BIRMINGHAM, Al – Even though it’s not a College Football Playoff game, Georgia Tech’s bowl game in Birmingham on Friday afternoon is a chance to continue their crazy good momentum.

When we last left the Yellow Jackets on Nov. 29, they were leaving the field at Georgia’s Sanford Stadium exhausted after losing in eight overtimes to the Bulldogs.

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A well-rested Tech team will take the field Friday afternoon at Protective Stadium in Birmingham to face Cinderella, the Vanderbilt Commodores, to start the season.

Despite the nearly month-long break, Tech still has plenty of momentum after a 2-1 month in November that included a big upset over the Miami Hurricanes and a thrilling come-from-behind win over North Carolina State. And who can forget the thrilling conclusion to the game against Georgia, where the Yellow Jackets laid it all on the line for nearly four hours against their in-state rival?

Since that game, Tech has given head coach Brent Key and his boss, athletic director J. Batt, a raise and a raise Contract extension.

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The Jackets are slight favorites in the game and are expected to be mostly healthy as many of their injured players have had time to heal. QB Haynes King, who had a career game against UGA, should be ready to go. His counterpart for Vanderbilt, Diego Pavia, threw for over 2,100 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. However, Tech will have to do without King’s favorite receiver. Sophomore WR Eric Singleton, Jr. has decided to enter the transfer portal and will head to Auburn for the 2025 season and will not participate in the bowl game.

Both teams have good coaching and are first and second in the country when it comes to protecting the ball and not turning it over.

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For Georgia Tech, the game marks the first time in a decade that they have appeared in back-to-back bowl games. Vanderbilt will play in its first bowl game since 2018.

Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.

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