Just a couple weeks ago, Old Dominion appeared to be one of the best teams in the Group of Five, not just the Sun Belt.
The Monarchs were 4-1 overall with their only loss being against Indiana, one of the top teams in the country, and had a double-digit win at Virginia Tech on their resume. They also were 1-0 in league play with a 47-7 triumph over Coastal Carolina.
But since then, ODU has lost twice in lopsided contests. Both on the road, the Monarchs fell against Marshall 48-24 and James Madison 63-27.
Now ODU is just hoping to stay above .500. It won’t be easy against a team like Appalachian State.
The Mountaineers have been playing better as the season has gone on. They’re also 4-3 overall with wins over Charlotte and FCS Lindenwood. They’ve won two of their last three games with victories over Oregon State and Georgia State. Most recently, though, they lost at home against CCU 45-37.
App State is now hoping to bounce back and get closer to bowl-eligibility.
App State vs. Old Dominion Betting Odds
Old Dominion is a -13.5 college football betting odds favorite against App State, with the Over/Under being 61.5 as of this writing. The moneyline for App State is +375, while it’s -500 for Old Dominion.
App State vs. Old Dominion On TV
The matchup between App State and Old Dominion will be televised on ESPNU.
The game will kick off at noon ET on Saturday, Oct. 25. The contest is taking place at SB Ballard Stadium in Norfolk, Virginia.
App State vs. Old Dominion Prediction
I predict Old Dominion will win but App State will cover the 13.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 61.5 total points.
These two teams have some of the best scoring defenses in the Sun Belt, a league that features JMU which has one of the best defenses in the country. ODU is fourth in the conference with 26.3 points per game given up, while App State is right behind at fifth with 28.1 PPG allowed.
The Mountaineers (fourth) and Monarchs (fifth) are also top five in the Sun Belt in total defense, as they have given up 363.3 yards per game and 377.1 YPG, respectively.
So I expect this to be a lower-scoring game than some may believe. And that’s also why I think it could be decided by less than two touchdowns.
But I also anticipate Old Dominion will ultimately prove to be the better team, especially at home.
I think the Monarchs haven’t played like themselves in their last two games and that returning home will help them get back on track.
At quarterback for ODU, Colton Joseph has thrown for 1,690 yards, 16 touchdowns, and eight interceptions on a 63% completion rate while leading the team with 487 yards and six touchdowns rushing. Tre’ Brown III (22 catches for 511 yards and four touchdowns), Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding (30 catches for 413 yards and five TDs), and Ja’Cory Thomas (22 catches for 397 yards and three TDs) have been ODU’s leading receivers.
With so much talent on both sides of the ball, I expect ODU’s defense will be dominant and the Monarchs’ offense will do enough to help them break their two-game losing skid.
