The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will face the UCF Knights in the Gasparilla Bowl from Tampa, FL. The College Football Betting Bowl invitation is the 46th in Georgia Tech history. Consider that it is the 16th-most in college football history and the third-most for a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Tech trails only Clemson (50) and Florida State (49). With a 25-20 record in bowl games, Tech is tied for 13th all-time in bowl victories. Also, they stand alone in 13th all-time in bowl winning percentage (.556).
Gasparilla Bowl Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. UCF Knights Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Friday, December 22, 2023, 6:30 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL |
| TV Coverage: | ESPN |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Florida | -4½ -110 | 64 -110 | -200 |  |
| Georgia Tech | +4½ -110 | 64 -110 | +170 | |
| ||||
Gasparilla Bowl Format
The Gasparilla Bowl began in 2008, and the matchup currently features schools from the American Athletic Conference (AAC), Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and Conference USA. The game takes place at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Gasparilla Bowl Recent Results
The 2020 installment was wiped out due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. But the game returned on December 23, 2021. And it drew a sold-out Raymond James Stadium for UCF against Florida. UCF is starting to enjoy itself in the home of rival USF. To show, they won their second straight Gasparilla Bowl in front of 63,669 fans with a 29-17 victory over the Gators. Since 2014, UCF has been the first sportsbook underdog to win this bowl game outright.
The closest game occurred in 2016 when Mississippi State rallied for a 17-16 victory over Miami, Ohio. Consider the Bulldogs trailed by nine points in the third quarter and scored a touchdown to pull close. Westin Graves hit a field goal early in the third quarter. And the Mississippi State defense held strong the rest of the way.
In 2022, Wake Forest beat Missouri 27-17. Sam Hartman threw for 280 yards and three TDs to lead the Demon Deacons. Hartman won MVP honors for his performance.
Gasparilla Bowl Matchup
Last game, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets lost 31-22 to the then-undefeated and top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs as 24-point home dogs. The game went under the total of 60. Georgia Tech has a record of 6-6 straight up, 7-5 against the spread, and 9-3 over/under the total. Georgia Tech ranks 31st for total offense, 57th for passing, 17th for rushing, and 43rd for scoring. Defensively, they rank 121st overall, 44th against the pass, 131st against the rush, and 104th for points allowed. Also, Georgia Tech ranks 24th for fewest turnovers lost and 19th for takeaways.
The Yellow Jackets are making their first-ever College Football Betting appearance in the Gasparilla Bowl, which originated in 2008. The Jackets are also facing UCF for the first time in a bowl but the sixth time overall. Georgia Tech owns a 3-2 against UCF.
Last game, the UCF Knights won 27-13 against the Houston Cougars as 14-point home favorites. The game went under the total of 61.5. UCF has a record of 6-6 straight up, 5-6-1 against the spread, and 6-6 over/under the total. UCF ranks 7th for total offense, 45th for passing, 4th for rushing, and 34th for scoring. Defensively, they rank 86th overall, 36th against the pass, 121st against the rush, and 61st for points allowed. Also, UCF ranks 58th for fewest turnovers lost and 51st for takeaways.
Gasparilla Bowl Prediction
In this situation, the Georgia Tech defense is a liability against the UCF offense of coach Gus Malzahn.