Even after a two-game losing skid, App State still has a chance to earn bowl-eligibility.
The Mountaineers (4-4, 1-3 Sun Belt) started the season out strong. They won back-to-back contests over Charlotte and FCS Lindenwood.
And after dropping games against Southern Miss and Boise State, App State won two more games against Oregon State and Georgia State. That had some believing the Mountaineers could be in the mix for a conference championship appearance.
But App State dropped its last two games, 45-37 vs. Coastal Carolina and 24-21 at Old Dominion – both decided by a single possession. But App State still has winnable games left on its schedule, and making a bowl game in the first year of the Dowell Loggains era would be a good step in the right direction for the program.
But going up against Georgia Southern won’t necessarily be easy. The Eagles (3-5, 1-3) still have an outside chance of making a bowl game as well.
The Eagles will be eager to bounce back after losing three of their last four games against JMU, Southern Miss, and Arkansas State with its win being over Georgia State. The Eagles also lost to Fresno State and USC earlier in the year before beating Jacksonville State and FCS Maine.
Georgia Southern vs. App State Betting Odds
App State is a six-point college football betting odds favorite against Georgia Southern, with the Over/Under being 61.5 as of this writing.
The moneyline for Georgia Southern is +190, while it’s -235 for App State.
Georgia Southern vs. App State On TV
The matchup between Georgia Southern and App State will be televised on ESPN2.
The game will kick off at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 6. The contest is taking place at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, North Carolina.
Georgia Southern vs. App State Prediction
I predict App State will win and cover the six-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 61.5 total points.
These two teams have offenses which have been pretty comparable in terms of production. Georgia Southern is sixth in the Sun Belt in scoring, having averaged 28.8 points per game, while App State is seventh with 27 PPG. App State, though, is fourth in the league with 414.5 yards per game, and Georgia Southern is 10th with 340.8 YPG.
App State has been much better defensively. The Mountaineers are fifth in the Sun Belt in total defense (375.3 YPG allowed) and sixth in scoring defense (27.6 PPG allowed). The Eagles are 13th out of 14 teams in the Sun Belt with 35.4 PPG allowed and are last with 469 YPG allowed.
I believe App State’s defense, led by linebacker Colton Phares, will rise to the occasion.
I also think Georgia Southern’s defense is a favorable matchup for the Mountaineers offensively.
App State quarterback AJ Swann has thrown for 1,083 yards, eight touchdowns, and six interceptions on a 61.5% completion rate. Rashod Dubinion leads App State with 756 yards and four TDs rushing. Wide receivers Jaden Barnes (41 catches for 445 yards and six touchdowns), Dalton Stroman (24 receptions for 410 yards and three TDs), and Davion Dozier (14 catches for 315 yards and four TDs), as well as tight end Izayah Cummings (37 receptions for 374 yards and one TD) have been App State’s receiving leaders.
I think at least a few of those players will put up good numbers in this game. And I expect that will help App State win this contest at home to become a win away from bowl-eligibility.
