It’s sort of ironic when two ranked teams play in a game named after a toaster pastry.
No. 12 BYU (11-2) and No. 22 Georgia Tech’s (9-3) consolation from missing the College Football Playoff will be the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday.
Let’s start with trajectory: The Yellow Jackets finished 1-3 over their last four games to cap off one of the country’s most volatile seasons after beginning the year 8-0. They allowed at least 34 points in three of those last four and now appear in Orlando, Fla. with offensive staff turnover after coordinator Buster Faulkner departed.
Despite the late-season defensive decline, Haynes King remained an efficient quarterback who steered the Jackets to a top-10 rank in success rate.
BYU enjoyed a breakout year in its third campaign as part of the Big 12, finishing second and earning its first appearance in the conference championship. Both of their losses came at the hands of No. 4 Texas Tech, but the Cougars were still a top-4 Big 12 program in both offensive and defensive points average.
With head coach Kalani Sitake locked into a new long-term deal and minimal roster disruption, the Cougars bring in an edge in stability and a strong bowl resume.
The Yellow Jackets do damage with their ground attack, gobbling 201 scrimmage yards per game. I’m dubious about how they’ll stack against this BYU front, which enforced scoreboard pressure through holding plenty of early down success, allowing the second-fewest rushing attempts in the Big 12.
Betting on College Football?
- Check out the best College Football betting sites
- Read our expert’s guide on how to bet on College Football
- Get the latest College Football National Championship winner odds
Not to mention BYU held opponents to a 72.9 percent red zone completion rate.
The more glaring edge lies on the other side of the ball. Georgia Tech’s defense ranks 85th in the country, coughing up 403.5 yards per game. BYU’s offense isn’t explosive, but it is efficient and patient, and its average of 32 minutes of possession should wear on a unit that struggles with gap integrity and tackling.
True freshman Bear Bachmeier is much to thank as a dual-threat talent, tossing for 2,708 yards and 14 touchdowns while adding 527 rushing yards and 11 scores on the ground.
I was initially on BYU -2.5, but even with all the market correction, I’m still willing to stick with the Cougars. Add in a significant turnover margin edge on their side and it’s tough to see how Georgia Tech can match their discipline for four quarters.
THE PICK: BYU -4 (DraftKings, -112)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.
