Appalachian State doesn’t have to travel very far during the first month of the season. The Mountaineers play at home in two of their first four games and travel in-state for the other two. Their first long trip doesn’t come until Week 7 when they visit Coastal Carolina.
The Mountaineers play one FCS team and match up with two programs from the American in 2026. College football betting odds have their win total at Over/Under 5.5 games, with the Over at -155 and the Under at +130.
Here are game-by-game predictions for App State in Dowell Loggains’ second season as head coach:
vs. Maine
Prediction: Win
Only the second-ever meeting between these schools, App State lost the first game 14-13 in 2002. I think App State will get its fourth-consecutive season-opening victory and avenge that defeat.
at East Carolina
Prediction: Loss
This should be a fun battle between a pair of Group of Six programs and an early test for App State.
ECU has a lot of turnover and might not be the same 9-4 team we saw last season, but I anticipate they’ll be tough to beat again. App State won here in 2024, but I think ECU gets the win this time around.
vs. Charlotte
Prediction: Win
These squads matched up in the season-opener last year, and App State won 34-11 behind 586 yards of total offense. Charlotte went on to go 1-11 with its only win coming against Monmouth.
I think the Mountaineers handle business at home.
at NC State
Prediction: Loss
The Wolfpack are expected to be a competitive bunch in the ACC this year and I think have no problems with the Mountaineers. Sandwiched in between a pair of games against Vanderbilt and Louisville, they could get caught sleeping, but I don’t count on it.
vs. Old Dominion
Prediction: Loss
App State opens Sun Belt play against an ODU team that returns a lot from a secondary that was second in the league in interceptions last year and should pose a challenge to what App State wants to do under Loggains – sling the ball around the field.
The Mountaineers will be coming off a bye, but I’m more comfortable picking ODU and its returning defensive production.
at Coastal Carolina
Prediction: Loss
I think many will be too low on CCU and first-year coach Ryan Beard. I think the Chanticleers will finish at least .500 this year. Like I mentioned above, this will be App State’s longest road trip to this point in the season, and I think this will be a tough spot on a short week after a gritty game against ODU.
vs. James Madison
Prediction: Win
The Mountaineers and Dukes have split their matchups 2-2 since becoming Sun Belt foes. Both have won one of those on the road.
Compared to previous years, it’s harder to gauge what JMU will bring to the table in 2026. Regardless, this should be a battle as I’m sure many in the App State program remember the 58-10 pummeling the Mountaineers took from JMU last year.
I think the Mountaineers bounce back in a big way with a home victory in this Thursday night affair, catching JMU on a short week and ending a losing skid.
at Georgia Southern
Prediction: Loss
As it stands in mid-May, this looks like a tough mid-season stretch for the Mountaineers, and it continues with a trip to Statesboro for a rivalry game.
The Eagles will also have a ton of new faces but were able to bring in a lot of talent and should have one of the best defenses in the league. The Mountaineers could win this game, but I think this is a let down spot following a win over JMU.
vs. Georgia State
Prediction: Win
It’s hard to trust the Panthers based on what we’ve seen the past few years, and App State could need a win here for bowl aspirations.
at Marshall
Prediction: Loss
If App State wants to be successful this season, its defense will need to take its play up a notch. Even if it does, Marshall QB Carlos Del Rio-Wilson could still be a handful. He’ll likely be a top signal-caller in the league.
vs. ULM
Prediction: Win
The Warhawks will have a few extra days of preparation but will be traveling to Boone on what will likely be a cold November day.
at South Alabama
Prediction: Win
Sitting at 5-6 heading into the final game of the regular season, I think the Mountaineers go on the road and end the season strong.
App State Football Season Prediction
I predict the Mountaineers will go Over 5.5 wins.
There are a lot of coin-flip matchups, and a lot of meetings with teams which are also rebuilding. We won’t know much about a lot of these programs until a few weeks into the season, but I think, even though we don’t know who QB1 is yet, the Mountaineers will be able to outscore a lot of opponents – especially those with subpar defenses.
