The Camellia Bowl is scheduled for Christmas this year and features an interesting match between Buffalo and Marshall. Both teams ended up as runners-up in their respective conferences, with Marshall losing to UAB in the Conference USA Championship Game, and Buffalo falling to Ball State in the MAC Championship Game. It will not be the first time that these teams have met, because they were conference colleagues.
Buffalo joined MAC in 1999 and has been there ever since. Marshall had two seasons at MAC, most recently joined the conference in 1997 and spent eight seasons there before leaving for Conference USA. It was during these eight years that these teams met six times. Marshall won all six games with an average of 33 points per game. As a new return to the FBS level at the time, Buffalo’s program was not on the same pattern as of late.
So, who wins this clash on Christmas Day in Montgomery, Alabama? Let’s take a closer look at the clashes and storylines to follow before making some expert choices both upward and against spread.
Storylines
Marshall: The Thundering Herd was not thundering on the extension. Marshall enters this game in a two-game losing streak and, like so many programs, has seen his season start and stop repeatedly. Marshall opened the season in early September, but after a 2-0 start, the show had to wait almost a month between games. That didn’t stop him from starting 7-0, but after another long layoff in mid-November, Herd lost 20-0 to Rice in early December. Freshman quarterback Grant Wells, who had been having a spectacular season, made five interceptions in the defeat. The Herd attack would again fight UAB in the conference title game, scoring just 268 yards and 13 points. If you were looking for hope, it is that if Marshall had won the C-USA championship, he would not have a bowl to play with. UAB went to the Gasparilla Bowl, which was canceled after South Carolina had to withdraw from the game due to problems with COVID.
Buffalo: The Bulls joined the party later than most, as the MAC only began its season in November. To put that in perspective, Marshall was already 5-0 and had three games postponed before the start of the Bulls season. While they were late, they wasted no time working, destroying their first five opponents of the season. The Bulls easily won their division and entered the MAC Championship with a 5-0 record, winning by an average of 30.8 points per game. This was mainly due to running back Jaret Patterson, who ran for 1,072 yards and 19 touchdowns in just six games. Patterson suffered an injury during Buffalo’s 38-28 loss to Ball State in the MAC Championship, but the team is hopeful that he can go against Marshall.
View information
Games: Camellia Cup
Meeting: Friday, December 25 | Time: 14:30 ET
Location: Cramton Bowl – Montgomery, Alabama
TV: ESPN | Live broadcast: fuboTV (try for free)
Camellia Bowl prediction, choices
Most recent odds:
Buffalo Bulls -5.5
I think there is value to be found in Marshall due to his two-game losing streak. The Bulls opened as a 3.5-point favorite, but the line quickly changed to 4.5. Given MAC’s tendency to struggle during the bowl season, and Buffalo’s easy schedule this season, it just makes the herd even more attractive. In addition, there is the question of whether Jaret Patterson will be able to play or not. If not, I love the herd. If he can go, I’m not such an avid fan of the play, but I would still succeed. Choose: Marshall +4.5 | Marshall 27, Buffalo 24
So whoever wins Buffalo vs. Marshall? And which side of the spread reaches 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to return to, all from the model proven in a 55-35 run in your top rated college football choices this season.