An eight-point win over Tennessee was supposed to be the sling-shot win for a young Georgia State program looking to turn the corner. Instead, the Panthers were thumped by Western Michigan two weeks later and lost to a terrible Texas State in the conference opener. Those losses were the difference between another seven-win season, which, in fairness, exceeded most expectations for the Panthers in 2019, and the program's first-ever eight- or nine-win season and Sun Belt East contention.
Georgia State, ranked 114th in the HERO Sports Preseason College Football Rankings, won't win their annual Power Five road game this year (at Alabama in Week 2) and won't flirt with the eight- or nine-win season, largely thanks to massive question marks at quarterback and in the secondary. And even with five returning starters in the front seven of Nate Fuqua's 3-4 defense, there are too many concerns to predict anything above flirtation with bowl eligibility.
Fuqua's unit ranked among the nation's worst in yards per play (114th), points per play (120th), yards per carry (115th), sack rate (106th), and penalties per play (123rd). They allowed at least 33 points in five of their final six games, including 38 points (and 524 yards) to a bad Wyoming offense in the Arizona Bowl.
Barring a significant upset over Louisiana or Charlotte, Georgia State will enter October with one win and in need of five wins over their final eight games to reach the postseason.
| Date | Opponent | Prediction |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 5 | vs. Murray State | Win (1-0) |
| Sept. 12 | at Alabama | Loss (1-1) |
| Sept. 19 | vs. Louisiana | Loss (1-2) |
| Sept. 26 | at Charlotte | Loss (1-3) |
| Oct. 3 | vs. East Carolina | Win (2-3) |
| Oct. 15 | at Arkansas State | Loss (2-4) |
| Oct. 24 | at Troy | Loss (2-5) |
| Oct. 29 | vs. Coastal Carolina | Win (3-5) |
| Nov. 7 | vs. UL Monroe | Win (4-5) |
| Nov. 14 | at App State | Loss (4-6) |
| Nov. 21 | at South Alabama | Win (5-6) |
| Nov. 28 | vs. Georgia Southern | Loss (5-7) |
