The Georgia Southern Eagles (9-3) and Eastern Michigan Eagles (7-5) will meet in the 2018 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl on Saturday, December 15.
Georgia Southern has made one of the most impressive turnarounds in college football in just their sixth season in FBS play and fifth in the Sun Belt Conference. The Eagles were coming off a 2-10 finish in 2017, the worst record in school history before going 9-3 in 2018, which included a 34-14 victory over Sun Belt champion Appalachian State.
"I am very proud of our program and very proud of the turnaround of this football team," Georgia Southern coach Chris Lunsford said. "This is an opportunity they did not receive last year. I think it's very important to make sure they take this in and understand what it took to get here.
"We are honored to be invited to the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. To compete in a bowl game for the second time is a really big thing for our program."
Georgia Southern uses a triple-option offense and has the sixth most rushing attempts in the FBS. The Eagles lead the nation in turnover margin (+22) and had a total of five all season (zero interceptions).
Georgia Southern doesn't have a single 1,000-yard rusher yet, but has two players on the cusp of the plateau in running back Wesley Fields (959 yards) and quarterback Shai Werts (822 yards).
Eastern Michigan provides the perfect matchup for a competent option-based offense. The Eagles have allowed the second-fewest rushing touchdowns (17) in the MAC conference and have been excellent at forcing turnovers with a team total of 24, including defensive lineman Maxx Crosby's conference-best four fumbles forced.
Eastern Michigan's biggest win came on a 20-19 victory over Purdue on Sept. 8. Freshman kicker Chad Ryland connected on a 24-yard field goal as time expired while quarterback Tyler Wiegers recorded 312 yards and a touchdown on 20 of 28 passing.
Here's the info you need to know for tonight's game.
Event: Camellia Bowl
Date: Saturday, Dec. 15
Location: Cramton Bowl -- Montgomery, Alabama
Start time: 5:30 p.m. ET
TV channel: ESPN
Live stream: fuboTV (free trial available) and WatchESPN
Odds: Georgia Southern -3.0, 45.0 via Bovada
Prediction:
Ben Kercheval, CBS Sports:
"Take the under (point total is 47.5) and enjoy what should be a tight game. With Georgia Southern's ball security and Eastern Michigan's ball-hawking defense, something is going to give. Pick: Georgia Southern -1.5"
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