TaxSlayer Bowl: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Kentucky
Our 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl free pick offers the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Kentucky Wildcats. The Yellow Jackets have a goal of none wins and can get it with a victory in this bowl game. The Wildcats went on a late-season 5-2 run, which got them this bowl berth. Can they also notch a victory here?
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-4 Overall, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their last three of the season. That included a big 30-20 victory over #18 Virginia Tech. The team finished fifth in the SEC Coastal. The Kentucky Wildcats (7-5 Overall, 4-4 Southeastern Conference) finished fourth in the SEC East. Their run at the end of the season included a 41-38 win over #15 Louisville.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The Yellow Jackets are averaging 27.8 PPG and allowing opponents 25.0 PPG. They’ve scored 32 rushing TDs and nine passing. Georgia Tech will be looking to a slew of rushers to create offense, including QB Justin Thomas who has run for five TDs while tossing for five. RB Dedrick Mills leads the team with 11 rushing TDs. WR Clinton Lynch has six touchdown catches.
The team has been penalized just 49 times for 428 yards. That’s disciplined play. They have made 16 sacks, 53 TFL, and 11 INTs. They defended 29 passes, had 37 QB hurries and caused seven fumbles. The team’s turnover margin stands at plus three.
Kentucky Wildcats
The Wildcats are averaging 31.0 PPG on offense while allowing 31.2 PPG. Of their 45 TDs, 29 have been rushing. QB Stephen Johnson has tossed 12 TD passes and six interceptions. The rush attack includes Benny Snell Jr, who has 11 rushing scores and Stanley Williams with seven. WR Garret Johnson has 36 receptions for five touchdowns.
The team has a turnover margin of minus six. The Wildcats have made 28 sacks, 65 TFL, and 13 INTs. They’ve also posted 32 PD, 21 QB hurries and 6 FF. The Wildcat defense is worrisome.
2016 TaxSlayer Bowl Free Pick
For our 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl free pick, we are going with Georgia Tech at -3.0 and the over at 61.
The 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl will be played on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 11 a.m. at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, FL. The game will be on ESPN.