The Georgia Southern Eagles (-17.5) are heading southwest to battle their conference rival Texas State Bobcats at Jim Wacker Field at Bobcat Stadium. The matchup starts at 7:30 p.m. ET and fans can watch the action live on ESPNU.
Georgia Southern Eagles vs. Texas State Bobcats Betting Preview
In this Thursday Sun Belt game, Georgia Southern is tabbed as the big favorite and is currently giving up 17.5 points. The Eagles are also receiving -1450 moneyline odds while the Bobcats are +800. If one team can get out in front early, it would likely create a worthy live betting scenario.
The profitable Eagles have gained 3.4 units so far and are 5-0 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an Over-Under record of 1-3. The hapless Bobcats have lost 4.0 units this season. They’re 1-3-1 ATS and have an O/U record of 3-2.
The Eagles are 4-1 straight up (SU), including 2-0 SU against conference opponents. The Bobcats are 1-4 SU overall and 0-2 SU in conference play.
Texas State enters this matchup on a zero-game winning streak while Georgia Southern has lost each of its last zero. The Eagles are coming off a resounding 48-13 victory over South Alabama last week where Shai Werts completed five passes for just 99 yards and one touchdown. Wesley Fields (81 rushing yards on 13 attempts, two TDs) and Monteo Garrett (91 yards on 11 carries) mounted the running attack while Kennedy III (two receptions, 12 yards) and Darion Anderson (one catch, 58 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Texas State just fell 42-27 to Louisiana. The defense let the Ragin’ Cajuns eat up the clock by running for 327 yards on 49 rush attempts, including four rush TDs. Elijah Mitchell was outstanding, recording 191 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 20 attempts for the Ragin’ Cajuns. For Texas State, Tyler Vitt completed 28-of-39 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns. Vitt (92 yards on 17 rush attempts) handled the running game as Hutch White (11 receptions, 60 yards) and Watts (five catches, 42 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Georgia Southern has run the ball on 87.3 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 89.3 percent across possessions in conference play. Texas State has a rush percentage of 54.5 percent, and has run the ball 52.3 percent of the time when playing SBC opponents. The Eagles have produced 275 rush yards/game (including 322 per game against Sun Belt opponents) and have 15 scores on the ground this year. The Bobcats are putting up 137 rush yards per game (141 in conference) and have four total rushing TDs.
It seems like the Eagles should own an edge when it comes to efficiency in the ground game. Their running backs has generated 5.6 yards per carry while the defense is allowing 4.2 YPC to opponents. The Bobcats have recorded 3.7 yards per carry and given up a YPC of 4.6 to opponents.
The Eagles offensive scheme has logged 81 yards per contest in the air overall (80 per game against conference opposition) and has four passing scores so far. The Bobcats have put up 216 pass yards per outing (257.5 in the SBC) and have nine total pass TDs.
Defensively, Georgia Southern has allowed 156 rush yards and 221 pass yards per game. The Texas State defense has allowed 228.6 yards per game to opposing passers and 168.4 yards per game on the ground. The Eagles are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.87 to opponents, while the Bobcats have allowed a 6.84 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Werts has amassed 302 yards on the year. He’s connected on 18-of-32 attempts with three passing scores and has yet to throw an interception. He has a pristine 9.05 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 16.25 over the last two games.
Look for a balanced approach offensively from Georgia Southern in this one. Wesley Fields, Shai Werts and Wesley Kennedy III have combined for 602 total yards and seven touchdowns over the last couple of outings.
For the home team, Tyler Vitt has managed to complete 32-of-46 passes for 326 yards, three TDs and one INT. Vitt’s ANY/A sits at 6.75 for the year and 6.84 over his past two outings.
Expect Vitt to distribute the football early and often in this one. Keenen Brown (222 receiving yards and three receiving TDs this season), Tyler Vitt (five receiving yards, one receiving TD), and Hutch White (128 receiving yards, one TD) have collectively put up 334 receiving yards and five TDs over the last two games.
These two conference adversaries did not get a chance to face each other in 2017.
RELATED: Week 7 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Pick: Georgia Southern Eagles at Texas State Bobcats
SU Winner – Eagles, ATS Winner – Eagles
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Notes
Georgia Southern was favored by 12 points in its previous game and the O/U was set at 56.5. The over cashed and Georgia Southern covered in the 48-13 win over South Alabama.
Georgia Southern has produced 5.35555555555556 yards per carry over its past three contests and 7.0 over its last two.
Texas State has averaged 2.9 yards per carry over its last three games and 2.8 over its last two.
The Texas State offense has lost five fumbles this season while Georgia Southern has lost two.
In its last three contests, Georgia Southern is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Texas State was getting 3 points in its last game and the O/U was 57.5. The over cashed and Texas State failed to cover in the 42-27 loss to Louisiana.
In its last three matches, Texas State is 1-1-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Each team has produced four pass plays of 40 or more yards and five pass plays of 30+ yards.
The Georgia Southern defense has allowed one pass play of 40+ yards, while Texas State has given up five such plays.
The Georgia Southern offense has created 14 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Texas State has created five such runs.
The Eagles defense has allowed three rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Bobcats have given up five such runs.
The Georgia Southern defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks 11 times this season. Texas State has produced just three sacks.
+++++
