Play vs Us On Underdog! Use Promo-Code: YARDSPER for a 100% deposit match up to $100
The Camellia Bowl began in 2014 and features two teams from either the Sun Belt, Conference USA, or the MAC. This year features two teams with Camellia Bowl wins. The Georgia Southern Eagles of the Sun Belt won the 2018 Camellia Bowl, defeating Eastern Michigan 23-21. The Buffalo Bulls of the MAC won the 2020 Camellia Bowl, where they beat Marshall 17-10.
When: Tuesday, December 27th @ 12:00 PM ET
Where: Montgomery, Alabama
Who: Georgia Southern vs Buffalo
Spread & Total: Georgia Southern -4; O/U 67
HEAD ON OVER TO BETUS AND USE PROMO CODE YARDSPER FOR A 125% DEPOSIT BONUS. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER.
Tale of the Tape: Georgia Southern Eagles
Georgia Southern runs a fast tempo, air raid offense. The Eagles rank 14th in plays per game at 76.7, the most in the Sun Belt. Only Mississippi State averaged more attempts per game than the Georgia Southern 47.1. Offensively, Georgia Southern will be without wide receiver Derwin Burgess Jr. (717 receiving yards) and Amare Jones (483 receiving yards), who account for half of the team’s 26 passing touchdowns. They account for the second and fourth most receiving yards on the team.
Defensively, Georgia Southern is the worst rush defense among bowl qualifying teams. They have allowed the 11th-most rushing touchdowns with 28, the second most among bowl qualifying teams (Kansas). They allow the third most yards per game; the only two teams worse – South Florida and Colorado – both went 1-11. There’s a reason this is one of the highest game totals in bowl mania at 67 points – a high powered offense and abysmal defense in Georgia Southern
Transfer Portal Departures:
DB Derrick Canteen (64 tackles, 11 pass deflections)
Players to Know:
QB Kyle Vantrease
Sixth year senior, who transferred from Buffalo after the 2021 season. 7th nationally with 3,901 passing yards. Set the school record for passing yards for a season and career with his lone 2022 season. School record with 25 passing touchdowns for a season. All-Sun Belt Third Team
LB Marques Watson-Trent
All-Sun Belt Second Team selection. 104 total tackles led the team, with 4.5 going for a loss. .5 sacks on the season, with one pass breakup and forced fumble
Tale of the Tape: Buffalo Bulls
If you thought Georgia Southern had a fast paced offense, Buffalo has them beat. Buffalo averages just over 80 plays of offense, the third highest mark in the country. They have a fairly even split with 455 pass plays to 466 rushing. Offensively speaking, the Bulls will be without their second and third leading rushers Ron Cook Jr. and Al-Jay Henderson. They account for 198 of the team’s 466 rush attempts and seven of the team’s 21 rushing touchdowns. They will also be without their second and third-string quarterbacks, who have entered the transfer portal.
Defensively, Buffalo is vulnerable on the ground. Bottom-ten in bowl eligible teams for rushing yards allowed and bottom-12 for rushing touchdowns surrendered. But the pass defense has slowed opposing offenses. The Bulls have intercepted opposing quarterbacks 12 times this season. To go with 12 fumble recoveries, Buffalo’s +9 mark in turnover margin ranks 11th in FBS.
Transfer Portal Departures:
QB Matt Myers (2nd String)
QB Casey Case (3rd String)
WR Jamari Gasssett (3rd in receiving yards with 347)
TE Trevor Borland
Player to Know:
LB Shaun Dolac
All-MAC First Defense selection. 135 total tackles ranked third nationally in the regular season. 90 solo tackles led the country. Recorded 12.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks
S Marcus Fuqua
All-MAC First Defense selection. Tied for the lead nationally with seven interceptions. 59 tackles are fourth most on team (2.5 for loss). Five pass breakups and two fumble recoveries
Bowl Game Trends:
- Georgia Southern is 3-1 in bowl games since becoming a FBS program in 2014
- Georgia Southern head coach Clay Helton is 2-3 in bowl games
- Camellia Bowl Records – Sun Belt: 5-2; MAC: 2-4
- The favorite is 6-2 in the Camellia Bowl
- First bowl game for Buffalo head coach Maurice Linguist; Buffalo is 2-3 all time in bowl games
Game Synopsis:
I believe this is the most lopsided bowl game in terms of turnover differential. Buffalo finished 11th (+9); Georgia Southern ranked 97th (-4). But Vantrease has just three interceptions in the last month (185 attempts; 1.6%). Injuries have plagued the wide receivers for Georgia Southern, but they still have leaders Khaleb Hood and Jeremy Singleton. Georgia Southern’s defense will have to slow down a middle of the road offense in Buffalo. If they can do that, I think the Eagles cover the number and win this outright
Bowl Mania Pick To Win: Georgia Southern
Bowl Mania Confidence: 25/43
Follow @DrewRoberts_ for more football content!
