Georgia Tech vs Vanderbilt prediction & betting tips - Dec. 27 - Birmingham Bowl

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets play the Vanderbilt Commodores in the Birmingham Bowl on Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game can be seen on ESPN.

Georgia Tech (7-5) is coming off a 44-42 OT loss to Georgia. Vanderbilt (6-6) ended the regular season on a three-game losing streak and lost 36-23 to Tennessee.

Georgia Tech vs Vanderbilt: Preview

Georgia Tech is a 2.5-point favorite, while the over/under is set at 51.5 points.

The Yellow Jackets nearly beat Georgia in its final regular season game and enter its bowl game with some confidence. Georgia Tech also has plenty of its key players playing in the game. Quarterback Haynes King has said he will play in the bowl game. The full list of players not playing is as follows:

• Eric Singleton, WR (transfer portal)
• Horace Lockett, DL (transfer portal)
• Corey Robinson II, OT (transfer portal)
• Leo Blackburn, TE (transfer portal)
• Zach Pyron, QB (transfer portal)
• Christian Burkhalter, EDGE (transfer portal)
• Christian Leary, WR (transfer portal)

Georgia Tech is led by King, who has thrown for 1,910 yards, 11 touchdowns and one interception, while he's also rushed for 578 yards and 11 touchdowns. Jamal Haynes has rushed for 808 yards and nine touchdowns.

Losing Singleton is a big loss to the passing offense, as Georgia Tech should look to run the ball plenty in this game.

Vanderbilt, meanwhile, also has most of its starters playing. Diego Pavia was awarded another year of eligibility, so he will start this game and look to build off of it for 2025. The list of Commodores not playing in the bowl game is as follows:

• Alan Wright, CB (transfer portal)
• Darren Agu, Edge (transfer portal)
• Gunnar Hansen, OT (transfer portal)
• Steven Sannieniola, S (transfer portal)
• Devin Lee, DL (transfer portal)
• Micah Bell, RB (transfer portal)
• BJ Diakite, EDGE (transfer portal)
• Jeffrey Ugochukwu, LB (transfer portal)

Vanderbilt was a surprise team his season as the Commodores beat Alabama and Auburn. Pavia threw for 2,133 yards, 17 touchdowns and four interceptions this season. He's also rushed for 716 yards and six touchdowns.

King and Pavia are dual-threat quarterbacks and play similarly, making this game interesting. Pavia won an extra year of eligibility, so the Birmingham Bowl won't be his final college game.

However, Vanderbilt's defense has been an issue down the stretch, and King should be able to run the ball successfully. The Yellow Jackets will be able to score on Vanderbilt to get a big win to win the Birmingham Bowl and end the year on a high note.

Prediction: Georgia Tech 31, Vanderbilt 27

Georgia Tech vs Vanderbilt: Betting Tips

Tip 1: Georgia Tech -2.5 (-115)

Tip 2: Over 51.5 points (-110)

Tip 3: Georgia Tech ML (-142)