The Pop-Tarts Bowl embodies every little thing faculty soccer devoted adore about not simply the postseason however the sport as a complete. It is chaotic. It has launched bizarre new traditions which have rapidly turn into a postseason staple. It has immense character. It additionally attracts high quality groups.
This yr’s matchup is especially attractive, because the Pop-Tarts Bowl will pit Large 12 runner-up No. 12 BYU in opposition to No. 22 Georgia Tech. It will not be the primary assembly between the packages. They accomplished a home-and-home sequence in 2002-03 and once more in 2012-13.
BYU owns a 3-1 all-time edge due to a three-game successful streak in opposition to the Yellow Jackets. The Cougars are additionally coming off one other profitable season below coach Kalani Sitake. They made a program-first look within the Large 12 Championship Sport in simply their third season within the convention and enter the Pop-Tarts Bowl with an 11-2 document. BYU is 22-4 over the previous two seasons.
Georgia Tech, in the meantime, began 8-0 for the primary time since 1966 earlier than stumbling late within the season. The Yellow Jackets have been eradicated from ACC rivalry after dropping two of their ultimate three convention video games and closed the common season with one other slim loss to in-state rival Georgia.
Nonetheless, Georgia Tech’s 9 wins are its most since 2016. The Yellow Jackets have gone 11 years with out reaching double-digit victories.
Tips on how to watch BYU vs. Georgia Tech stay
Date: Saturday, Dec. 27 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Tenting World Stadium — Orlando, Florida
TV: ABC | Stay stream: Fubo (Strive totally free)
Comply with alongside for LIVE updates, highlights and evaluation from a loaded Saturday bowl sport slate.
BYU vs. Georgia Tech: Have to know
New-look Georgia Tech: Georgia Tech is rolling into the Pop-Tarts Bowl with an virtually completely new-look teaching employees, significantly on the offensive aspect of the ball. Coach Brent Key stays in place after signing an extension, however offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner left for a similar position at Florida. He took quarterbacks coach AJ Erdely, broad receivers coach Trent McKnight and H-backs coach Dylan Dockery with him.
The turnover did not cease there. Offensive line coach Geep Wade departed for Nebraska, and working backs coach Norval McKenzie joined James Franklin’s employees at Virginia Tech. Thankfully for the Yellow Jackets, it seems a lot of the roster might be obtainable for the bowl sport.
Quite a bit on the road for BYU: Although BYU fell wanting a convention championship, the Cougars nonetheless have loads at stake within the Pop-Tarts Bowl. They’ve already secured their first back-to-back 11-win seasons since 2006-07 and now are chasing their first 12-win marketing campaign in 24 years. BYU was a member of the Mountain West Convention the final time it reached a dozen victories.
The Cougars can also safe consecutive bowl wins for the primary time since 2011-12.
Pop-Tarts retains pushing the envelope: It did not take lengthy for the Pop-Tarts Bowl to turn into some of the beloved video games of the postseason. Possibly that is as a result of the successful workforce will get to eat a stay sacrifice. No, significantly.
A bigger-than-life Pop-Tart mascot is consumed on the conclusion of every Pop-Tarts Bowl, and this yr followers even get to decide on the flavour. Don’t be concerned — the mascots are fulfilling their final goal by being ready and eaten. They stay for this.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl additionally rolled out customized helmets for every collaborating workforce. Actually, they give the impression of being nice.
Sure, these are rainbow sprinkles and sure, they are going to be worn in the course of the sport.
BYU vs. Georgia Tech prediction, picks
BYU is actually at full power after coach Kalani Sitake signed a brand new long-term deal amid vital curiosity from Penn State for its teaching emptiness. The Cougars don’t anticipate any opt-outs, and freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier — who handled an ankle damage within the Large 12 Championship Sport — is anticipated to be obtainable. BYU narrowly missed the School Soccer Playoff as an at-large choice, with its solely two losses coming in opposition to Texas Tech, the No. 4 seed within the subject. Bowl video games are by no means a certain factor and this one ought to be shut, however BYU seems able to overlaying the unfold. Choose: BYU -4.5
Who will win and canopy in every faculty soccer bowl and playoff sport? SportsLine’s laptop mannequin simply simulated every matchup 10,000 instances and has revealed its picks. Go to SportsLine now to see all its faculty soccer picks.
