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Sam Houston Bearkats vs Georgia Southern Eagles December 19th 2024
Georgia Southern is favored at -5.5 points as they take on the Sam Houston Bearkats in a non-conference matchup on Thursday, December 19th. The game is set to kick off at 7:00 ET from the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans and will be broadcast on ESPN2. The over/under line is currently at 46.5 points. The money line odds are -207 for Georgia Southern and +168 for Sam Houston. The R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl is technically a home game for Georgia Southern, who comes in with an 8-4 record, while Sam Houston is 9-3 this season.
Georgia Southern vs. Sam Houston Key Information
- Teams: Eagles at Bearkats
- Where: Caesars Superdome New Orleans
- Date: Thursday, December 19th
- Betting Odds GAS -207 | SMHO +168 O/U 46.5
The Eagles Can Win If…
Georgia Southern enters their Week 1 matchup against Sam Houston with an 8-4 record. They’ve gone 4-2 on the road and 3-2 at home this season. The Eagles have been favored in four of their 12 games, going 2-2 as the favorite. Their average scoring margin is +0.8 points per game.
Against the spread, Georgia Southern is 7-3-1, with a 4-2 record on the road and a 3-1-1 mark at home. As the underdog, they’ve gone 5-1 ATS, while their record as the favorite is 1-2-1.
The over/under line for this week is 46.5 points. Georgia Southern’s games have averaged 55.5 points, with an average line of 58.3. Their over/under record is 4-7, with 11 games featuring higher lines than this week’s total.
Georgia Southern’s offense ranks 48th in points per game, averaging 28.2, and they are 62nd in our offensive power rankings heading into week 1. Their passing game is the focal point, ranking 23rd in completions and averaging 239.9 yards per game. They are 20th in both completion percentage and third-down conversion rate.
JC French, the team’s quarterback, has thrown for 2,619 yards with a 66% completion rate, and he has 16 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 92. Jalen White leads the rushing attack with 655 yards and 13 touchdowns. Derwin Burgess Jr. has 603 receiving yards on 53 catches.
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Georgia Southern’s defense allowed 20 points in their recent game against Appalachian State, but they gave up 488 total yards, including 290 passing yards and 198 rushing yards. They did manage to force two interceptions in the game.
On the season, Georgia Southern ranks 60th in the country, allowing 27.3 points per game. They’ve given up an average of 262.4 passing yards per game (155th) and 183.2 rushing yards per game. Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of 90.2 and a completion percentage of 62.9% against them.
- Georgia Southern has put together a record of 2-1 over their past three games. The team has also been excellent vs the spread, going 2-1. Their over-under record in these games was 0-3.
- Through their last ten regular season contests, Georgia Southern has a record of 7-3. This includes going 6-3-1 vs. the spread along with an over-under mark of 4-6.
The Bearkats Can Win If…
Sam Houston enters Week 13 with a 9-3 record, boasting a 5-1 mark at home and a 3-2 record on the road. They’ve been favored in six games this season, going 5-1 in those matchups. As underdogs, they’ve posted a 3-2 record. Their average scoring margin for the season is +3.2 points per game.
Against the spread, Sam Houston is 6-5, covering four out of six home games. As favorites, they are 3-3 ATS, while they’ve gone 3-2 against the spread as underdogs.
The over/under record for Sam Houston’s games is 3-8, with their contests averaging 43.2 points. This week’s line is set at 46.5 points, compared to their average over/under line of 50.4 points this season.
Sam Houston’s offense has been heavily reliant on their rushing attack, ranking 10th in the nation with 42.5 attempts per game and averaging 192.4 rushing yards, placing them 31st overall. Jay Ducker leads the ground game with 719 yards and seven touchdowns.
Overall, the Bearkats are averaging 23.2 points per game, and we have them ranked 112th in our offensive power rankings heading into week 10. Quarterback Hunter Watson has thrown for 1,598 yards with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 79.
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Sam Houston’s defense has been a bright spot this season, ranking 16th nationally by allowing just 20 points per game. In their latest game, they forced two interceptions and held Liberty to 18 points, giving up only 83 passing yards.
Opponents have averaged 174.1 passing yards per game against Sam Houston, the 19th-lowest mark in the country. The Bearkats have also allowed 142.3 rushing yards per game on 35.8 attempts per contest.
- Spanning across their last three games, Sam Houston have gone 2-1. This includes going 1-2 vs. the spread and posting an over-under mark of 0-3.
