What they're saying

"Georgia Tech's Jon Tenuta is the best defensive coordinator in college football. The challenge for Utah is that it's hard to sustain drives on this defense. Georgia Tech held Auburn, Georgia and Miami to very little offensive production this season. Georgia Tech is the better team. They're a very solid team, a very good team."

— Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN.com

"As Utah prepares to meet Georgia Tech in the Emerald Bowl next Thursday, its game plan will undoubtedly center on a way to contain Georgia Tech running back P.J. Daniels. In Tech's last two bowl games, Daniels has been unstoppable, rushing for 426 yards and six touchdowns. Needless to say, Tech won those two bowl games by a combined score of 103-24."

— Boston Herald

"The No. 24 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets won't make apologies for thinking they deserve better than a Dec. 29 date with the Utah Utes at the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco. With wins over perennial powerhouses Clemson, Miami and Auburn, the 7-4 Yellow Jackets believed they were a lock for a bid in either the Peach Bowl or the Music City Bowl. Unfortunately, organizers thought differently and the Jackets are now headed to California."

— USA Today.com

"Utah would be a far more intriguing bowl team if QB Brian Johnson was available. Yeah, Brett Ratliff was fantastic against BYU, but the Georgia Tech defense will be prepared.

"Fearless prediction: Georgia Tech 34, Utah 16"

— FoxSports.com

"Georgia Tech should have a fast track for its game against Utah in the Emerald Bowl. You always wonder about the quality of the playing surface for football in a baseball stadium, but the weather is expected to cooperate."

— Atlanta Journal Constitution