Dec 22, 20232 min read

Gasparilla Bowl Features Georgia Tech vs Central Florida in Tampa Florida

Updated: Dec 22, 2023

2021 was a crazy year for Tampa. Hard to believe that the Super Bowl in Tampa happened less than a year ago. Hopefully 2022 is even better! — 'The Jose Gasparilla all decked out for Super Bowl LV' Photo Credit: Matthew Paulson via Flickr

The 2023 edition of the Gasparilla Bowl will feature a pair of 6-6 teams looking to climb one step above .500 to finish the season. Both Georgia Tech and University of Central Florida (UCF) finished the regular season going 3-2 over their last five games. This ACC vs Big 12 match-up promises to be an enticing watch. For more information on Gasparilla, click here.

Broadcast Info:

Date/Time: Dec 22nd, 6:30 PM EST

Location: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL.

TV: ESPN

On the Call: Wes Durham, Tim Hasselbeck

Radio/Streaming: Check ESPN Radio Stations

What's at Stake?

Last year's match-up (UCF victory) resulted in the dismissal of Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins. Longtime UCF assistant Brent Key initially promoted to fill the vacancy on an interim basis, earned the full-time gig after guiding the Yellow Jackets to a 4-4 finish. A victory here would allow Keys to continue building a winning program culture. A victory here, in UCF's 8th straight bowl game, would give UCF a winning record in their first year of Power 5 football.

Transfers?

UCF - Will feature almost its entire starting lineup with the lone exception being as cornerback Corey Thornton has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Georgia Tech - DE Kyle Kennard, RB Jamie Felix, CB Kenan Johnson, and WR Juju Lewis have all entered the transfer portal.

Key Players - UCF

QB John Plumlee has thrown for 2,074 yards, 13 TDs, with 8 INTs, with a 63.9 Comp%

RB RJ Harvey has rushed for 1,296 yards on the season and is averaging 108 YDS/G

DE Tre'Mon Morris-Brash - 47 Tackles, 31 Solo, 16 TFL, and 10 Sacks

LB Jason Johnson - 87 Tackles, 52 Solo, 6 TFL, and 3 Sacks

Key Players - Georgia Tech

QB Haynes King has thrown for 2,755 yards, 26 TDs, with 15 INTs, with a 61.9 COMP%

RB Jamal Haynes has rushed for 931 yards on the season and is averaging 77.6 YDS/G

DB Jaylon King - 65 Tackles, 36 Solo, 29 AST, 1 TFL, with 4 PD & 4 INTs

DL Kyle Kennard - 51 Tackles, 30 Solo, 21 AST, 9 TFL, and 6 Sacks

Gasparilla Bowl - Prediction

A big part of this game will be the run game or the fact that Georgia Tech features the 128th-rated defense (225.7 yards per game) versus the UCF's 4th-rated rushing offense (233.2 yards per game). Can Tech corral Plumlee, who has battled a knee injury for most of the season, but has battle-tested RB Harvey, a 1,000+ yard carrier to share the workload with? The absence of Georgia Tech's DE Kyle Kennard should allow UCF to have a more balanced approach in what should be a fairly even game into the 2nd half when UCF will pull away for the win.