Following a 6-6 season that saw Vanderbilt take down No. 1 Alabama, break into the AP Top 25 on multiple occasions and win the most SEC games by a Commodore team since 2018, head coach Clark Lea and Co. will now turn their attention to Georgia Tech (7-5) in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 27. This season marks the first time the Commodores have reached a bowl game since 2018, when they fell to Baylor in the Texas Bowl. It also represents a chance for them to win their first bowl game since the 2013 season.
Georgia Tech offers a fun matchup for Vanderbilt. The Yellow Jackets finished sixth in the ACC this season and put themselves on the map after taking down then-No. 4 Miami back in November. They stayed on the country’s radar after nearly toppling eventual SEC champion Georgia in an eight-overtime thriller in the last game of the regular season. Here are the three matchups to watch out for in Friday’s bowl game.
Diego Pavia vs. Haynes King: A dual-threat battle
If there’s one team that functions in an offensive style closest to Vanderbilt’s, it’s Georgia Tech. Both teams rely heavily on options and the running game; they feature dual-threat quarterbacks that put up incredibly similar numbers on the year. Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King threw for 1910 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding another 11 rushing touchdowns and 578 yards on the ground. Similarly, Pavia accounted for 23 total touchdowns with 2133 yards in the air and 716 yards on the ground. Both played through injuries at times this season, flashing their grit and perseverance. With Pavia and King having extra time to rest and recover through December, expect some fireworks in this affair.
Both Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech operate out of schemes that feature frequent play actions, misdirections and general trickery. The Commodores have struggled this season against teams with dual-threat quarterbacks, specifically in their 28-7 loss against LaNorris Sellers and South Carolina in Week 11 and even in the historic win over Jalen Milroe and Alabama. Vanderbilt will have to be prepared for King’s versatility and stop the big plays.
The battle of opt-outs and the transfer portal
Georgia Tech will be without its top weapon on Friday. Sophomore sensation Eric Singleton Jr. — one of the most coveted players in the portal — was Georgia Tech’s leading receiver this season with 754 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. The speedster clocked in at over 20 miles per hour in a game this season and was recruited by an impressive list of schools featuring LSU, Texas, Auburn, Miami and Ole Miss. In the end, the speedy wideout went with Auburn. Singleton was listed as the No. 3 overall player in the portal, according to 247Sports.
On the other side of the ball, top defensive end Romello Height also announced his intentions to transfer early in the portal period. He was a star in his lone season with Georgia Tech, putting up 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and an interception on the season. He’ll take his talents to Texas Tech for his final season of eligibility. Singleton and Height were two of the Yellow Jackets’ most impactful players, but — unsurprisingly — neither were listed on the team’s depth chart for the game.
Vanderbilt’s most notable transfer was offensive tackle Gunnar Hansen, who verbally committed to Florida State last week. However, the Commodores haven’t lost many key starters to the portal and are set to be near full strength in this affair. With the changing landscape of college football and opt-outs, Georgia Tech will be reliant on backups in multiple positions to get the job done.
Vanderbilt’s receivers vs. Georgia Tech’s depleted secondary
While Pavia’s running abilities have defined Vanderbilt’s offense this season, don’t be surprised if the senior quarterback airs the ball out more than usual. In its most recent game against Georgia, Georgia Tech cornerbacks Zachary Tobe and Rodney Shelley both suffered injuries, with the latter ruled out for the bowl game. With all of Vanderbilt’s receivers set to play on Friday and Pavia’s comments that his health is the best that it’s been since Week One against Virginia Tech, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see offensive coordinator Tim Beck dial up some deep balls against a short-handed Georgia Tech secondary.
Georgia Tech’s passing defense has been poor all season, ranking toward the bottom of the nation in pass yards allowed per game and turnovers forced. The Yellow Jackets’ 225.8 passing yards per game ranks in the middle of the ACC, and they’ve been burnt at times by quarterbacks like Kyle McCord, Cam Ward and Carson Beck. If there was ever a time for Vanderbilt to take some shots, it’s against Georgia Tech.
The Birmingham Bowl will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CST on Dec. 27 at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama.
