The 2023 UnionHome Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl is a battle of two teams that I enjoyed watching this past season. We have the 6-6 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets going up against the 6-6 UCF Knights. Georgia Tech won three out of their last five games coming into this one including a big win over North Carolina. The Yellow Jackets have played in 45 bowl games and have a 25-20 record in those games. UCF won their last regular season game to become bowl eligible for the eighth straight season. The Knights have appeared in 14 bowl games and have a 6-8 record. UCF opens up as a 4.5 point favorite with the over/under set at 64.5. Here is my preview for the 2023 UnionHome Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets did what I thought they were going to do this season and that was become bowl eligible for the first time since 2018. Georgia Tech averaged 31.2 points per game to go along with 436.8 total yards of offense. The driving force of this offense has to be running back Jamal Haynes. Haynes rushed for 931 rushing yards on 6 yards per carry and added 7 rushing touchdowns as well. As good as he was, he wouldn’t have had the success he had without the quarterback play from Haynes King. King threw for 2,755 passing yards, rushed for 648 rushing yards (6 yards per carry) and had 35 total touchdowns to go with 15 interceptions. This offense is going to have a chance to put up numbers against this UCF defense.
Defensively, the Yellow Jackets were inferior against some opponents. They allow 30.5 points per game as well as 445.5 total yards of offense per game. Georgia Tech will be without their starting edge rusher Kyle Kennard and their starting cornerback Kenan Johnson as both of them enter the transfer portal. The Yellow Jackets gave up 30+ points seven times in 2023. They put together a 1-6 record in those games. Georgia Tech was unbeaten in games where they held opponents under 30 points per game. This Yellow Jackets defense is going to have to slow down this talented UCF offense in this one.
UCF Knights
UCF Knights had a good season in their first season in the Big 12. Offensively, they averaged 32.3 points per game and averaged 506.1 total yards of offense per game (7th in the nation). This offense is run through quarterback John Rhys Plumlee. Plumlee has thrown for 2,074 passing yards and he has 13 passing touchdowns and 8 interceptions. This Knights offense is also top ten in rushing yards per game (233.2). They are led by running back RJ Harvey who rushed for 1,296 rushing yards on 6.1 yards per carry and 16 rushing touchdowns. He was the workhorse that the Knights needed to take pressure off of Plumlee. Georgia Tech struggles at stopping the run, so Harvey should have a field day against this Yellow Jackets defense.
Defensively, the Knights aren’t stellar to say the least. They allow 25.4 points per game and give up 410.6 total yards of offense per game. UCF will lose starting cornerback Corey Thornton to the transfer portal and safety Jireh Wilson might not play due to injury. The Knights gave up 30+ points five times in 2023. In those five games they had a 0-5 record. If they can contain this Georgia Tech offense, they should be able to hold them under 30 points in this one.
Betting Trends
-Georgia Tech is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
-The over is 5-1 in Georgia Tech’s last 6 games overall.
-UCF is 3-6 straight up in their last 9 games overall.
-UCF is 12-5 straight up in their last 17 games as a favorite.
The Don’s Best Bet
I have one play in this Gasparilla Bowl showdown. My official play for this one is Georgia Tech +4.5 -108 for one unit. This game is going to be a back and forth affair between these two squads. I think UCF will more than likely win the game, but I think that Georgia Tech can keep it within the number. Ride the Yellow Jackets to the cash counter as I have done very frequently this season.
