Camellia Bowl: Will Bowling Green or South Alabama break their losing streak?
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
South Alabama (6-6) vs. Bowling Green (7-6)
Montgomery, Ala.
Dec 20, 2014
This is not a good matchup, especially considering the way these teams finished their respective seasons.
South Alabama won just one of its final five games, and Bowling Green lost three straight to end the season, including a 51-17 defeat to Northern Illinois in the Mid-American Conference Championship game.
What’s going to hamper South Alabama in this game is its inability to score. During that five-game stretch, the Jaguars averaged just 19 points per game. Overall, they ranked 113th nationally in scoring offense with 20.2 points per game and 87th with 372.8 yards a game.
Those numbers are unfortunate considering Bowling Green’s defense has been one of the worst in the country, allowing 33.9 per game. The Falcons have allowed more than 40 points six times this season.
However, Bowling Green has the ability to put up points quickly, but it’s had trouble in the last month finding consistency at quarterback. Sophomore James Knapke has been the team’s go-to quarterback most of the season, but was replaced in the MAC Championship by freshman Cody Callaway, who didn’t fare much better.
The Falcons do have some star power, including running back Travis Greene, who led the team with 908 yards and 10 touchdowns and receiver Roger Lewis, who had 956 yards and five scores.
South Alabama will rely on its ground game behind Kendall Houston, who had a team-best 652 yards.
Vegas odds: South Alabama (-2.5)
FUN FACT
This is the first-ever bowl appearance for South Alabama, which became the fastest program to reach a bowl game in FBS history. The Jaguars are in their second season as full FBS members and sixth season of competition.
PREDICTIONS
Graham: Even though South Alabama is favored in this one, I think it’s going to be difficult for the Jaguars to keep up with Bowling Green’s scoring. BGSU 42, South Alabama 17.
Nick: It's less than a 2.5 hour drive for the Jaguars to get to Montgomery, Ala., the site of the game. And it's USA's first bowl game ever. Bowling Green has lost three straight games. It's the upstart all the way. South Alabama 24, Bowling Green 20.
Sam: Bowling Green really struggled down the stretch. South Alabama wasn't much better, but the program is playing in its first-ever bowl game. That's tough to pick against. Plus, South Alabama is abbreviated "USA." To pick against the Jaguars would be un-American. South Alabama 27, Bowling Green 20.
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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday
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