Last week’s Sun Belt Game of the Week was as good as advertised with UTSA and Texas State going down to the wire in an exciting contest. It could be in consideration for the Group of Five game of the year once the end of the season rolls around.
The Bobcats picked up a huge win and showed that they’re to be taken seriously in the G5 and the Sun Belt. App State and Southern Miss hope to make the same case this week with a win in an important league game.
Neither team will play another Sun Belt game for four weeks, so an early conference win will be crucial in a quest for a Sun Belt Championship.
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How To Watch App State-Southern Miss
The game kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday and will air on ESPN+.
App State-Southern Miss Betting Odds
App State is a 2.5-point college football betting odds favorite over Southern Miss.
App State-Southern Miss Coaches & Records
APP: Dowell Loggains (2-0 overall/at App State)
USM: Charles Huff (33-21 overall, 1-1 at USM)
Last meeting: App State won 48-38 at home in 2023. This will only be the fourth meeting between these programs (1937, 2014, and 2023).
App State Preview
The Mountaineers are coming off an underwhelming 20-13 win over Lindenwood where they committed four turnovers and nine penalties. Expect them to clean up some of those miscues against Southern Miss.
App State’s rush defense was stout for the second week in a row, however, holding Lindenwood to minus-one rushing yard a week after holding Charlotte to 76 yards on the ground.
On the other side of the ball, App State’s offense has looked explosive with running back Rashod Dubinion and quarterback AJ Swann. Both transfers, Dubinion is second in the FBS with 305 rushing yards and Swann is tied with Oklahoma’s John Mateer for the ninth-most passing yards in the country with 662. Dalton Stroman and Jaden Barnes both have over 200 yards receiving.
Southern Miss is allowing 27 points per game this season, so this offense could continue to put up numbers.
Linebacker Colton Phares leads the Mountaineers with 13 total tackles on the year, and defensive back Ja’Den McBurrows has posted 11 tackles. App State already has eight sacks and three interceptions on the season.
Southern Miss Preview
Now in the third week of the Charles Huff era, the Golden Eagles are 1-1 after last week’s 38-20 victory over Jackson State. In the Week 1 loss to Mississippi State, USM hung around in the first half but ultimately couldn’t keep pace with the Bulldogs in the final 30 minutes.
USM QB Braylon Braxton, the Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, has passed for 413 yards and five TDs this season and has 78 yards on the ground. I expect him to do a little more damage with his legs as the season goes on, but it’ll be tough against an App State defense that has been dominant against the run.The Golden Eagles’ rushing attack as a whole has been decent and is averaging 120.5 yards per game.
They do have a nice balance of pass catchers, though, with six different players having at least 40 yards on the season, led by Carl Chester’s nine catches for 93 yards.
If it wants a chance to pick up this win, USM’s defense will likely need to tighten up as it’s allowing 393.5 YPG. If it doesn’t, the Mountaineers offense could have the Golden Eagles trying to play catch up the entire game.
App State-Southern Miss Prediction
I predict App State will win and cover the 2.5-point spread.
I’m a big believer in Huff and Braxton, but the Golden Eagles haven’t done much yet this season to make me feel comfortable picking them.
Meanwhile, App State has a diverse and dangerous offense, but its defense is what makes me confident it’ll leave M.M. Roberts Stadium 1-0 in league play.
