Georgia Southern, Buffalo to meet in Camellia Bowl on Dec. 27

Georgia Southern and Buffalo will play in the Camellia Bowl on Dec. 27. Both teams won in their previous trips to Montgomery, Alabama. They're both 6-6 and became bowl eligible with close wins in their regular-season finales. Georgia Southern beat Appalachian State 51-48 in double overtime and Buffalo edged Akron 23-22. The Eagles led by former USC coach Clay Helton. Georgia Southern quarterbck Kyle Vantrease played for Buffalo from 2017-21 and was the team's starting quarterback in the Camellia Bowl two years ago. Buffalo is led by All-Mid-American Conference linebacker Shaun Dolac.

LOCATION: Montgomery, Alabama

TOP PLAYERS

Georgia Southern: LB Marques Watson-Trent, 105 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1 forced fumble.

Buffalo: LB Shaun Dolac, first-team All-MAC, 134 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 12.5 TFLs, 2 forced fumbles, 7 pass breakups.

NOTABLE

Both teams won in their previous Camellia Bowl appearances and became bowl eligible with down-to-the-wire regular-season ending victories. Georgia Southern beat Nebraska 45-42 on Sept. 10 under former USC coach Clay Helton. Buffalo rebounded from an 0-3 start. Georgia Southern QB Kyle Vantrease played for Buffalo from 2017-21 and started in the team's Camellia Bowl appearance.

LAST TIME

First meeting.

BOWL HISTORY

Georgia Southern: 3-1 in bowls; won Camellia Bowl in 2018.

Buffalo: 2-3 in bowls, won 2020 Camellia Bowl.