Through the first nine games of the 2022 season, Georgia Southern had a winning record. But the Eagles lost four of their last five, including a 23-21 loss to Buffalo in the Camellia Bowl.
The Eagles won just three of their eight Sun Belt games last year. They hope with a better record in conference play, they can be in contention for a league title by the end of the year.
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Georgia Southern Football’s Sun Belt Title Odds
Georgia Southern’s odds to win the Sun Belt are +2000, via BetMGM.
Georgia Southern Football’s Over/Under Win Total
Georgia Southern’s win total Over/Under is 6.5, with Under 6.5 at -145 and Over 6.5 at +120.
Georgia Southern Football’s Schedule
9/2 vs The Citadel
9/9 vs UAB
9/16 at Wisconsin
9/23 at Ball State
9/30 vs Coastal Carolina
10/14 at James Madison
10/21 vs ULM
10/26 vs Georgia State
11/4 at Texas State
11/11 at Marshall
11/18 vs Old Dominion
11/25 at Appalachian State
Bold indicates Sun Belt contests.
Key Georgia Southern Football Returners
2022 All-Sun Belt 2nd Team
OL Khalil Crowder
WR Khaleb Hood
LB Marques Watson-Trent
3rd Team
RB Jalen White
Honorable Mention
WR Derwin Burgess Jr.
Khaleb Hood And Jalen White Among Top Playmakers For Georgia Southern’s Offense
Georgia Southern has an impressive group of players at skill positions.
Khaleb Hood is a 2023 HERO Sports G5 Preseason All-American and one of the best Sun Belt wide receivers. He led the league with 87 receptions and added 925 yards and three touchdowns last year.
Derwin Burgess Jr., an All-Sun Belt honorable mention wide receiver, also returns. He caught 58 passes for 717 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022.
Jalen White is also one of the best Sun Belt running backs going into this season. Last year he ran for 914 yards, which was sixth in the Sun Belt, and 10 touchdowns, which was tied for fourth, while averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
The all-conference third-team selection also caught 22 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown. O.J. Arnold, who was third on the team with 257 rushing yards, is also back.
Former Tulsa passer Davis Brin should be one of the best Sun Belt quarterbacks for Georgia Southern in 2023.
He became the ninth player at Tulsa to pass for more than 5,000 career yards, ranking sixth in school history with 5,675 yards and seventh with 37 touchdown passes. He started 22 games the past two years and brings some important experience to the position after Georgia Southern lost last year’s starter, Kyle Vantrease.
Georgia Southern was ninth in the Sun Belt with 136.8 rushing yards per game but allowed the fewest sacks in the league with seven and returns three of its primary starters on the O-line from last year.
Right guard Khalil Crowder comes back after making the all-conference second team a year ago. Left tackle Brian Miller and left guard Pichon Wimbley are also returning after starting multiple games last year.
Marques Watson-Trent Again Set To Lead Georgia Southern’s Defense
Georgia Southern will want to make some defensive improvements if it wants to compete for the Sun Belt title. The Eagles were last in the conference in total defense with 487.8 yards per game allowed and third-to-last in scoring defense with 31.6 points per game allowed.
They also lost eight of their top 11 tacklers from a season ago. That includes Anthony Wilson, a defensive back who was sixth in the conference with 101 tackles last year before going to West Virginia this offseason.
But Georgia Southern returns one of the top defenders in the league. Linebacker Marques Watson-Trent ranked third among all Sun Belt players with 114 tackles while adding 5.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, and three quarterback hurries.
Khadry Jackson was another standout defender last season who is back for Georgia Southern. He was third on the team with 84 tackles to go with four TFLs, two pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, one interception, and a sack.
But overall, Georgia Southern will be looking for several players to rise to the occasion with the extra opportunities they’ll have in 2023.
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Georgia Southern Football Season Prediction
Georgia Southern won’t win the Sun Belt but will win more than six games during the regular season.
The Eagles’ non-conference slate is fairly favorable. While I don’t think they’ll defeat Wisconsin on the road, they should be capable of beating The Citadel and UAB at home as well as Ball State on the road.
Georgia Southern should also be better against Sun Belt opponents this year. I believe the Eagles will win at home over ULM, Georgia State, and Old Dominion as well as on the road at Texas State.
The beginning of Georgia Southern’s conference schedule, with matchups against Coastal Carolina and at JMU, will be tough. The Eagles might also be competitive with Marshall and Appalachian State in November, but winning on the road in either of those games will also prove difficult.
But even if they don’t beat Marshall or App State, that still gives the Eagles seven wins. I think concluding the regular season with a winning record is a strong possibility for Georgia Southern in 2023.
