At first glance, the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl matchup between 6-6 South Alabama and 7-6 Bowling Green may represent a successful argument of there being too many bowls. But for the teams involved, it’s a chance to finish off the 2014 season on a positive note. For the Falcons from Bowling Green in particular, it’s a chance to right a wrong from a season ago.
Bowling Green was 10-3 last year entering its Little Caesars Bowl game against the Pittsburgh Panthers. A victory would have left the Falcons with an impressive 11-win season and a six-game winning streak to end the year. However, Bowling Green wasn’t able to get the job done, losing to the Panthers 30-27 and finishing its best season since 2003 at 10-4.
The strength of last year’s Falcons was the defense, which gave up fewer than 10 points on seven occasions, including four games in a row. This season, Bowling Green has struggled on that side of the ball, conceding nearly 34 points a game, putting it 108th in the country. But this Camellia Bowl matchup might be the tonic Bowling Green needs. The South Alabama Jaguars are no offensive juggernaut, posting a meager 22 points a game, 107th nationally.
Both teams are similar in the running game, picking up 175 to 180 yards a game, but where the Falcons have a significant advantage is in the passing game. Bowling Green is far more dangerous through the air than South Alabama. The Falcons average 176 yards rushing and 251 passing per game, while the Jaguars check in with 182 rushing and 190 passing.
The difference in the game will be Bowling Green quarterback James Knapke and whether or not he can avoid turnovers. Knapke’s touchdown to interception ratio this season isn’t impressive (13:12), but he has thrown for 2,805 yards and has only been sacked 18 times. Before his two interceptions in the MAC Championship Game loss to Northern Illinois, Knapke had only thrown one pick in his previous four games.
His yardard is down recently (120 per game in the last three), but South Alabama’s defense may not be able to continue that trend.
The Jaguars have struggled against decent competition this season, losing 35-3 to Mississippi State, 28-6 to Georgia Southern, and 37-12 to South Carolina. None of South Alabama’s wins are particularly notable. The combined record of the opponents South Alabama has beaten is a woeful 21-49 (.300).
Bowling Green is a step up in competition for the Jaguars, and as long as Knapke takes care of the football, that should spell a much more satisfying end to the season for the Falcons after their disappointment to close 2013.
Score prediction: Bowling Green 28, South Alabama 13.
Ed Morgans is an ACC Basketball Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @writered21 and add him to your network on Google.