Ohio Defense Out to Prove its Worth Against Georgia Southern
2023 Myrtle Beach Bowl Odds: Bobcats Slight 2-Point Favorites
The Myrtle Beach Bowl kicks off this upcoming Saturday, December 16th. We’ve got the latest updates on lines, injuries, departures and weather right here:
Ohio opened as 1.5-point favorites, but that has since changed. Better yet, it’s completely flipped. The money went fast on Georgia Southern, causing a significant shift in the odds. On Dec. 5, the same day Ohio quarterback Kurtis Rourke entered the NCAA transfer portal, the Bobcats went from 2-point favorites to 3-point underdogs.
Georgia Southern has held steady as a favorite since then, climbing as high as -4 before sliding back to -3 as of Friday morning, roughly 24 hours before kickoff. Georgia Southern is now -166 on the moneyline, with Ohio coming in at +140.
Rourke — who on Thursday committed to Indiana — is one of several transfers for Ohio. Close to a dozen Bobcats have joined Rourke in the transfer portal, including sophomore running back Sieh Bangura. Bangura is coming off back-to-back 100-yard rushing games, including a 121-yard performance in the regular-season finale against Akron.
Making matters worse for Ohio, backup quarterback CJ Harris is out for the season with an injury. That means third-stringer Parker Navarro will be under center. Navarro has played sparingly, attempting 10 passes in three games this season. Georgia Southern, on the other hand, is faced with only a few departures, none of any significance.
Ohio’s shortcomings on offense have also impacted the Over/Under. After opening at 54.5, the projected total dropped to 48 on Tuesday and has mostly stayed there. It briefly climbed back to 49.
Now, check out the rest of the New Mexico Bowl preview, originally published on December 8
The college bowl schedule kicks off in earnest on Dec. 16, with Georgia Southern facing Ohio in the Myrtle Beach Bowl in Conway, S.C.Georgia Southern went 6-6, including 3-5 in Sun Belt Conference play, while Ohio was 9-3, including 6-2 in the Mid-American Conference.
Oddsmakers expect a relatively close game, with Ohio opening as slight 1.5-point underdogs before flipping to 2.5-point favorites. The Bobcats are also -130 on the moneyline. Georgia Southern, meanwhile, is +2.5 (-110) on the spread and +110 to win outright. The total is 53, down from the opening number of 54.5, a reasonably high total compared to the regular season.
The Myrtle Beach Bowl is one of the newer additions to the college football postseason schedule. The inaugural game was held in 2020. Last year’s Myrtle Beach Bowl saw Marshall beat UConn 28-14.
What can bettors expect? Read on as we break down the 2023 Myrtle Beach Bowl odds.
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Georgia Southern vs Ohio 
Day/Time:
Records: Georgia Southern (6-6) at Ohio (9-3)
Location: Brooks Stadium; Conway, S.C.
Streaming: ESPN, ESPN+
Fast Start, Brutally Slow Finish for Georgia Southern
The Georgia Southern Eagles had a relatively smooth road to bowl eligibility, with a 6-2 start that included a 38-28 victory over Coastal Carolina to begin Sun Belt Conference play. However, the Eagles have looked like a shell of themselves since then. They lost their last four regular-season games to fall to 6-6 (3-5 Sun Belt), raising doubts about legitimacy.
This is the Eagles’ fifth bowl appearance in six seasons and the second in a row under head coach Clay Helton. Last season, they lost 23-21 to Buffalo in the Camellia Bowl.
Georgia Southern is formidable offensively, but regression on defense spoiled much of the early goodwill and optimism around Helton’s team. The Eagles have allowed an average of 31.6 over the last four games and 29.5 throughout the season, placing 94th in the NCAAF rankings. They gave up a season-high 55 points in their previous game, a loss to Appalachian State.
The Eagles were tough for bettors to trust, going just 5-7 against the spread per NCAAF odds. That includes an 0-4 mark (both ATS and straight up) as an underdog. They were also just 6-6 against the Over/Under, but 5-1 over the last six games.
The offense again led the way for Georgia Southern, ranking 40th in FBS in yards per game (422.5) and 45th in scoring (30.9 PPG). Tulsa transfer Davis Brin had a big hand in that, with 3,431 yards and 22 touchdown passes. But he also tied for the FBS lead with 16 interceptions.
Departures & Injuries
Helton has made a quick impact at Georgia Southern, following the footsteps of Chad Lunsford to lead the program to back-to-back bowl appearances. Last season had a bittersweet finish, with the Eagles losing as 4-point favorites. But they’re poised to bounce back, especially if Brin can rediscover his big-play capabilities and limit the mistakes. He threw three picks against Appalachian State, his fourth game this season with multiple interceptions.
Georgia Southern has been 3-2 in bowl games since transitioning to the FBS competition in 2014, with its last victory coming in the 2020 New Orleans Bowl.
Momentum Keeps Building for Ohio
Picking up from where they left off last season, the Ohio Bobcats went 9-3, including 6-2 in Mid-American Conference play. After a Week Zero loss to San Diego State, the Bobcats reeled off five straight victories. Included in that streak was a 10-7 victory over Iowa State, the Bobcats’ first win over a Power Five opponent since 2017.
Ohio also finished strong, with three straight victories to close MAC play. As such, they became bowl-eligible for the second straight season under Tim Albin. Last year, they beat Wyoming in the Arizona Bowl to finish 10-4.
Like Georgia Southern, Ohio didn’t provide much clarity in the betting market. The Bobcats were just 6-6 ATS, including 4-5 as a favorite. But they did go 3-8-1 against the Over/Under, the fourth highest Under rate (72.7%) in FBS and the second highest among Group of Five teams. That includes all four non-conference games.
Ohio had one of the country’s best defenses. The Bobcats held opponents to an average of 15.4 points, fifth fewest in FBS behind Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and Iowa. Only three teams surrendered fewer yards per game. Conversely, Ohio was just 95th in total offense (347.7 yards per game). Keep that in mind when assessing the 2023 Myrtle Beach Bowl odds.
Departures & Injuries
Ohio fell short of making the MAC Championship Game, but it did manage to close the regular season on a high note. The Bobcats defeated Akron 25-14, holding the Zips scoreless in the second half. More importantly, their offense showed signs of life. Sieh Bangura ran for 121 yards and a touchdown, his second straight 100-yard game and the third this season.
Will Albin ride the hot hand and continue to feed Bangura? That may be the Bobcats’ best path to success, especially if their defense upholds its end of the bargain.
Strengths at Play in Virtual Pick ‘Em
Ohio’s top 5 defense is in for a big test. Georgia Southern has scored at least 30 points seven times. Oddsmakers have reacted accordingly, projecting 54 combined points for the 2023 Myrtle Beach Bowl odds. That’s the highest Over/Under for Ohio since Sept. 9 against Florida Atlantic (62.0) and the third highest this season. Only one of the Bobcats’ eight MAC games featured a total higher than 50.
Bowl games can be unpredictable. The long playoffs and unfamiliarity with opponents often lead to surprising results. It’ll be up to Ohio’s defense to prove doubters wrong.
For NCAAF scores, betting odds, analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
