Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt Prediction & Picks: Birmingham Bowl Odds

The Vanderbilt Commodores will look to end a three-game losing streak against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

While each team is dealing with numerous opt-outs, both starting quarterbacks will be playing in this game, making it a little easier to put together a Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt prediction for the Birmingham Bowl. The Yellow Jackets are the 3-point favorites ahead of Friday’s 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) game at Protective Stadium.

The Yellow Jackets went to eight overtimes against the Georgia Bulldogs the last time they took the field. Can they build off that momentum? Or will Diego Pavia and the Commodores prove to be too much for them to handle? 

Our college football bowl game opt-out tracker has you covered with the latest opt-out news and the impact on the college bowl game odds.

Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt prediction & best pick: Birmingham Bowl

College football picks based on the odds from our best college football betting sites. Odds subject to change.

• Against the spread pick: Georgia Tech -3 () vs. Vanderbilt ⭐⭐⭐
• My best pick: Haynes King Over 52.5 rushing yards () ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt ATS prediction

Georgia Tech to cover the spread: -3 ⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -110 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 52.38%

Defensive losses are too much for Commodores to overcome

Both the Commodores and Yellow Jackets will enter with most of their key weapons on the field for Friday’s Birmingham Bowl. While the Yellow Jackets will be without their leading receiver Eric Singleton Jr., they'll still boast starting quarterback Haynes King and leading rusher Jamal Haynes.

The Commodores are in even better shape offensively, as their entire scheme runs through Pavia. The team’s leading passer and rusher will be playing in this game, as will his favorite targets in the passing attack.

However, the Commodores' defense will be a mess due to the transfer portal. The team is without at least 13 defensive players, eight of whom are members of the defensive line. It's a team that was already giving up 25.2 points and 145.5 rushing yards per game. I expect the duo of King and Haynes to run all over this depleted defensive front.

The spread at our best sportsbooks opened with the Yellow Jackets as the 3-point favorites. It dropped to 2.5 a few times throughout the week, but the number has always climbed back to three. With bettors split on what will happen in this game, don’t expect this number to move outside of the 2.5 to 3.5 range.

Get on this number now for one of your college bowl game predictions this week.

Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt best pick

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Haynes King Over 52.5 rushing yards ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -114 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 53.27%

King ended the year with 578 rushing yards while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He finished the season with 24 carries for 110 yards and three touchdowns against the Bulldogs, and King recorded at least 93 yards in three of his last four games.

The passer topped 52.5 yards in six games this season, and I expect him to put up huge numbers again against a Commodores’ defensive front lacking any real depth. The Commodores are normally beaten most easily through the air, but run defense will now be their greatest weakness with this lineup.

Two of our four best sportsbooks offering this prop are setting this total at 54.5. I’d take that Over, but the price for Over 52.5 is better at FanDuel.

Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt odds

See all of this week's college football odds and NCAAF scores.

Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt live odds

Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt opening odds:

• Georgia Tech: -3 (+100)
• Vanderbilt: +3 (-118)

Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt injuries

Birmingham Bowl game info

• When: Friday, Dec. 27
• Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
• Where: Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL
• How to watch: ESPN
• Weather: 62 degrees, 55% chance of precipitation, wind 13-mph SSE
• Favorite: Georgia Tech -3 ()

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