Vanderbilt football has program momentum going into the Birmingham Bowl.
Quarterback Diego Pavia received an injunction in court that allows him to be eligible for the 2025 season, the team has landed several transfers in recent days and has seen only one significant departure among players with eligibility remaining.
But the team still has one more game to play, and in the Birmingham Bowl on Friday (2:30 p.m. CT, ESPN), Vanderbilt (6-6) will play Georgia Tech (7-5) facing its first winning season since 2013. Pavia will face off against Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King, who already has announced that he will return in 2025.
Both teams play a slow-paced, run-heavy style that should make for an interesting clash under coaches Clark Lea and Brent Key.
Although both teams already have landed a handful of transfer commits, those players are not eligible to play in the bowl.
Here’s what you need to know about the matchup:
COACHING AND PARENTINGHow Clark Lea, Shea Ralph balance coaching at Vanderbilt with parenting young children
Transfers who will miss the bowl
While notable opt-outs are fairly small on each side, Vanderbilt will be without tackle Gunnar Hansen and backup quarterback Nate Johnson. The Commodores are fairly thin on the offensive line, but redshirt freshman Misael Sandoval is the best bet to replace Hansen. As for Johnson, he appeared in 10 of Vanderbilt’s 12 games as a gadget quarterback in certain packages and as a replacement when Pavia got banged up. It seems most likely that Pavia will simply play the entire game, but if he doesn’t, redshirt sophomore Drew Dickey is likely to be the backup.
On the Yellow Jackets’ end, the biggest loss is wide receiver Eric Singleton, who was their leading receiver this year with 754 yards. Also in the portal are edge Romello Height, who led the team with 6.5 tackles for loss, and tackle Corey Robinson, who started seven games.
Zach Pyron, one of Georgia Tech’s two backup quarterbacks, is also gone. Pyron appeared in 10 games and threw for 409 yards while rushing for 115. As with Vanderbilt, Pyron’s absence is not likely to make a big difference, especially as Georgia Tech also has Aaron Philo, who emerged at the end of the season.
Where Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech rank in metrics
These two teams are of very similar quality according to most metrics. ESPN has two comprehensive team quality metrics: FPI and SP+. In FPI, Georgia Tech is No. 38 and Vanderbilt is No. 40. In SP+, the Commodores are No. 51 and the Yellow Jackets are No. 57. College Football Insiders has Georgia Tech at 33 and Vanderbilt at 42.
While metrics disagree on which team is better overall, they do agree that of the two teams, the Yellow Jackets have the better offense but the Commodores have the better defense. Vanderbilt also has a major advantage in special teams, with a unit ranking No. 1 in the country, according to SP+.
What’s at stake for both teams?
Vanderbilt has not won a bowl since the 2013 season, which was also the last time the Commodores finished with a winning record. Lea and Vanderbilt are very motivated to change that narrative.
Georgia Tech doesn’t have the same sort of drought, having won a bowl last year. But the Yellow Jackets still care about the matchup, and both teams should have lots of fans in the stands. Atlanta is just 2½ hours from Birmingham, while Nashville is three hours away.
Georgia Tech said it had sold out three times its original allotment. Vanderbilt also exceeded its ticket allotment.
Score prediction
Vanderbilt 27, Georgia Tech 20: Georgia Tech has been slightly favored since the matchup was announced, but the players the Yellow Jackets will be without tips the scales.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter, @aria_gerson.
Vanderbilt-Georgia Tech Score Prediction: Birmingham Bowl Game
As the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets prepare to face off in the Birmingham Bowl, fans are eagerly anticipating an exciting matchup between these two talented teams. Both teams have had their ups and downs this season, but they will be looking to end their season on a high note with a victory in this bowl game.
Vanderbilt has shown flashes of brilliance this season, with a strong defense and a dynamic offense led by quarterback Ken Seals. On the other hand, Georgia Tech has also had its moments, with a high-powered offense led by quarterback Jeff Sims.
In what is sure to be a closely contested game, I predict that the final score will be Vanderbilt 28, Georgia Tech 24. Both teams will put up a fight, but ultimately I believe that Vanderbilt will come out on top in this exciting bowl game. Stay tuned for what promises to be a thrilling matchup between these two talented teams.
Tags:
Vanderbilt vs Georgia Tech prediction, Birmingham Bowl game, college football, score forecast, game analysis, matchup preview, sports predictions, bowl game preview, SEC vs ACC matchup
#VanderbiltGeorgia #Tech #score #prediction #Birmingham #Bowl #game
Leave a Reply