Gasparilla Bowl: Georgia Tech vs UCF Odds, and Picks (Dec 22)

• Georgia Tech lost to Georgia in a close finale, but still claimed a bowl spot.
• UCF heated up down the stretch, getting their 6th win in their final game.
• These two teams last met on September 24, 2022, in a game UCF won 27-10.

The college football season has reached the bowl games! Let’s preview the upcoming 2023 Gasparilla Bowl between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Central Florida Knights, who are set to face off.

How to Watch

• ESPN

Preview

Georgia Tech had a solid season this year, finishing 4th in the ACC. They picked up solid wins over North Carolina and Miami, while also playing Georgia and Louisville close. They did also take bad losses to Ole Miss, Clemson, and Bowling Green, but it was still a step forward for a Yellow Jackets program that has struggled to gain relevancy. 1st-year coach Brent Key will be leading them to their first bowl since 2018.

UCF had a very inconsistent season in their first year in the Big-12 conference. They started the year out 3-0, breezing through their non-conference schedule. Unfortunately, they went on to lose their first five Big-12 contests after that, falling to 3-5. After that losing skid, the Knights heated back up again, winning 3 of their last 4, including a 45-3 thumping of Oklahoma State. That helped to earn them bowl eligibility.

Prediction

This is another bowl game featuring two 6-6 teams that did just enough to get in. Both teams are likely to be highly motivated to finish the year above the .500 mark. Georgia Tech is aiming for their first bowl win since 2016, while UCF is hoping to prove their competitive ability to their new conference. I see this being a competitive and high-scoring game. Despite UCF’s hot play as of late, I like Georgia Tech to win this one.

NCAAF Picks:

• Georgia Tech 33, UCF 30 ()