#22 Georgia Tech vs. #12 BYU Picks and Predictions: Pop-Tarts Bowl
Written by: Nate Hornung
Last Update: Fri Dec 26, 2025, 9:47 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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In Orlando on Saturday afternoon, we've got a hell of a matchup. Brown Sugar Cinnamon goes up against Hot Fudge Sundae. Cherry and Strawberry duke it out in the Fruits Division. And I guess, on the football field, the No. 22 ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets take on the No. 12 BYU Cougars. Both teams were so close yet so far from making the College Football Playoff, but this should be a fairly competitive bowl game. Let's get into our favorite picks below.
Best Bet: BYU -4 (-110) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
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#22 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. #12 BYU Cougars Pop-Tarts Bowl Insights
Can Haynes King end his season with a bowl win after losing 3/4 down the stretch?
The Yellow Jackets ended the regular season with a couple of losses to total three on their record. After starting off the year 8-0, they lost to NC State and the wheels fell completely off. BYU lost twice to the same team, who is playing in the Orange Bowl in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals on New Year's Day. Otherwise, they beat anyone in their path. But both of these teams are still looking to prove to everyone this year wasn't a fluke. Who will end on a high note?
For the Yellow Jackets, quarterback Haynes King and wide out Eric Rivers are expected to play, but I have not heard word on running back Jamal Haynes. They will likely be without starting center Tana Alo-Tupuola as well. Georgia Tech is also missing their offensive play caller who took the job at Florida, we will see if they operate at the same level with the co-OC stepping up to call plays.
For BYU, as far as I can tell, we should see everyone.
Matchup Information – Georgia Tech vs. BYU – December 27
- Venue & Location: Camping World Stadium (Orlando, FL)
- Date: Saturday, December 27, 2025
- Kick Off: 3:30 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: ABC
Georgia Tech vs, BYU Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel Sportsbook, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of December 26, 2025 at 7:39 p.m. eastern. Sign up today and get a $1,250 deposit bonus & 50 slot spins right away. Lucky Rebel offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.
Spread
- Georgia Tech +4 (-110)
- BYU -4 (-110)
Moneyline
- Georgia Tech +152
- BYU -186
Total
- Over 55.5 (-114)
- Under 55.5 (-106)
#22 Georgia Tech vs. #12 BYU Pop-Tarts Bowl Picks and Predictions
Bear Bachmeier and BYU have everything to prove to the nation in the Pop-Tarts Bowl
Georgia Tech vs. BYU Prediction: BYU Wins and Covers, Under 55.5
Best Bet: BYU -4 (-110) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
Both of these teams love to run the ball, and they are good at doing so. Georgia Tech runs the ball nearly 55% of the time, doing so for 5.4 yards per carry (No. 11 in country). BYU runs it just a little more, nearly 56% of the time, doing so for just 4.2 yards per carry. You could say the Yellow Jackets are slightly more efficient, and they certainly are through the air.
But the difference, my dear readers, is the defense. Defense wins championships, and bowl games.
Georgia Tech couldn't keep up with NC State or Pittsburgh, two fairly high flying offense, because they have no defense. The Yellow Jackets are No. 83 in yards per pass allowed, and fifth worst in interceptions forced this season. But the trench unit is even worse. Despite being so efficient running the ball, Georgia Tech can't stop it, ranking north of 100 (bottom 35) in yards per carry allowed and bottom 50 in rushing yards per game allowed. BYU isn't the best rushing defense in the country, but they are much better on all levels.
In the secondary, the Cougars are top 10 in interceptions forced, while ranking top 40 in yards per pass allowed and top 25 in opponent completion percentage. As far as their rushing defense, BYU is easily a top 40 unit. The story of this game will be the Yellow Jacket's offense against the Cougars defense, but can GT be as effective with missing coordinators?
GT is essentially a top 30 (25?) offense in the country, while they are probably closer to No. 85-90 defensively. BYU is a top 30-35 defense, and probably close to being their offensively as well. I think they have more to prove, after only losing to the No. 4 team in the country twice this season, yet were left out of the field of 12. Give me the Cougars with some extra intangibles on their side.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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