Camellia Bowl Betting 2023 Odds, Predictions, Preview

The Buffalo Bulls defeated the Georgia Southern Eagles 23-21 in the 2022 Camellia Bowl.

Check out last year's coverage here below and tune back in with us soon for the 2023 Camellia Bowl Odds, Picks and Predictions.

Two 6-6 teams are looking to close out their seasons with a win and lock up a winning record in the Camellia Bowl on Tuesday afternoon. The Georgia Southern Eagles had an up-and-down first year under Clay Helton, but he is changing the culture of a program that used to define itself with the triple option.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bulls were in contention to win the MAC East for most of the season but needed a late comeback against lowly Akron to become bowl eligible. These teams will meet in the Camellia Bowl on Tuesday, December 27, at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN from the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama.

Georgia Southern Eagles vs. Buffalo Bulls Betting Prediction

This is expected to be one of the highest scoring games of bowl season even though it will be played outdoors. Six of the eight previous Camellia Bowl games have had at least 59 points scored, so history points in that direction too. However, the loss of several skill position players for both teams will lead to this game going under the total.

Score Prediction: Georgia Southern 31, Buffalo 27
Best Bet: Under 67.5

Georgia Southern Eagles vs. Buffalo Bulls Betting Odds

Camellia Bowl Betting Resources

• Date: Tuesday, December 27, 2022
• TV-Time: ESPN, 12:00 p.m. ET
• Venue: Cramton Bowl
• Location: Montgomery, Alabama
• Expert Picks

Updated on 11/15/2023

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Georgia Southern Betting Analysis

Georgia Southern has been defined by the triple option for decades. However, the Eagles have decided to take a page from Georgia Tech and modernize in order to try and stay relevant in the modern era. They brought in Clay Helton after he was fired from USC to help with the transition, and this team ended up having one of the top offenses in the Sun Belt during his first year at the helm.

Sixth-year quarterback Kyle Vantrease was brought in to help ease the transition. Vantrease ended up being one of the top quarterbacks in the Sun Belt, completing 61.4% of his passes for 3,901 yards with 25 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Interestingly enough, Vantrease spent five years at Buffalo before transferring to Georgia Southern prior to this season in order to air it out more. The Bulls are a very run heavy team, and Vantrease threw a total of 588 passes in his three seasons as a starter from 2019 to 2021. He has thrown 559 passes so far this season.

The Eagles will be without their two best red zone threats in the passing game. Amare Jones and Derwin Burgess Jr. both suffered season-ending injuries earlier this year, and they were responsible for 13 receiving touchdowns. Fortunately, Georgia Southern still has leading pass catchers Khaleb Hood and Jeremy Singleton. Jalen White is the top rusher on the Eagles (5.6 YPC) and 10 touchdowns, and he is the third leading active receiver on the squad.

Defensively, Georgia Southern is one of the worst teams in the country. The Eagles rank 124th in Defensive SP+. They are allowing a whopping 520.2 YPG, and that’s the second-most of any team in the country. Both the run defense and pass defense have had a rough go of it, but we did see a little improvement over the course of the season. Unfortunately, top cornerback Derrick Canteen won’t play after entering the transfer portal.

Buffalo Bulls Betting Analysis

Sophomore Cole Snyder transferred in from Rutgers to become Buffalo’s quarterback after Vantrease headed south to Georgia Southern in the offseason. Snyder posted decent numbers in his first year as a starter, completing 59.2% of his passes for 2,765 yards (6.6 YPA) with 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The Bulls can’t afford for him to suffer an injury in this game as running quarterback Matt Myers and third-string quarterback Casey Case both entered the transfer portal.

Two of Buffalo’s top three running backs will be unavailable due to injury. Al-Jay Henderson and Ron Cook Jr. went down in November, so Mike Washington will see a ton of carries. Washington ran for 606 yards (4.2 YPC) and seven touchdowns in the regular season. Justin Marshall and Quian Williams are the two receivers to watch in the passing game after Jamari Gassett entered the transfer portal.

Buffalo’s defense ranks 98th in SP+. They have had a tough time against quality ground games, allowing 5.1 YPC, but the pass defense has been solid. Marcus Fuqua was a First Team All-MAC selection and is tied for first nationally with seven interceptions, while Shaun Dolac was the heart and soul of the defense and led the team in tackles and was tied for the team lead in sacks and passes defensed.

Camellia Bowl History

The Camellia Bowl bowl began in 2014, and the matchup currently features schools from the Sun Belt and Mid-American Conference (MAC). The game takes place at the Cramton Bowl from Montgomery, Alabama.

Bowling Green captured the inaugural Camellia Bowl with a 33-28 victory against South Alabama. In the first two games of this bowl game, the 'over' cashed each time, averaging a total of 60.5 points.

Appalachian State won both the 2015 and 2016 editions, and both victories came on a late field goal for the Mountaineers. In 2017, it was Middle Tennessee State of Conference USA springing the slight upset over Arkansas State, 35-30.

Georgia Southern slipped past Eastern Michigan in 2018, but failed to cover as a short favorite. The Sun Belt made it four wins in five seasons when Arkansas State knocked off FIU as a slight underdog in 2019, as 'dogs improved to 4-2 ATS all-time in this bowl.

In the 2020 version, Buffalo helped the MAC regain some revenge with a 17-10 win over Marshall of the Conference USA. But in 2021, it was Georgia State of the Sun Belt Conference putting it on Ball State of the MAC, winning 51-20 to nearly take care of the 'over' themselves. Favorites have now cashed in each of the past two Camellia Bowls after underdogs went 4-1 ATS in the previous five installments.

For more coverage of bowl season, check out our College Football Bowl Central!