After a 7–5 season, Georgia Tech finished 5th in the ACC. With 6 Tier 1 Bowls, it is assumed that Georgia Tech should make one. Unfortunately, many factors such as our fans will come into play and could lead to Georgia Tech dropping down to the Military or Independence Bowl. With that being said, I’m hopeful that the Belk Bowl (aka the Best Bowl) selects Georgia Tech, especially vs. Auburn.

Georgia Tech had a lot of responses to the above tweet from the Belk Bowl. The Band even got involved by buying a bowl from Belk!

This is updated but the Belk Bowl recently posted a gif of Paul Johnson and we shouldn't look too far into it but it could be a good sign!

The Belk Bowl is obviously Georgia Tech’s best chance this year for a Tier 1 bowl and there are some good reasons to be optimistic. The first of which is the social media team. It sounds weird for a bowl game to be involved on social media but the Belk Bowl has a great Twitter and Reddit account. They respond to most people but I’ve seen a lot of responses to Tech fans. Last year, they were pretty obvious with who they were picking based on their responses. Not to mention, that a lot of Georgia Tech fans have tweeted to them and replied to them showcasing their support of the team.

Update: Belk Bowl recently posted a poll on Reddit asking who they should pick (seriously) and Georgia Tech and Auburn both garnered about 70% of the votes. They also posted on twitter that they have already selected their team but their live tweets don’t really apply to Georgia Tech, unfortunately.

With Georgia Tech being the 5th best team in the ACC and there being 6/7 options for the ACC, Georgia Tech should get an ACC bowl.

Another reason to be optimistic would be the competition. Right now there are 3 teams better than Tech in the ACC (excluding Clemson). NC State will go to the Camping World Bowl (with a win this week) and Syracuse or Pittsburgh will go to the Pinstripe bowl. There is also a possibility that Pittsburgh goes to the Pinstripe Bowl and Syracuse gets selceted to the Peach or Fiesta Bowl (or vice versa). That would logically leave Georgia Tech as the team selected to the Belk Bowl.

Another reason to be optimistic is that Auburn is expected to be the SEC representative. Georgia Tech have a historic rivalry that could be a big selling point for the bowls. The final reason would be the fans. With Paul Johnson retiring, I expect a bunch of fans to travel to wherever the bowl is as it will be Paul Johnson’s final game with the Yellow Jackets.

The Athletic (Mandel): Gasparilla Bowl vs. UCF

This bowl projection is based on UCF losing this weekend. It would be a good matchup for Georgia Tech in Tampa but overall a trip to the Gasparilla would be dissapointing.

Joe Giglio (News Observer): Quick Lane Bowl/Independence Bowl

“That leaves Boston College (7–5), Duke (7–5), Georgia Tech (7–5) and Wake Forest (6–6) for spots in the Independence (Shreveport, La.), Quick Lane (Detroit), Heart of Dallas and Gasparilla (Tampa) bowls.

Since the Gasparilla Bowl is Dec. 20, the ACC gives schools the option, for academic reasons, to bypass the game.

Duke has informed the ACC it will not be available to play in the Gasparilla Bowl. Since Duke went to Detroit last year, that leaves either the Independence of the Heart of Dallas bowl as options for the Blue Devils.”

Joe Giglio: Unknown

Unfortunately due to our fans, Miami and Virginia getting better bowls than us won’t be suprising and could very easily happen.

SB Nation: Belk Bowl vs. Vanderbilt

I love the bowl but hate the matchup because I’m a Vanderbilt fan because my father went there. Of course, I would cheer for Georgia Tech but it may be a problem. Either way, this would be a great selection!

USA Today & Sports Illustrated: Military Bowl vs. Cincinatti

The Tier II bowl selects Georgia Tech in this bowl projection. Unfortuantely for Georgia Tech, Cincinatti is 10–2, albeit in the American conference, and has a fantastic rushing defense.

College Football News: Pinstripe Bowl vs. Michigan State

A very suprising selection for Georgia Tech. This seems like one of the most unlikely outcomes for Georgia Tech as the only southern ACC team the Pinstripe Bowl has ever selected was Duke in 2015. Not to mention, the Pinstripe Bowl will gave the option to take Syracuse and Pittsburgh who both had better years.

