Let’s get this out of the way first – this is not a great schedule this week in the American Athletic Conference. That said, Georgia State and Charlotte are two teams looking to exceed less-than-modest preseason expectations.
Georgia State was picked to finish sixth in the seven-team Sun Belt East Division.
Charlotte, in its first season competing in the ACC, was picked 14th and last in the conference’s preseason football poll. Both have gotten off to good starts and are looking to build on that before heading into the conference schedule.
Georgia State-Charlotte How To Watch
Georgia State at Charlotte, 6 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN+
Records: Georgia State (2-0), Charlotte (1-1)
Georgia State-Charlotte Betting Line
BetMGM Line
Georgia State -7.5 (-110)
Over/Under 55.5
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Coaches
Georgia State: Shawn Elliott (37-43 overall, 36-38 at Georgia State)
Charlotte: Biff Poggi (1-1)
Last Meeting
Sept. 17, 2022 – Charlotte won 42-41 in Atlanta.
Chris Reynolds hit Grant DuBose on a 2-yard scoring pass and Antonio Zita kicked the PAT with 17 seconds left to give the 49ers the win. That capped an 8-play, 69-yard drive. It was the sixth game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime for Reynolds, who was a redshirt senior.
Reynolds completed 31 of 43 passes for 401 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. His counterpart, Darren Grainger completed 22 of 34 for 333 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. Grainger also rushed for 54 yards on nine carries.
Charlotte would finish 3-9 last season, and Georgia State went 4-8.
Why This Game Is So Important
These are two teams that play in difficult conferences and are looking to gain some footing. Each has shown enough in the early going to suggest that they could be better than forecasted.
This is also the last tune-up for Georgia State before it begins its Sun Belt schedule on Sept. 21 at Coastal Carolina. Charlotte will visit Florida on Sept. 23 in its final non-league game.
Georgia State has opened with two consecutive wins for the first time since 2019.
Under Poggi, Charlotte is looking to enjoy some early season momentum, especially after beginning last season 1-7, with the lone win coming against Georgia State.
Georgia State-Charlotte Preview
For Georgia State:
The Panthers opened with a 42-35 home win over FCS Rhode Island before winning 35-14 at home last week against UConn. In the UConn win, Grainger completed 15 of 26 for 144 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. More impressively, the 6-4, 225-pound redshirt senior rushed for 142 yards and a TD on 12 carries. Senior Marcus Carroll rushed for 107 yards and three scores on 24 carries. He has rushed for six touchdowns in the first two games. In last year’s loss to Charlotte, he rushed for 94 yards on 15 carries.
Against UConn, Georgia State forced three turnovers and led 28-0 after three quarters. Redshirt senior linebacker Jontrey Hunter had eight tackles, one tackle for loss, and a forced fumble.
For Charlotte:
Charlotte opened with a 24-3 home win over FCS South Carolina State, but the 49ers were more impressive during last week’s 38-20 loss at Maryland. After the first quarter, Charlotte led the Big Ten Terps, 14-0. The 49ers still led 14-9 at halftime and trailed just 17-14 after three quarters before running out of gas.
Senior quarterback Jalon Jones, a transfer from Bethune-Cookman, completed 8 of 15 for 116 yards, one touchdown, and one interception vs. Maryland. He also rushed for 67 yards on 16 carries.
Redshirt sophomore Trexler Ivey completed all five of his passes for 73 yards late in the game and led Charlotte to a scoring drive.
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Jones hit redshirt sophomore Jairus Mack for a 48-yard score and Demetrius Knight II returned an interception 16 yards for a score to give the 49ers their early 14-0 lead.
Mack had four receptions for 106 yards and the touchdown. Knight, a redshirt junior linebacker who had previously played 36 games at Georgia Tech, finished with a team-high seven tackles.
Georgia State-Charlotte Prediction
Georgia State -7.5.
Even though that is a lot of points to give on the road, Georgia State has the more accomplished quarterback in Grainger, who played well last year against Charlotte, albeit a much different team from this year’s version.
Jones, on the other hand, has been turnover-prone, with two each in the first two games. If the Panthers can force turnovers and Grainger provides dual-threat success, then Georgia State can come out with a W while also covering.
