Bowl Mania: Gasparilla Bowl

2023 Gasparilla Bowl

When: Friday, December 22nd @ 6:30 PM ET

Where: Tampa, Florida

Who: Georgia Tech (6-6) vs. Central Florida (6-6)

Spread & Total: Central Florida -4.5; O/U 66.5

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Tale of the Take: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Georgia Tech flipped the script when they made Brent Key the permanent head coach after the 2022 season. Before Key came to Atlanta, the Yellow Jackets were 10-28 under Geoff Collins in three and a half years. Since Key took over, Georgia Tech is 10-10, including 9-6 in ACC play. In his first full season at the helm, Georgia Tech went 3-6 against bowl eligible teams and 2-1 in one possession games.

Offensively, the Yellow Jackets took a major step forward under Key. Georgia Tech was 109th in passing offense (192.2 YPG) in 2022 compared to 56th this year. They threw for just ten touchdowns last year. On the ground, the Yellow Jackets ranked 91st with 133.8 YPG. They doubled their touchdown production from last year, going from 23 touchdowns to 48 this year. Georgia Tech averages 7.6 YPA through the air. However, the Yellow Jackets have thrown for 16 interceptions, tied for the 7th-most in college football.

Defensively, the Yellow Jackets were atrocious at stopping the run. They allowed the most rushing yards per game among bowl eligible teams, as only a handful of teams allowed over 200 yards on the ground. Teams averaged 41.8 rush attempts per game, the 5th highest mark in the country. Only Boston College allowed more rushing touchdowns (29); the 28 allowed by Georgia Tech ranked tied for 123rd in FBS. 5.4 yards per carry allowed ranked 130th in FBS. Opponents averaged 27.9 pass attempts per game against Georgia Tech, averaging 62.1% completion rate and 7.6 YPA. Georgia Tech ranked tied for 116th in the country in sacks (18). The Yellow Jackets did have 13 interceptions, tied for 21st in the country.

Opt Outs: N/A

Injuries: N/A

Transfer Portal Departures:

EDGE Kyle Kennard

Led the team with six sacks; rest of the team had 13 total sacks. 53 total tackles (32 solo); one interception, forced and recovered two fumbles

CB Kenan Johnson

Three pass breakups and one interception. Forced two fumbles, recovered one

QB Zach Gibson

RB Jamie Felix

WR Jullian Lewis

OT Wing Green

OT Tyler Gibson

IOL Elias Cloy

OT Paul Tchio

EDGE Ezra Odinjor

EDGE Malcolm Pugh

DL Bryston Dixon

DL Etinosa Reuben

LB Ashton Heflin

 

Players to Know:

#10 QB Haynes King

2023 Third-Team All-ACC Offense. The Texas A&M transfer started all 12 games for the Yellow Jackets, completing 61.9% of his attempts and averaged 7.8 YPA. Added 93 carries for 741 rushing yards and a team lead nine rushing touchdowns.

#11 Jamal Haynes

2023 Third-Team All-ACC Offense. In his first year with the team, the sophomore led the team with 156 carries, 931 yards, and seven touchdowns. Added 20 receptions, 151 yards, and a touchdown in the passing game

#14 S Jaylon King

2023 First-Team All-ACC Defense. 63 total tackles (35 solo) was 3rd on the team. Eight pass breakups and four interceptions led the team. Recovered two fumbles

Preview: Bowl Mania: Boca Raton Bowl

Tale of the Tape: Central Florida Knights

For the first time in the short Gus Malzahn era, the Central Florida Knights failed to hit nine wins. However, this was the first year for the Knights in the new Big 12 as they transitioned from the AAC. The Knights began the year 3-0 before conference play began, and that conference play was a cruel splash of water to the face in the new Big 12. Five straight losses in conference play before beating fellow newcomer Cincinnati on the road. The Knights won three of their last four, including a blowout win over then 15th-ranked Oklahoma State. UCF went 2-5 against bowl eligible teams, and were 2-3 in one possession games.

Offensively, the Knights have a top-5 rushing attack. 5.7 YPC is also a top-5 mark in the nation. Through the air, UCF is efficient despite being more run oriented. UCF throws the ball on 42.9% of their plays, compared to running the ball on 57.1% of their plays. 27.8 pass attempts per game ranks 104th in the country. However, their 9.3 YPA ranks 9th in the country. The Knights throw for a touchdown on 6.2% of their drop backs. UCF averages 7 yards per play on offense.

Defensively, UCF had staggering difference in conference play compared to nonconference. The Knights allowed just 12 PPG on average in their three nonconference games compared to 29.9 PPG in conference play. This improved down the stretch; in their first five Big 12 games, the Knights allowed 40.6 PPG. In the last four, the Knights went 3-1 and allowed just 16.5 PPG. Somehow, the UCF run defense is not the worst defense in this one. Still, the Knights allow 4.8 YPC and saw 38.6 rush attempts per game. They forced just four fumbles all year, tied for 126th in FBS.

Opt Outs: N/A

Injuries:

CB Ja’Cari Henderson

Played half the season for the Knights; recorded 11 total tackles and a pass breakup

DB Jireh Wilson

Missed the final game of the regular season against Houston; 41 total tackles (26 solo), two pass breakups, and  a forced fumble

DB Braeden Marshall

Left the game against Houston; 20 total tackles, one pass breakup and an interception

S DeJordan Mask

Played in five games this season; 11 total tackles and an interception

Transfer Portal Departures:

CB Corey Thornton

Team lead nine pass breakups and three interceptions

WR Amari Johnson

RB Jordan McDonald

WR Jaylon Griffin

WR Tyler Griffin

IOL Drake Metcalf

EDGE Keenan Cupit

EDGE Kervins Choute

DE Dallaz Corbitt

DE KD McDaniel

LB Isaiah Paul

CB Fred Davis II

 

Player to Know:

#10 QB John Rhys Plumlee

Two-year starter at UCF. Completed 63.4% of his attempts and averaged 8.1 YPA. 27 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Rushed 213 times for 1,526 yards and 16 touchdowns the last two years

#1 WR Javon Baker

All-Big 12 Football First Team Offense. Led the team with 43 receptions and 966 yards (22.5 YPR). Six touchdowns was second on the team

#3 DE Tre’Mon Morris-Brash

All-Big 12 Football First Team Defense. Team lead 8.5 sacks ranked 22nd nationally. Has recorded at least three sacks in each of his five collegiate seasons

Bowl Game Trends:

• 2023 Gasparilla Bowl is the 6th appearance for UCF, the most in the bowl’s history (3-2)
• UCF’s Gus Malzahn: 3-6 all-time in bowl games
• Georgia Tech: first bowl game since 2018; last win came in 2016
• Since the 2018-2019 season, the ACC is 3-10 in unranked, non-New Years Six bowl games against Power Five schools; the Big 12 is 5-3 in such games

Game Synopsis:

Both teams struggle to stop the run, and both teams benefit from a strong rushing attack. The absence of Kennard will hurt Georgia Tech, as they lose their biggest contributor at pressuring the quarterback. UCF will be without some members of their secondary, but a couple have missed the second half of the season. We saw a difference in the Knights’ defense the last month of the season. Paired with John Rhys Plumlee playing his final collegiate game, I’ll ride with the UCF Knights to win the 2023 Gasparilla Bowl.

Bowl Mania Pick To Win: Central Florida

Bowl Mania Confidence: 28/43

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