In retrospect, Georgia Southern head coach Clay Helton is appealing. Previously, Helton was fired as head coach of the USC Trojans in 202. Helton was never fully accepted by the faithful when he won a Rose Bowl and a Pac-12 conference championship. In turn Helton was replaced by the flavor of the day, Lincoln Riley. Riley was sold as an offensive mastermind. Instead, Riley has a worse College Football odds record than Helton at the same point of his USC career. Helton has Georgia Southern in a bowl game for the third straight season.
New Orleans Bowl Georgia Southern Eagles vs. Sam Houston Bearkats
| Date and Time: | Thursday, December 19, 2024, 7 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Ceasars Superdome, New Orleans, LA |
| TV Coverage: | ESPN2 |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Southern | -6 -110 | 49 -105 | -215 |  |
| Sam Houston St | +6 -110 | 49 -115 | +183 | |
| ||||
New Orleans Bowl Overview
The Sun Belt has won this bowl in seven of the past nine years. Including four straight victories by Louisiana–Lafayette from 2011-14. However, in 2015, Louisiana Tech snapped that streak with a 47-28 win over Arkansas State.
Last year, Zion Webb completed a fourth-down pass to Perry Carter for an 18-yard, tying touchdown with 1:46 left in regulation. Also, freshman Garrison Rippa converted the second field goal attempt of his career from 27 yards in overtime. Hence, Jacksonville State capped off its first season in the Football Bowl Subdivision with a 34-31 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette.
Founded in 2001, the New Orleans Bowl is a perfect event for Group of Five programs wanting a post-season reward. And with conference tie-ins to the Sun Belt and CUSA, most fan bases are nearby and eager to come to New Orleans for a great time. Specifically, the New Orleans Bowl is played at the Caesars Superdome, home of the NFL New Orleans Saints. The payout is $825,000.
Georgia Southern Eagles Team Overview
Last game, the Georgia Southern Eagles won 29-20 against the Appalachian State Mountaineers as 2.5-point home favorites. The game went under the online wagering total of 60.5. Georgia Southern has a record of 8-4 straight up, 8-3-1 against the spread, and 5-7 over/under the total. Georgia Southern ranks 92nd for total offense, 52nd for passing, 102nd for rushing, and 65th for scoring. Defensively, they rank 120th overall, 123rd against the pass, 104th against the rush, and 84th for points allowed. Also, Georgia Southern ranks 69th for fewest turnovers lost and 33rd for takeaways.
Sam Houston Bearkats Team Overview
Last game, the Sam Houston Bearkats won 20-18 against the Liberty Flames as 2.5-point home dogs. The game went under the College Football odds total of 48. Sam Houston has a record of 9-3 straight up, 6-6 against the spread, and 3-9 over/under the total. Sam Houston ranks 96th for total offense, 123rd for passing, 29th for rushing, and 102nd for scoring. Defensively, they rank 19th overall, 10th against the pass, 55th against the rush, and 19th for points allowed. Also, Sam Houston ranks 39th for fewest turnovers lost and 39th for takeaways.
New Orleans Bowl SBG Free Picks
In this situation, Sam Houston head coach KC Keeler is gone, and defensive coordinator Brad Conelsen is taking over as interim head coach. Georgia State has more stability and a good body of work. In turn, Helton has improved the program in his three years. Sam Houston will likely lose players for this game to the transfer portal.
New Orleans Bowl SBG Best Bet: Georgia Southern Eagles.