The Georgia State Panthers (+14) are set to face off against their SBC nemesis Arkansas State Red Wolves (-14) at Centennial Bank Stadium. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET and ESPNU will broadcast the action.
Georgia State Panthers vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves Betting Preview
Georgia State is a big road underdog in this SBC game and is currently being given 14 points. The Panthers are also receiving +500 moneyline odds while the Red Wolves are -735. Some solid in-game betting scenarios should present themselves during this showdown, and oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 55.5 points.
The general public hammering both the Red Wolves and the over. The line initially opened at -13 and the total was set originally at just 54.
The Panthers have gained 0.8 units this season and are 2-3-1 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an O/U record of 2-3. The Red Wolves have lost 0.6 units so far. The team is 1-5 ATS and has an O/U record of 1-4.
The Panthers have gone 2-4 straight up (SU), including 1-1 SU against conference opponents. The Red Wolves are 3-3 SU overall and 0-2 SU in conference play.
The Panthers dropped one to Troy 37-20 in a thumping where their defense allowed the Trojans to rush for 340 yards on 38 attempts, including two rush TDs. B.J. Smith torched the defense in that one with 143 rushing yards and both touchdowns on 18 attempts. On the offensive side, Dan Ellington completed only 20-of-36 passes for 272 yards and one touchdown. Ellington (59 rushing yards on 19 attempts) also led the running attack in the loss. Penny Hart (six receptions, 128 yards) and Cornelius McCoy (three catches, 35 yards) shared the receiving duties.
Arkansas State most-recently lost convincingly 35-9 to Appalachian State. The defense allowed the Mountaineers to run for 246 yards on 38 rush attempts, including three rush TDs. Darrynton Evans had a productive showing, recording 115 rushing yards and a score on 16 attempts for Appalachian State. As a group, the Red Wolves collectively completed 27-of-45 passes for 219 yards and three interceptions. Justice Hansen went 25-for-40 for 209 yards and three interceptions while Logan Bonner was two-of-five for 10 yards. Hansen (30 rushing yards on 12 attempts) and Marcel Murray (37 yards on 11 carries) mounted the ground game in the defeat as Kirk Merritt (nine receptions, 73 yards) and Justin McInnis (seven catches, 55 yards) led the Arkansas State pass-catchers.
Georgia State has run the ball on 56.6 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 62.8 percent across possessions in conference play. Arkansas State has a run percentage of 48.0 percent, and has rushed the ball 43.2 percent of the time when playing SBC opponents. The Panthers have produced 148 rush yards per game (including 212 per game against Sun Belt opponents) and have 10 scores via handoffs this year. The Red Wolves are logging 166 rushing yards per game (117 in conference) and have four total rush TDs.
The Panthers offensive scheme has averaged 217 yards in the air overall (226 per game against conference opposition) and has five passing TDs so far. The Red Wolves have recorded 283 pass yards per contest (297.5 against SBC competition) and have 12 total pass scores.
Defensively, Georgia State has allowed 244 rush yards and 247 pass yards per game. The Arkansas State defense has given up 147.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 244.7 yards per game to opposing runners. The Red Wolves are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.64 to opponents, while the Panthers have given up a whopping 8.53 ANY/A.
Offensively, Ellington has amassed 1,045 passing yards this season, and has completed 61 percent of his 147 attempts with four scores through the air and two interceptions. He has a 6.05 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 7.80 over the past two games.
On the other sideline, Justice Hansen has completed 105-of-172 passes for 1,162 yards, 10 TDs and five INTs. Hansen’s ANY/A stands at 6.01 for the season and 4.45 across his last two games.
These two SBC adversaries did not get a chance to play one another in 2017.
RELATED: Week 8 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Free NCAA Betting Tip: Georgia State Panthers at Arkansas State Red Wolves
SU Winner – Georgia State, ATS Winner – Georgia State, O/U – Over
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Arkansas State defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 14 times this year. Georgia State has produced just four sacks.
The Arkansas State offense has lost four fumbles in 2018 while Georgia State has lost seven.
The Panthers offense has registered five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Red Wolves have accounted for one such play.
The Georgia State defense has allowed six pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Arkansas State has given up eight such plays.
The Georgia State offense has created five rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Arkansas State has created six such runs.
The Panthers defense has allowed 13 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Red Wolves have given up 15 such runs.
The O/U for Arkansas State’s last matchup going into it was 58.5. The under cashed in the 35-9 defeat to Appalachian State.
Over its last three matches, Arkansas State is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
Over its last three matchups, Georgia State is 1-1-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Georgia State’s last game was 55.5. The over cashed in the team’s 37-20 defeat to Troy.
Georgia State has averaged 4.0 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.7 over its last two.
Arkansas State has averaged 4.0 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.2 over its last two.
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