Myrtle Beach Bowl – Ohio vs Georgia Southern Free Picks
GA Southern vs Ohio Free Pick: Transfers Impacting Bobcats
The college bowl schedule kicks off on Dec. 16, with Georgia Southern and Ohio squaring off in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. These have been two of the more successful Group of Five programs in recent seasons, with several bowl appearances between them.
This game has seen quite a bit of movement since college football betting lines opened. Ohio opened as 1.5-point favorites and climbed to as high as -2.5. However, the odds have flipped since, now favoring Georgia Southern by 3.5. That’s a reaction to Ohio having lost multiple starters to the NCAA transfer portal.
Georgia Southern is also -180 on the moneyline, with Ohio priced at +150. Meanwhile, the Over/Under is 48, down considerably from 54.5.
What can bettors expect? Read on as we break down both teams and give our GA Southern vs Ohio Free Pick.
Myrtle Beach Bowl Information
Georgia Southern vs Ohio 
Records: Georgia Southern (6-6) at Ohio (9-3)
Location: Brooks Stadium; Conway, S.C.
Day/Time:
Streaming: ESPN, ESPN+
Georgia Southern Losing Steam
Georgia Southern gained bowl eligibility in October but sputtered down the stretch, concluding the regular season with four straight losses to drop to 6-6 (3-5 Sun Belt). The last loss was the most egregious, a 55-27 blowout to Appalachian State in which the Eagles were gouged for 532 total yards.
Davis Brin was intercepted three times, raising his season total to 16. That’s tied with Colorado State’s Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi for most in FBS.
Georgia Southern is proficient offensively. The Eagles averaged 422.5 yards, ranking 40th while scoring 30.9 points per game. They scored at least 30 points seven times and 40 or more on three occasions. But at the same time, the Eagles were vulnerable defensively. Opponents averaged 29.5 points, including 31.6 over the last four games. That’s raised doubts about the Eagles’ ability to compete at a higher level.
While Georgia Southern has shown potential, Clay Helton’s team faces significant challenges in establishing itself as a legitimate contender in the NCAAF standings. Its performance over the last month speaks for itself. Keep that in mind when assessing our GA Southern vs Ohio Free Pick.
Ohio Raising the Bar
Fueled by one of college football’s best defenses, Ohio went 9-3 to reach a bowl game for the second consecutive season under Tim Albin. The Bobcats held opponents to 15.4 points per game, fifth in the country behind Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and Iowa. On average, only three teams gave up fewer yards.
Ohio closed the regular season with three straight wins in Mid-American Conference play, culminating in a 6-2 record in league play. A bowl victory would give the Bobcats back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in program history.
Notably, Ohio’s met the challenge of stepping up against stronger opponents. A 10-7 victory over Iowa State, the program’s first over a Power Five opponent since 2017, opened eyes while proving its capability of competing at a higher level.
That said, the Bobcats are undermanned offensively. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke, running back Sieh Bangura, and Miles Cross all intend to transfer and will sit out.
Destined To Be a Fun One, Especially With a Bit of Coin Riding…
Bowl games can be unpredictable, especially nowadays with more players opting out to preserve their health for the NFL Draft. That applies here too, with Ohio having lost key starters to the NCAA transfer portal.
Georgia Southern’s offense is a tough match for anybody. While Brin struggled in his last start against Appalachian State and is turnover-prone, he’s also capable of producing big plays. The Tulsa transfer has thrown for 3,431 yards and 22 touchdowns, including seven games with multiple touchdowns.
That said, Ohio may be capable enough defensively to slow Brin and Georgia Southern down. Despite being shorthanded, we’re confident in Ohio’s ability to keep this close and cover the spread at +3.5. Depending on how bold they’re feeling, bettors may also consider taking Ohio at +150 on the moneyline. But we’re not about to go that far. Georgia Southern is our moneyline pick at -180.
We’re also leaning toward the Under of 48, sticking with recent trends. Ohio has hit the Under in eight of its 12 games, the fourth highest rate (72.7%) in FBS. That’s important to remember when analyzing our GA Southern vs Ohio Free Pick.
For NCAAF betting news, odds, analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