- Over their last ten regular season games, the Sam Houston Bearkats have gone 7-3 straight up. Across these games, their ATS record was just 5-5, while posting an over-under record of 4-6.
The Lean
Sam Houston is the +5.5 point underdog at home in their week one matchup against Georgia Southern. We’re picking Sam Houston to not only cover the spread but to win outright, with a projected final score of 27-16 in their favor.
With the over/under line set at 46.5 points, our projection of 43 total points suggests that taking the under is the best play.
Sam Houston Faces Georgia Southern in Historic New Orleans Bowl Clash
The Sam Houston Bearkats will make their first-ever bowl appearance on Thursday against the Georgia Southern Eagles in the New Orleans Bowl at the iconic Caesars Superdome. The matchup is steeped in history, as both programs transitioned from FCS powerhouses to the FBS level, with seven combined national championships at the lower level.
Sam Houston: A New Era Without Keeler
Sam Houston (9-3) enters this bowl game with a mix of excitement and transition. After leading the program for 11 seasons, including a 2021 FCS national championship, head coach K.C. Keeler resigned to take the top job at Temple University. Offensive coordinator Brad Cornelsen will serve as interim head coach for the Bearkats.
Cornelsen praised the resilience of his team as they cap off a successful season:
“This group of players, particularly our seniors, has been through so much to move our program forward,” Cornelsen said. “This is an opportunity for us to close our season with 10 wins in one of the most historic venues in the country.”
The Bearkats just missed out on a Conference USA championship appearance but excelled on defense this year, leading the conference by allowing just 20 points per game and 315.6 yards per game.
Key defensive standouts include:
- Caleb Weaver: 7.3 tackles per game
- Kavian Gaither: 7.1 tackles per game
- Chris Murray: 5.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss
On offense, quarterback Hunter Watson has been the catalyst, showcasing his dual-threat ability with 1,598 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 623 rushing yards with seven scores. Running back Jay Ducker (719 rushing yards, 7 TDs) and receiver Simeon Evans (44 catches, 5 TDs) provide additional firepower. The Bearkats’ offensive line, anchored by Ethan Hagler and James Dawn II, will look to control the trenches.
Georgia Southern: A Bowl-Season Veteran
Under head coach Clay Helton, Georgia Southern (8-4) is making its third straight bowl appearance and seventh overall since transitioning to the FBS level. The Eagles finished second in the Sun Belt East Division and enter this game with plenty of talent on both sides of the ball.
The defense is led by Marques Watson-Trent, the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. Watson-Trent ranks eighth nationally with 110 tackles (10 per game), anchoring a gritty defense that will look to contain Sam Houston’s run-heavy attack.
On offense, Georgia Southern has relied on balance and veteran leadership:
- JC French: 2,619 passing yards, 16 touchdowns
- Jalen White: 654 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns
- Derwin Burgess Jr.: 53 receptions, 3 TDs
- Dalen Cobb: 50 receptions, 4 TDs
- Josh Dallas: 41 receptions, 5 TDs
The Eagles’ offensive line, featuring all-conference selections Bryson Broadway, Caleb Cook, and Pichon Wimbley, has been instrumental in keeping the offense rolling.
Linebacker Watson-Trent praised the team’s identity:
“It’s the type of people we recruit here. It’s a blue-collar mentality and that’s what we stand on.”
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Key Matchup: Sam Houston Defense vs. Georgia Southern Offense
Sam Houston’s top-ranked Conference USA defense will face its biggest test against Georgia Southern’s balanced attack. If the Bearkats’ defense, led by Murray, Weaver, and Gaither, can generate pressure and force mistakes, they’ll give their offense a chance to control the tempo.
On the other side, Georgia Southern’s offensive line will need to open up lanes for Jalen White and protect JC French to exploit the Bearkats’ defense.
What’s at Stake
For Sam Houston, this game marks a historic moment in their football journey. A win would cement their successful transition to the FBS level and deliver a 10-win season under challenging circumstances.
For Georgia Southern, a victory would continue their upward trajectory under Clay Helton and highlight their ability to thrive in the postseason, especially in familiar territory—the Eagles won the 2020 New Orleans Bowl against Louisiana Tech.
The Bottom Line
Both teams enter the matchup with a strong sense of pride and plenty to play for. Sam Houston’s elite defense will clash with Georgia Southern’s well-rounded offense, making this an intriguing battle of styles.
Will the Bearkats rally around their interim coach to make history, or will the Eagles’ postseason experience and blue-collar mentality carry them to victory? Either way, the New Orleans Bowl promises to be a hard-fought showdown between two programs on the rise.
