Gasparilla Bowl Preview and Prediction: UCF vs. Georgia Tech
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the 2023 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl matchup between the UCF Knights and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
GAME INFO
Friday, December 22; 5:30 p.m. CT; Raymond James Stadium; Tampa, FL
TV: ESPN, ESPN+
Radio: ESPN Radio
Records: UCF (6-6); Georgia Tech (6-6)
Rankings: N/A
Series History: Georgia Tech leads, 3-2-0
Last Meeting: UCF 27, Georgia Tech 10 (2022)
Line: UCF (-4.5)
Fun Fact: Despite being located in bordering states, these programs have met just five times, with their first meeting coming in 1996. The Yellowjackets won each of the first three meetings in the series, while the Knights have won each of the last two matchups, in 2020 (49-21) and 2022 (27-10).
KEY PLAYERS
UCF KNIGHTS
RB RJ HARVEY
RJ Harvey was one of the most underrated players in the country this season, partly thanks to the fact that he shared a conference with Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon. Harvey recorded 211 carries for 1,296 yards and 16 TDs in 2023 and was a Doak Walker Award semifinalist. Against Georgia Tech, Harvey will need to be a main focus for the Knights’ offense, and I’d expect that to be the case with Georgia Tech’s defense ranking 128th in the country, allowing 225.7 yards per game and 5.41 yards per carry.
DE TRE’MON MORRIS-BRASH
UCF defensive end Tre’Mon Morris-Brash was just as dominant in his first season in the Big 12 has he was in the American Athletic Conference in 2022. On the year, Morris-Brash had 18.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks to go with 50 total tackles on the year. Georgia Tech will try and run the football against UCF, as they rank 16th nationally in rushing offense (197.1 ypg) and UCF ranks 118th in rushing defense, allowing 186.8 yards per game.
GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS
QB HAYNES KING
Georgia Tech sophomore quarterback Haynes King has been a key part to the Yellow Jackets’ success in 2023, passing for 2,755 yards and 26 touchdowns on the year, adding 648 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. Against UCF, King will need to have a big day with both his arm and his leg. The last time we saw him on the field, King had two rushing scores to keep Georgia Tech in a one-score game with the Georgia Bulldogs.
DB JAYLON KING
One of the top defensive backs in the country resides in Atlanta, Georgia, as Jaylon King has been a playmaker for the Ramblin’ Wreck all season long. On the year, King has 63 tackles, but has also recorded two fumble recoveries and four interceptions and eight interceptions. With UCF having dynamic palymakers at the wide receiver positions, King will be one of the biggest factors to whether Georgia Tech can pull off the upset.
KEY STORYLINES
UCF KNIGHTS
How healthy does John Rhys Plumlee look in this game? Having several weeks to heal up could do wonders for Plumlee, who is at his best when he’s able to present a true dual-threat for opposing defenses. If he’s able to make plays with his legs, it will give RJ Harvey more room to work with in the run game, which in turn will open up vertical shots down the field for Javon Baker and Kobe Hudson.
GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS
Can Georgia Tech slow down the UCF running game? They’ll be facing the No. 4 rushing offense in the nation, which averages 233.2 rushing yards per game and 5.65 yards per rush. That’s bad news for a team that ranks 128th in rushing defense. If the Knights are able to keep the run game rolling, they’ll be in control of the clock, and that won’t be good for Georgia Tech’s chances.
PREDICTION: UCF 45, Georgia Tech 38
UCF’s rushing offense is one of the best in the country, while Georgia Tech’s rushing defense is one of the worst in the country. That matchup alone is enough for me to decide how I feel on this game. RJ Harvey is a legit NFL running back, and the Yellow Jackets have had a hard time stopping the run all season long. I expect the UCF offense to control this game with big, productive runs. On the other side, I expect Haynes King to keep the Georgia Tech offense going enough to keep this game close. In the end, Gus Malzahn and the Knights will have enough in the tank to win this game in the end, as UCF finishes its first year in the Big 12 with a winning season.
