The 2022 Camellia Bowl features the 6-6 Georgia Southern Eagles against the 6-6 Buffalo Bulls. Here is the 2022 Camellia Bowl preview.
Georgia Southern Eagles (6-6)
Georgia Southern won six games to make their second straight bowl game. They defeated two teams with an above .500 record in James Madison and Appalachian State. Their only loss to a team who didn’t qualify for a bowl game was to Georgia State.
The Eagles score 33.7 points per game, ranking them 30th in the country. They pass for 327 yards (ranked fourth) and rush for 140.8 yards per game (ranked 83rd).
Former Buffalo quarterback Kyle Vantrease has started for the Eagles this year. He has passed for 3,901 yards, 25 touchdowns and 15 interceptions on 61.4 percent completion. Five pass-catchers have at least 200 receiving yards on the season. Khaleb Hood leads the way with 80 receptions for 896 yards and three touchdowns. Derwin Burgess Jr. has the team-high with seven touchdown catches.
Two running backs have at least 450 rushing yards on the season for the Eagles. Jalen White has rushed for 914 yards and 10 touchdowns. Gerald Green has helped out with 475 yards and six touchdowns.
Defensively, the Eagles give up 32.3 points per game, which places them 112th in the FBS. They allow 140 rushing yards (ranked 129th) and 256.2 passing yards per game (ranked 102nd). Marques Wastson-Trent leads the team with 104 total tackles. Justin Ellis has a team-high 4.5 sacks. Tyler Bride has eight passes defended and two interceptions.
Buffalo Bulls (6-6)
Buffalo won six games in dramatic fashion to make their first bowl game since 2020. They lost to two teams who didn’t make bowl games and one FCS team. The Bulls defeated four teams who did make bowl games: Eastern Michigan, Miami (OH), Bowling Green and Toledo.
Their offense scores 29 points per game, which is tied for 62nd in the country. They pass for 232.8 yards (ranked 62nd) and rush for 143.6 yards per game (ranked 73rd).
Cole Snyder is the first-year starter for Buffalo. He 2,765 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 59.2 percent completion. Four receivers have at least 200 receiving yards. Justin Marshall has been a standout 53 receptions for 710 yards and eight touchdowns.
Three running backs have over 300 rushing yards this season for the Bulls. Mike Washington and Ron Cook have 606 and 600 rushing yards respectively. Washington has the team lead with seven rushing touchdowns. Cook has been injured since early November and is questionable.
On defense, the Bulls concede 27.1 points per game ranking them 74th in the country. They give up 174.7 rushing yards (ranked 99th) and 216.2 passing yards per game (ranked 54th). Shaun Dolac and James Patterson have both registered over 100 tackles on the season. Dolac is also tied with Daymond Williams for the team-high 4.5 sacks. Safety Marcus Fuqua has been a ball hawk with seven interceptions.
Prediction
This has all the makings of a close game. Georgia Southern has the more consistent quarterback play and should be trusted to outscore Buffalo.
Georgia Southern Eagles 31 Buffalo Bulls 29
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