Northern Illinois will make their 12th bowl appearance in the last 16 seasons when they meet Arkansas State in the Camellia Bowl. The Huskies will play in a bowl game for the 20th time in school history. Also, it is the 15th time as a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team. To show, 14 of those 15 appearances are since 2004. NIU won five of its last seven games to finish the regular season with a 6-6 record, 5-3 in the Mid-American Conference. Five of the Huskies’ six College Football Betting losses in 2023 came by a combined 22 points.
Camellia Bowl Arkansas State Red Wolves vs. Northern Illinois Huskies Info
| Date and Time: | Saturday, December 23, 2023, 12 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL. |
| TV Coverage: | ESPN |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | -1 -110 | 53½ -110 | -110 |  |
| Northern Illinois | +1 -110 | 53½ -110 | -110 | |
| ||||
Camellia Bowl Format
The Camellia Bowl began in 2014, and the matchup currently features schools from the Sun Belt and Mid-American Conference. Specifically, the game takes place at the Cramton Bowl from Montgomery, Alabama.
Camellia Bowl Recent Results
Georgia Southern slipped past Eastern Michigan in 2018. But they failed to cover as a short favorite. The Sun Belt made it four wins in five seasons when Arkansas State knocked off Florida International as a slight offshore betting underdog in 2019. As a result, dogs improved to 4-2 ATS in this bowl.
In the 2020 version, Buffalo helped the MAC regain some revenge with a 17-10 win over Marshall of the Conference USA. But in 2021, Georgia State of the Sun Belt Conference put it on Ball State of the MAC, winning 51-20. Also, they nearly took care of the ‘over’ themselves.
Buffalo beat Georgia Southern 23-21 in the 2022 Camellia Bowl. Additionally, Cole Snyder threw for 265 yards and a TD and Tajay Ahmed rushed for 98 yards and a score. Justin Marshall was Buffalo’s top receiver with 11 catches, 127 yards, and a TD. Hence, Marshall was the game’s MVP.
Camellia Bowl Matchup
Last game, the Arkansas State Red Wolves lost 35-21 against the Marshall Thundering Herd as 1.5-point road dogs. The game went over the College Football Betting total of 53.5. Arkansas State has a record of 6-6 straight up, 7-5 against the spread, and 6-6 over/under the total. Arkansas State ranks 74th for total offense, 65th for passing, 74th for rushing, and 63rd for scoring. Defensively, they rank 127th overall, 121st against the pass, 118th against the rush, and 107th for points allowed. Also, Arkansas ranks 19th for fewest turnovers lost and 119th for takeaways.
Last game, the Northern Illinois Huskies won 37-27 against the Kent State Golden Flashes as 19.5-point home favorites. The game went over the total of 43.5. Northern Illinois has a record of 6-6 straight up, 5-7 against the spread, and 6-6 over/under the total. Northern Illinois ranks 79th for total offense, 107th for passing, 41st for rushing, and 82nd for scoring. Defensively, they rank 21st overall, 6th against the pass, 72nd against the rush, and 30th for points allowed. Also, Northern Illinois ranks 103rd for fewest turnovers lost and 77th for takeaways.
Camellia Bowl Prediction
NIU’s defense is ranked 21st in the country overall and sixth nationally in passing yards allowed. At the same time, 1,000-yard rusher Antario Brown leads the Huskie offense. In this situation, Northern Illinois is the team in better recent form with a vastly superior defense.