2021 Camellia Bowl Preview: Ball State vs. Georgia State

The Ball State Cardinals won their first bowl game in school history last season. They will try to go back-to-back against a Georgia State team which did well to make a bowl game in 2021.

Ball State Cardinals vs. Georgia State Panthers
Date: Saturday, December 25th, 2:30 PM ET

Location: Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL

CFB Odds: Georgia State -4.5

Ball State Cardinals

There’s no getting around the fact that Ball State’s offense is limited. In total offense, the Cardinals are 109th in the country. Coach Mike Neu delivered a strong 2020 season leading to a 7-1 overall record with a win over the undefeated and highly impressive San Jose State Spartans. Outside of that lone season, Ball State has four losing seasons in Neu’s five years as the guy in charge, but the 2020 season shows what is possible for the Cardinals. Making a bowl game this year on the heels of the 2020 success story shows that Neu is capable of sustaining the program.

Drew Plitt needs to have a good game if the Cardinals want to have any shot of winning this bowl battle. Plitt has 2,248 passing yards on the season with 17 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He also has another 150 yards on the ground with one touchdown. If he can get going early and often, the Cardinals can give Georgia State’s defense plenty of trouble. The Panthers have an 86th-ranked total defense, well below average. This means there will be chances for the Cardinals to take advantage and score enough to give their defense sufficient help against GSU. 

Georgia State Panthers

The Panthers enter this game having won six of their last seven games. The only loss in that time was their 21-17 defeat at Louisiana. Georgia State led that game until the final three minutes. Seven overall wins is a program record for the Panthers, who could make it eight with a win over a vulnerable Ball State team. The Panthers have the nation’s eighth-ranked rushing attack; they average 224.5 yards per game. Darren Gainger is the guy behind the offense, a dual-threat quarterback. He has 1,512 passing yards on the season to go with 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He also has 553 rushing yards on just 122 attempts with another two scores. If he can get running backs Tucker Gregg and Jamyest Williams going, they have a combined 1,709 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns between the two of them. That’s how GSU can control the clock and win. On defense, Georgia State has held five of its opponents, including Auburn, to only one offensive touchdown and collected 84 tackles for a loss in those same five games. If the Panthers can churn out one of those defensive performances and combine it with a rushing clinic, program history is within reach.

Outlook

Georgia State is tougher, stronger and faster than Ball State. The Panthers are going to win battles at the line of scrimmage and prevail in this game by a touchdown.

Cardinals vs. Panthers Prediction:

Panthers 23, Cardinals 16