The SBC’s second-leading passer, Nick Arbuckle (1,383 yards, 10 TDs), will be on display when the Georgia State Panthers meet the Appalachian State Mountaineers. The Panthers currently hold a 1-3 record, and the Mountaineers have gone 3-1. The game starts at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct 10 and will air on ESP3.
Georgia State was defeated by Liberty 41-33 last week. Donovan Harden had an outstanding performance in the loss, registering five receptions for 179 yards and one TD. Nick Arbuckle also had a big day, contributing 394 yards and three TDs through the air. Appalachian State is hoping for another victory like last week’s performance, when it beat Wyoming 31-13. Marcus Cox had a big game on the ground for the Mountaineers, rushing for 178 yards and one TD on 15 carries.
The Over/Under (O/U) for the Georgia State-Appalachian State game this week is presently unavailable and the Mountaineers are a substantial 18-point favorite.
The Panthers enter the game with records of 1-3 Straight Up (SU) and 2-2 Against The Spread (ATS) this season. The Panthers may capitalize on a fragile Mountaineers pass defense that allows a 65.0% completion percentage. As for the Georgia State defense, there are important areas to keep an eye on. One of the keys to the game will be whether the Mountaineers can protect the ball against Georgia State’s aggressive defense. It’s ranked sixth in the nation in fumbles recovered with 1.2 per game.
On the other side, the Mountaineers have a record of 2-2 ATS and 3-1 SU. If earlier games are any indication, the Mountaineers will run the ball aggressively. They average 278.5 rushing yards per game, good enough for 12th in Division I. Switching gears to the Appalachian State defense, it has some favorable matchups that it may be able to take advantage of as well. The Appalachian State defense has allowed just 109 yards per game this season, 22nd in the nation. The Panthers need to hold onto the ball if they want a shot against the turnover-minded Mountaineers. The Appalachian State defense generates 2.5 turnovers per game, 12th in the country. The Mountaineers usually get a boost in the second quarter, when they average 14 points this year. Georgia State rarely has an advantage when it comes to time of possession. The team has an average time of possession of 27:46 this season, making them 105th in the nation.
Predictions: SU Winner – Appalachian State, ATS Winner – Appalachian State
Notes
Georgia State is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games.
Georgia State is 1-14 SU in its last 15 games.
Georgia State is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games at home.
Georgia State is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games at home.
Appalachian State is 3-0 SU when leading at the half this season. Georgia State is 1-0 SU when taking a lead into halftime.
According to overall FBS team rankings, Appalachian State is rated higher in the ground game on both sides of the ball. Its 12th-ranked rushing attack will face the 107th-ranked run defense of Georgia State, while its 22nd-ranked rush defense will look to contain the 120th-ranked running game of the Panthers.