Athlon Sports: Independence Bowl vs. Louisiana Tech

Malachi Carter celebrating his first touchdown vs. Duke (Hyosub Shin/ AJC)

A Tier II bowl but it seems to be an easy matchup for Georgia Tech.The same article has Virginia in the Belk Bowl, NC State in the Camping World Bowl, Virginia Tech in the Military Bowl, Pittsburgh in the Sun Bowl, Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl, and Miami in the Gator Bowl.

College Sports Madness: Sun Bowl vs. Arizona State

A Tier I bowl that looks to be unlikely.

Stadium/Brett McMurphy: Independence Bowl vs. Lousiana Tech

The same as Athlon but once again a dissapointment.

24/7 Sports: Camping World Bowl vs. Temple

“As for the other game here, Georgia Tech vs. Temple would highlight two red-hot offenses — sans the Yellow Jackets’ loss on Saturday at Georgia — with two very different philosophies.”

This would be a great situation but when you’re the 4th best team eligible, it’s extremely unlikely the first choice will pick you, especially over an in-state school. These projections also have Virginia in the Belk Bowl, Virginia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl, Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl, and NC State as another option for the Camping World Bowl.

Sporting News: Birmingham Bowl vs. Memphis

An odd bowl for sure considering it doesn’t have an automatic ACC tie-in and there aren’t enough ACC teams for the ACC bowls to overflow.

College Football Talk (NBC Sports): Belk Bowl vs. South Carolina

Suprising that CFB talk chose South Carolina as the opponent for this game over other SEC teams but the Belk Bowl would still be a great bowl for us!

CBS Sports: Military Bowl vs. Temple

Charlie Thomas (Freshman) celebrates (Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)

Another Tier II bowl that seems likely, Georgia Tech would travel to Annapolis to face Temple.

Orlando Sentinel: Music City Bowl vs. South Carolina

An odd choice. Not because of the bowl but because with Vanderbilt being bowl eligible, I doubt they go anywhere but the Music City Bowl. Going to the Music City Bowl would still be an achievement though.

Bleacher Report: Gasparilla Bowl vs. USF

If Georgia Tech makes the Gasparilla Bowl despite being the 5th best team in the coastal, it would be a big dissapointment. Unfortunately for Tech, it seems one of the most likely destinations and with the finals schedule this year, Tech wouldn’t be able to decline for academic reasons.

This same article has NC State in the Belk Bowl, Virginia in the Quick Lane Bowl, Duke in the Military Bowl, and Virginia Tech in the Independence Bowl.

ESPN Bonagura: Music City Bowl vs. Mississippi State

Paul Johnson will coach his final game for Georgia Tech and will have the chance to win his 3rd straight bowl game (Stephen B. Morton/AP)

This would be the 2nd bowl meeting of Georgia Tech and Mississippi State in the last 4 years. The last one didn’t go too poorly, though!

ESPN Sherman: Military Bowl vs. USF

A rematch of the 43–37 thriller earlier this season, the matchup has all the makings of another one. Would be surprised though if a Florida Team is selected to a bowl in the North though.

Jerry Ratcliffe: Not the Belk Bowl

Overall, if Georgia Tech misses a tier I bowl despite being the 5th best team in the ACC, the fans are to blame. Bowls rarely select on merit anymore. Now, bowls select more on fan support among other things. 37,000 on a good weather day to win 6 out of 7 isn’t going to impress the Bowl selection committee.

Final Tally

Music City Bowl: 3 (2 vs. South Carolina and 1 vs. Mississippi State)

Military Bowl: 3 (vs. Cincinnati, vs. Temple, and vs. USF)

Belk Bowl: 2 (vs. Vanderbilt and vs. South Carolina)

Independence Bowl: 2 (vs. Louisiana Tech)

Gasparilla Bowl : 2 (vs. UCF and vs. USF)

Camping World Bowl: 1 (vs. Temple)

Birmingham Bowl: 1 (vs. Memphis)

Sun Bowl: 1 (vs. Arizona State)

Pinstripe Bowl: 1 (vs. Michigan State)