Georgia Tech heading to Champs Sports Bowl

ATLANTA - Georgia Tech finally will play in a bowl that's not too far from home.

After being sent out West for three straight years, the Yellow Jackets (6-5) formally accepted an invitation to the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on Tuesday.

The announcement had been expected since the weekend, when Virginia said it would not play in a bowl on Dec. 13-21 because of exams.

The Champs Sports Bowl, formerly known as the Tangerine, will be held Dec. 21. The Yellow Jackets will meet a still-to-be determined team from the Big 12.

Georgia Tech played the last three years in the Seattle Bowl, the Silicon Valley Bowl in San Jose, Calif., and the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho.

This year, the Yellow Jackets got a couple of major breaks despite losing their last two games to Virginia and Georgia.

First, Clemson withdrew from bowl consideration as punishment for an ugly brawl in its final regular-season game against South Carolina. Then, Virginia's class schedule prevented an appearance in the Orlando game, which had fourth pick among Atlantic Coast Conference teams.

The Cavaliers are expected to play in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., on Dec. 28. That game has an opening because the Southeastern Conference doesn't have enough eligible teams to meet its bowl commitments.