2018 College Football Playoff, bowl game predictions with confidence picks
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
Georgia Southern (9-3) vs Eastern Michigan (7-5)
Montgomery, Alabama
December 15 – 5:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
It was tough to get an accurate gauge on the quality of Georgia Southern this season because they had remarkable turnover luck. The Eagles were a +22 in turnover margin, a full six more than any other team.
Georgia Southern does a remarkable job taking care of the football, only turning it over five times all season long. Their option attack, led by QB Shai Werts and RB Wesley Fields is tough to stop, particularly against opponents who aren’t used to defending it. They grind it out and keep the opposing offense on the sideline for long stretches of game time.
This game still feels like a toss-up to me, though, because Georgia Southern’s greatest asset (turnovers) is neutralized against an Eastern Michigan team that ranks among the nation’s best in turnover margin as well. If the Eagles from the MAC avoid turning the ball over, then they have a shot at knocking off the Eagles from the Sun Belt.
Eastern Michigan is hot, having won five of their last six games to finish the season after a 2-4 start, but I think Georgia Southern’s ball-control offense will prove to be the difference in a close game.