Bowl breakdown: Nothing says ‘Christmas Day’ like watching Camellia Bowl

Chances are, if you’re a college football fan, you will want to watch at least some of the Camellia Bowl on Saturday. The main reason: The season is almost over, and there aren’t that many games left.

At the same time, it’s Christmas Day and the Ball State-Georgia State matchup doesn’t exactly scream, “Watch me!” (Heck, forget screaming; this one barely whispers, “Watch me!”)

Still, everyone needs a rest (for various reasons) during the Christmas Day festivities, and watching a few minutes of the Camellia Bowl might just provide that. And if history is a guide, at least this one should be close. This will be the eighth Camellia Bowl; each of the preceding seven has been a one-score game and five have been decided by five or fewer points.

Camellia Bowl

Ball State vs. Georgia State

Time/TV: 2:30 p.m., ESPN (Roy Philpott play-by-play, Hutson Mason analyst)
Venue: Crampton Bowl, in Montgomery, Ala. (capacity of 25,000)
On3 bowl ranking: 36^th (of 42)
Team records: Ball State 6-6; Georgia State 7-5
Records vs. bowl teams: Ball State 3-6; Georgia State 1-5
All-time bowl records: Ball State 1-7; Georgia State 2-2
Officiating crew: From Conference USA
Key stats: Ball State is one of the weaker offensive teams in the nation; the Cardinals are 110^th in yards per game at 335.9 and also 110^th in yards per play at 5.02. The only bowl team that averages fewer yards per play is Iowa, at 4.55 (122^nd nationally). Georgia State, meanwhile, has one of the weakest passing attacks in the nation; the Panthers are 120^th nationally in passing yards per game (155.8). Georgia State has passed for more than 200 yards in a game just twice, with a high of 246, and seven times has thrown for fewer than 145.
The line: Georgia State by 6
The buzz: Georgia State enters having won six of its past seven, with the only loss in that span a 21-17 setback against Louisiana, which finished 13-1. One more win and the Panthers — in their 12^th season playing football — will set a school single-season record for wins. Georgia State relies heavily on its running game (eighth nationally at 224.5 yards per game), but the best good gauge as to whether the Panthers are on track for a win is their rush defense. In their wins, they’ve allowed 117.9 yards game and 3.07 yards per rush; in their losses, they’ve allowed 186.2 yards per game and 4.23 yards per rush. Ball State has been a minor disappointment this season. The Cardinals won the MAC last season, but a drastic drop in offensive production — they average 113 fewer yards per game this season than in 2020 — led to a 4-4 MAC record this season. Two of the best defensive backs in their respective leagues, Ball State S Bryce Cosby and Georgia State S Antavious “Hit Stick” Lane, will be on view. Cosby is a five-year starter (he has started since his arrival on campus as a true freshman in 2017) who has 101 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and two forced fumbles this season; the bowl game will be his 56^th career start. Lane has 71 tackles, four interceptions and six pass breakups.