Georgia Tech (7-5, 5-3 ACC) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6, 3-5 SEC)

Birmingham Bowl, Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)

Date and time: Friday, 3:30 p.m. Eastern/2:30 p.m. Central

Spread: Georgia Tech -2.5, O/U 51.5

TV: ESPN, ESPN App, WatchESPN.com

Broadcast team: Dave Neal (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (analyst), Ashley ShahAhmadi (sideline reporter)

radio: 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan/SiriusXM 371

Radio team: Andy Demetra (play-by-play), Andrew Gardner (analyst), Chris Mooneyham (sideline reporter)

Series story: Georgia leads 20-15-1 (Georgia Tech has won the last six)

Last meeting: Georgia Tech won 38-7 at Georgia Tech on September 17, 2016

Last game: Georgia Tech lost at Georgia 44-42 (8 OTs) on November 29; Vanderbilt lost at home to Tennessee 36-23 on November 30th

Statistics comparison: Points per game (Georgia Tech 29.1, Vanderbilt 26.7), points allowed per game (Georgia Tech 24.3, Vanderbilt 23.1), total offense (Georgia Tech 427.1 yards per game, Vanderbilt 319.4 yards per game), total defense (Georgia Tech 345.9 yards). allowed per game, Vanderbilt 375 yards allowed per game)

GEORGIA TECH key offensive player: Haynes King (QB, RS-Jr.), Jamal Haynes (RB, RS-Jr.), Jordan Williams (RT, Sr.)

VANDERBILT key offensive player: Diego Pavia (QB, Gr-Sr.), Eli Stowers (TE, Jr.), Steven Hubbard (QT, Gr-Sr.)

GEORGIA TECH Important defensive players: Jordan van den Berg (DT, RS-Jr.), Trenilyas Tatum (LB, Sr.), Clayton Powell-Lee (SS, Jr.)

VANDERBILT key defensive player: Miles Capers (Rush End, Sr.), Bryan Longwell (LB, Soph.), Randon Fontenette (Star, Soph.)

Game preview analysis: It’s rare these days to see two teams equally motivated and committed meet for a non-New Year’s Six/Playoff Bowl matchup, but that’s exactly the scenario for Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt when the two teams face off in the Birmingham Bowl . Both are in the process of taking their programs to new levels, and a bowl win to start 2025 would greatly aid that process.

On the Georgia Tech side, the program is playing in back-to-back bowl games for the first time since the 2013 and 2014 seasons and is attempting to close out the season with a bowl win in consecutive years for the first time since 2003 and 2004, when the Jackets defeated the Humanitarian Bowl and the Champs Sports Bowl

Vanderbilt is in its first bowl game since the 2018 season and is looking for its first bowl win since the 2013 BBVA Compass Bowl.

The two head coaches, Georgia Tech’s Brent Key and Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea, share similar stories and are both alumni of the school they lead and would love nothing more than to lead the schools they care about to great success .

On the field, the way the two teams play is similar in terms of attitude and viciousness, and they both look to make their mark on their opponents through physical play in the trenches, multi-man running games and improving defense. To that end, the Georgia Tech defense’s first priority is to limit the playmaking abilities of Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia. The veteran signal caller may not seem physically overwhelming, but he has shown time and time again that he can hurt opponents with his hard-hitting running style and spontaneous improvisations.

The Jackets will have to try to pack the box and limit the Pavia and Vanderbilt running backs to force the Commodores to gain big yardage through the passing game. If they can do that, it will be much more difficult for Vanderbilt to score many points.

Georgia Tech is a bit more balanced offensively but also relies heavily on its running game, including QB Haynes King, who recently said he feels healthier than he has in a long time after a season marked by lingering shoulder injuries. Leading rusher Jamal Haynes has also benefited from a bit of time off to get healthy after dealing with his own bumps and bruises during a tough 2024 season. So with that combination and a motivated offensive line, the Jackets will look to establish the run early, often on Friday.

Vanderbilt’s secondary has improved quite a bit this season. So the fewer times Georgia Tech is faced with third-and-medium to third-and-long situations, the better. The Commodores have six different players with at least one interception this year and 11 different players with at least one sack.

There should be a fun atmosphere, just like the teams, every fan base should be motivated to show up to a fairly convenient bowl game to cap off the promising 2024 season.

Expect a battle between two tough, tenacious and determined teams, but Georgia Tech’s edge in the ability to create a few more explosive plays propels the Jackets to their eighth win and sets the table for a highly anticipated 2025 season that includes should be accompanied by increased expectations.

Alex Farrer score prediction: Georgia Tech wins, 30-21.

Kelly Quinlan score prediction: Georgia Tech wins, 24-18.