 4 Miami (Fla.) on Nov. 9, and the Commodores taking down No. 1 Alabama on Oct. 5.

The bowl appearance is Georgia Tech’s 47th, which is tied for 15th all-time. The Yellow Jackets are 26-20 in bowl games, with the 26 victories tied for 11th all-time and the .565 winning percentage also ranking 11th among teams with a minimum of 15 bowl wins.

The Yellow Jackets are playing in a bowl game for the second consecutive season, the first time that has happened since 2013-2014. They faced UCF in last year's Gasparilla Bowl and won 30-17 in Tampa Bay. This year, Georgia Tech has played one of the toughest schedules in the entire country to get to seven wins got victories over No. 10 Florida State, and No. 4 Miami, and took eventual SEC champion Georgia to eight overtimes in the last game of the season. Brent Key is 18-15 heading into his second bowl game and it is another chance for him to get a big victory over an SEC opponent and continue to elevate his program.

Additional Links

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