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Arkansas State vs. Georgia State Prediction, Game Preview
Arkansas State at Georgia State prediction and game preview. Projecting who wins the game between the Red Wolves and Panthers.
October 31, 2016
Arkansas State at Georgia State prediction and game preview. Projecting who wins the game between the Red Wolves and Panthers.
Arkansas State at Georgia State Game Preview
When: Thursday, November 3 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
Broadcast: ESPNU
As Troy and Appalachian State suck up all of the oxygen in the Sun Belt room, Arkansas State is quietly playing about as well as anyone in the league as November begins. The Red Wolves, the Sun Belt’s third team without a conference loss, has won three in a row, including Saturday’s 51-10 demolition of Louisiana-Monroe. And ASU skips App State on the regular season schedule. Georgia State is playing better, too, following a rough 0-4 start. However, Saturday’s crushing 13-10 loss at South Alabama on a late field goal made returning to the postseason increasingly unlikely for the Panthers.
What To Know About Arkansas State
It’s been a tale of two seasons in Jonesboro—the first four games, all losses, and the last three, all wins. The defense is playing markedly better, holding its last two victims below five yards a play behind the upfield pressure of middle linebacker Kyle Wilson and Chris Odom off the edge. Meanwhile, the offense, an issue in the first half of the year, is finally beginning to find a rhythm. The Red Wolves reached a season-high in points in Week 9, as Justice Hansen threw four touchdown passes and versatile RB Warren Wand scored three times.
What to Know About Georgia State
The 2016 Panthers compete because of the defense. They falter because of their offense. Remember, this is the squad that almost upset Wisconsin in Madison in Week 3 and hung around with Appalachian State before losing, 17-3. But as airtight as the defensive backfield is, standing No. 11 nationally in yards per attempt allowed, the offensive attack is equally ineffective. Georgia State norms fewer than 20 points per game, and turnovers and the inability to stretch opposing defenses has impacted its ability to get over the hump this fall.
Advantages
Offense: Arkansas State. The Red Wolves have found a new gear, thanks to the passing of Hansen and the running of Wand and Johnston White.
Defense: Georgia State. Arkansas State is improving here, but that underrated Panther secondary has been terrific for assistant Eric Lewis.
Special Teams: Arkansas State. While neither team is excelling on special teams, the Red Wolves have the more reliable kicker in J.D. Houston.
Coaching: Arkansas State. Blake Anderson is a solid head coach who’s proving his mettle with this year’s in-season turnaround.
Intangibles: Arkansas State. The Red Wolves have a ton more to play for, including a possible league crown, as the final month begins.
Matchup To Watch
Wand and TE Blake Mack vs. the Georgia State linebackers
Hansen doesn’t take a lot of chances downfield, and would be advised not to do so against the Panther secondary. Instead, he’ll want to challenge the more beatable GSU linebackers by dumping the ball off to Wand in the flat and Mack, who leads the team with 27 catches for 476 yards and a score.
Arkansas State at Georgia State Betting Odds
Spread: No line as of post
Over/Under: No line as of post
Arkansas State at Georgia State Prediction
Arkansas State has turned the corner. And while Georgia State is home and tough on D, the Red Wolves will keep surging toward a showdown with Troy on Nov. 17. Arkansas State has far more pop on offense, especially on the fast track of the Georgia Dome. And the pressure it’ll supply from the front seven will force erratic QB Conner Manning into the kinds of mistakes that sidetrack another Panther upset bid.
Arkansas State vs. Georgia State Score Prediction: Arkansas State 27, Georgia State 19
