BEST LINE: Pinnacle -2½ -106

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl – Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL

Posted Saturday at 7:30 AM EST.

Saturday December 20, 2014 – 9:15 PM EST. This is the first ever Camellia Bowl and the bowl constituency implemented the objective of pitting the Sun Belt against the MAC (Mid-American Conference). The representatives of each conference, University of South Alabama and Bowling Green have never met before. In fact, this is the first ever bowl game for the Jaguars and although a lack of experience may come in to question, their enthusiasm will more than make up for it. South Alabama features a QB that some say will be in the NFL one day. Brandon Bridge threw for over 1600 yards, 14 TD’s and just six picks in a run first offense.

Across from USA, the Bowling Green Falcons are coming in from a gut-wrenching lashing sustained at the hands of Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship game. In addition to the thumping they suffered, BGSU comes in on a three game skid of their own. The Falcons represented the MAC East division, as the only team with a winning record (7-6) and this is great indicator of the quality of competition of lack thereof that Bowling Green faced and an indicator of their struggles against weaker or mediocre teams. There are several examples, as the Falcons had great difficulty against a Kent State (2-9) team that is ranked among the worst in the nation. To add to the dubious résumé of Bowling Green, the Falcons won by a combined four points against two opponents (Buffalo and UMass) that would combine to win just eight games this season. To top it off, Bowling Green lost in convincing fashion to a Ball State team that failed to make a bowl game and eclipse .500. Now they Falcons have been exiled to the MAC's least desirable bowl, an early date at a venue that's far more familiar to South Alabama. The Jaguars are much more excited to prepare for and play this game so we'll lay the short price with the Jags against Bowling Green's inconsistent track record and their inability to put weaker opponents away. One really has to question Bowling Green’s motivation for even showing up here.