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 are 1-3 while the Mountaineers are 3-1. The game starts at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct 10 and will air on ESP3.
Georgia State fell to Liberty 41-33 last week. Donovan Harden had an outstanding performance in the loss, totaling 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, gaining 178 yards and one TD on 15 carries.
Appalachian State is a heavy 18-point favorite in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is presently unavailable.
Heading into Week 6 of the college football season, the Panthers are 1-3 Straight Up (SU) and 2-2 Against The Spread (ATS). The Panthers may capitalize on a fragile Mountaineers pass defense that allows a 65.0% completion percentage. Turning to the Panthers defense, a few key spots could be deciding factors this week. A vital part of the game will be whether the Mountaineers can secure the ball from Georgia State’s hungry defense. It averages the sixth-most fumbles recovered in the nation with 1.2 per game.
On the other side, the Mountaineers have a record of 2-2 ATS and 3-1 SU. Appalachian State has found a lot of success on the ground. Its 278.5 rushing yards per game ranks 12th in Division I. Shifting to the other side of the ball, the Appalachian State defense can dominate if it takes advantage of some favorable matchups. The Appalachian State defense has allowed just 109 yards per game this season, 22nd in the nation. The Panthers will need to secure the ball against the turnover-minded Mountaineers. The defense ranks 12th in the country in turnovers with 2.5 per game. The Mountaineers have a habit of pouring it on before they go into halftime. They average 14 points during the second quarter, ranking ninth in Division I. 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 run defense will look to contain the 120th-ranked rushing game of the Panthers.
