Listed at 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds, Rylie Leonard actually exceeds Georgia Tech's Haynes King by an inch in height and six pounds on the scale.

Defense wins championships. We’ve all heard this before and it applies in this matchup featuring two of the best defenses in the country. Notre Dame has had their challenges in the playoffs in recent years but that was always in the semifinals of the four-team format and Chip Kelly was the head coach.

But here at ESPN bowl prediction headquarters in downtown Indianapolis, we're not afraid of any circumstances. So let's get to the picks, from campus CFP sites through traditional bowls and all the way to the national title game on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.

SportsLine's model revealed its college football picks for Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Vanderbilt Commodores in the Birmingham Bowl 2024 on Friday

It’s bowl season, which also means it’s bowl pick ’em season. Opt-outs, transfers and coaching decisions make predicting bowl games difficult, but several members of The Athletic ’s college football staff have made picks for every bowl game and the four first-round College Football Playoff games.