Georgia Tech vs. Kentucky prediction, TaxSlayer Bowl pick, odds, line, watch live stream

How to watch the TaxSlayer Bowl: Game storylines, spread, time, date, TV channel

By Ben Kercheval

Dec 31, 2016 at 10:44 am ET • 2 min read

Georgia Tech and Kentucky play two different styles of football, but have one thing in common: They both needed the wins to start racking up after slow starts. Lo and behold, the Yellow Jackets and Wildcats, respectively, went under the radar to finish the season strong.

The TaxSlayer Bowl places those two hot-handed teams against one another to kick start a Saturday with the College Football Playoff semifinals acting as the main event. But don't overlook this early kickoff, which can easily be lost in a star-studded slate elsewhere. Sometimes, the most unsuspecting games turn out to be the best. And these teams have been playing their best football lately.

Viewing information

Date: Saturday, Dec. 31
Time: 11 a.m. ET
Location: EverBank Field -- Jacksonville, Florida

TV: ESPN
Live streams: WatchESPN / WatchESPN apps

Storylines

Georgia Tech: Quietly, the Yellow Jackets finished the year strong by winning five of their final six games, including a 30-20 victory over Coastal division champ Virginia Tech. The option offense has clicked with the ground game never falling below five yards per carry from mid-October on, and the emergence of freshman Dedrick Mills -- when he's not in the doghouse -- is cause for optimism in the future. Two years ago, Georgia Tech went into the Orange Bowl against Mississippi State playing its best football and came away with a win. Similarly, the Yellow Jackets enter bowl season trending upward.

Kentucky: Few coaches needed a bowl appearance more than Mark Stoops. The fourth-year coach had yet to post a winning record with the Wildcats entering the season and two bad losses to open the season left little optimism for the future. But, Kentucky rebounded by winning five of its last seven games and finishing the year with a signature win over hated rival Louisville.

Players to watch

Justin Thomas, QB, Georgia Tech: This is Thomas' last college game, so catch the best quarterback in the Paul Johnson era while you can. Thomas has been around a long time and been part of many big games. He'll want to go out on top, but don't expect the moment to be bigger than him. The redshirt senior makes the offense go and he leads the team with 128 rushing attempts. He's also a decent passer for the triple option system with 1,454 yards, eight touchdowns and just two picks.

Jordan Jones, LB, Kentucky: Stopping the run is going to be paramount for the Wildcats to have a chance. Jones, a second-team All-SEC selection by the coaches, leads the team with 14 tackles for loss. Assignment football, penetration up front and good angles in open space are key elements for Kentucky, and no one has been better at bringing down ball carriers than Jones.

Prediction

Both teams have been solid against the spread, so it's hard to get a read on exactly how this game will play out. The Wildcats have a porous defense, especially against the run. That's a problem. However, Kentucky has also shown it can get into a shootout from time to time. With a line now at 62, this one projects to have at least a few fireworks. Pick: Kentucky +4.5

TaxSlayer Bowl Expert Picks