USC vs Georgia Tech: Yellow Jackets Sting Trojans in 2012 Sun Bowl

Dec 28 | by Reggie Brown | College Football

The Sun Bowl features USC vs Georgia Tech and it is quite obvious that the Trojans had higher hopes for a bowl game. The Sun Bowl is scheduled for New Year’s Eve in El Paso, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST and the game will be broadcast on CBS.

Check out the Bookie Blitz Bowl Game Central for a comprehensive list of picks and predictions on all bowl games this season!

USC vs Georgia Tech: Yellow Jackets Sting Trojans in 2012 Sun Bowl

USC on Upset Alert Against Georgia Tech?

Lane Kiffin had high hopes of a run at a National title when the college football started, but now they are just ready for this season to end. This has not stopped online sportsbooks from making the Trojans a big favorite.

USC vs Georgia Tech Odds: Despite the bad season, the betting line for the Sun Bowl opened with the Trojans listed as (-10) point favorites. The latest college football consensus reports show that the Trojans are attracting 60 percent of the betting action. That numbers has dropped to (-9) based on injury issues.

Sportsbook Free Play

1Vice Sportsbook has the latest odds on the Music City Bowl and they are giving out a FREE $100 To bet on the game! To get the $100 free play to bet on football, just send an Email to griffin@1vice.ag and tell him you have the promo code Bowl Blitz! The funds will be put into your account to bet on football–open an account at 1Vice Here!

Coach Kiffin announced Thursday that Barkley would not play in the Sun Bowl against Georgia Tech because of a shoulder injury sustained in U.S.C.’s second-to-last game. This is not surprising because with little to play for, Barkley is focusing on a career in the NFL, not the Sun Bowl.

The Trojans are not the only team dealing with injuries.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defense will be without their leading tackler in the 2012 Sun Bowl. Safety Isaiah Johnson is out of this game because of a lower extremity injury, according to a tweet by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

CPJ confirms S Isaiah Johnson is out for Sun Bowl (lower extremity). Milton, Smith, Golden will sub for #gatech leading tackler.

— ajcgatech (@ajcgatech) December 27, 2012

Chris Milton, Demond Smith and Jamal Golden will all rotate in place of Johnson.

However the big area of concern is the Trojans lack of interest in this game, as pointed out by Maboot.com As a participant in the Sun Bowl, each team is invited to a special dinner, which takes place during the week leading up to the bowl game. The dinner is described as a night full of comradery where the opponents can loosen up a bit by making fun of their coaches and just having an all-around good time. However, USC decided they were not going to show up.

Several players have also commented on Twitter how much they despise playing in El Paso. This lack of motivation has always haunted the Trojans.

College Football Bowl Trend of the Game

The Trojans are 1-7 ATS when facing an opponent with a win percentage of less than .333 this season

Georgia Tech’s coach Paul Johnson has more than enough reason to be motivated. The Jackets are 0-4 under Johnson in bowl games and after an average 6-6 season a bowl victory would end the season on a high note.

The Yellowjackets finished fourth in the country in rushing with 312.5 yards per game and they gave Florida State a battle in the ACC Championship Game, losing only 21-15 while being “held” to 183 rushing yards. Georgia Tech is 15-5 ATS in its last 20 games after allowing less than 170 passing yards in its previous game.

The Trojans are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games and 1-4 ATS in the last five games overall.

The Trojans have lost the turnover battle in each of their last five games, and they have lost four of those. That ratio and a serious lack of motivation will keep this game close and could provide an upset.

USC vs Georgia Tech Predictions: Georgia Tech +9

1Vice Sportsbook has the latest odds on the Bowl games and they are giving out a FREE $100 To bet on the game! To get the $100 free play to bet on football, just send an Email to griffin@1vice.ag and tell him you have the promo code Bowl Blitz! The funds will be put into your account to bet on football–open an account at 1Vice Here!

More College Football Bowl Games and Predictions

December 15th

Gildan New Mexico Bowl Predictions: Nevada vs. Arizona

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Toledo vs Utah State

December 20th

Poinsettia Bowl: BYU vs San Diego State

December 21st

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl: Ball State vs UCF

December 22nd

New Orleans Bowl: East Carolina vs LA Lafayette

MAACO Bowl: Washington vs Boise State

December 24th