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The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will play in the Sun Bowl for the second straight year when they take on the USC Trojans in El Paso on Dec. 31.
The Yellow Jackets enter the game 6-7 after falling to the Florida State Seminoles, 21-15, in the ACC Championship Game. Georgia Tech reached that game as the winner of the ACC's Coastal Division due to the Miami Hurricanes' self-imposed bowl ban.
The Trojans are making their return to the postseason after a two-year hiatus due to sanctions, but they do so under very disappointing circumstances. USC entered the year atop the AP poll, but stumbled to a 7-5 record.
This game will be a clash of offensive styles, as Georgia Tech features the triple-option attack while USC uses a more pro-style offense. While the schemes are very different, the results have been similar. The Yellow Jackets are 34th in the county in scoring, and USC is one spot behind at No. 35.
Georgia Tech's fourth-ranked rushing offense is led by explosive running back Orwin Smith and quarterback Tevin Washington, who will be wrapping up a very nice career at the school. Smith is averaging 9.0 yards per carry and Washington has 19 rushing touchdowns on the season.
Matt Barkley may be back under center for USC after injuring his shoulder back in November. If Barkley does play, he will be looking for stud wide receivers Marqise Lee and Robert Woods against a Georgia Tech defense that has struggled against the pass all year.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams since 1973.
Game date and time
Dec. 31, 2 p.m. ET
Location
Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas
Spread
USC is a 9.5-point favorite.
TV schedule
CBS
Watch online
Watch live on CBSSports.com.
Radio schedule
National: Sports USA Radio Network
USC: ESPN Radio 710
Georgia Tech: 790 AM
Last year’s game
Georgia Tech fell, 30-27, in overtime to the Utah Utes.
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