Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-4) vs Utah Utes (7-5)
This time, will Georgia Tech relish the prospect of playing a bowl game against Utah many miles away from its home in Atlanta? Homesickness could very well be seen as the central determinant and primary actor in one of college football’s older bowl games.
Time/Date: 2:15 p.m. Eastern, December 31
Venue/Stadium: Sun Bowl
Betting Lines from Bodog
MoneyLine: Georgia Tech -155
Spread: Georgia Tech -3
Over/Under: 50
The Sun Bowl joins the Sugar and Orange Bowls as a game which began in 1935. The Sun Bowl is therefore tied with the Sugar and Orange as the second-oldest bowl game in America, behind the Rose (which began in 1902). Playing in the Sun Bowl is more of an honor than playing in other December bowls. We’ll see if the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will embrace just such an occasion. They haven’t done so before.
On December 29, 2005, Georgia Tech faced Utah at AT&T Park (then Pacific Bell Park) in San Francisco. Throughout the week of pre-bowl functions, Georgia Tech players openly complained about having to play on the West Coast, far from their Atlanta home. Tech went just 7-5 in the 2005 regular season, which meant that the Jackets could not have expected a cozy bowl arrangement, but that didn’t stop quarterback Reggie Ball and other players from mouthing off. Georgia Tech was felt by many to be the better and more talented team, but as is so often the case in bowl games, the team that wanted to play is the team that won. A motivated Utah squad under then-first-year coach Kyle Whittingham spilled the tank. The Utes raced by the disinterested Yellow Jackets, so much so that Utah receiver Travis LaTendresse caught 16 passes for 214 yards in a 38-10 romp for the sons of Salt Lake City. Whittingham is still the head coach of the Utes, and he’ll probably sell his players on the importance of playing this game with a maximum of fire. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
However, the real challenge in the 2011 Sun Bowl rests with the school whose football team went AWOL in the 2005 Emerald Bowl. Georgia Tech is once again making a long trip from home. Atlanta to El Paso is more than a stone’s throw. What’s unique about this game relative to the 2005 Emerald Bowl is that Georgia Tech now has a different offensive style. The Jackets were a pro-set team in 2005, but they now run the triple-option offense under new coach Paul Johnson. Georgia Tech is once again the more talented team than Utah, but its approach to football is fundamentally different. Utah’s defense will get a month to prepare for the triple option, but if Tech can still execute, it’s hard to see how the Utes will stay in the ring.
The bigger concern for Utah is its offense. Six years ago, the Utes could throw the ball well, but this season, they’ve failed to thrive under quarterback Jon Hays, who has filled in for an ineffective and injured Jordan Wynn. Utah lost the plot and the game in a humiliating season finale against Colorado. The 17-14 loss gave Colorado its first road win in four years. That kind of face-plant will make Utah more motivated for the Sun Bowl, but that setback also exposed the Utes’ deficiencies.
In many ways, for all of Georgia Tech’s transitions and transformations over the past six years, the 2005 Emerald Bowl bottom line will still apply to the 2011 Sun Bowl: Will Georgia Tech play with a maximum of energy? If so, Utah won’t replicate its fun bowl experience near the San Francisco Bay. Take Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets should be able to care about a bowl game this time around.
Pick: Georgia Tech
Welcome to the CappersPicks.com Bowl game College football predictions! We KNOW you will find our FREE weekly Bowl Game football picks, tips, betting advice, strategies, College Football gambling articles and more to help you become the best CFB football bettor on your block!!
