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Georgia State-Oregon
Start Time: 2:00 P.M. ET, Saturday, Sept. 19
Location: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon
TV: PAC12 Network
Streaming: here.
Radio: Georgia State: here. Oregon: here.
Records: Georgia State 1-1, Oregon 1-1. First meeting between these two programs.
Live Stats: here.
Betting Line: Georgia State +43.5. Over/Under: 72.
Georgia State Outlook: After a disappointing start to the season, the Georgia State Panthers bounced back in week two with a win over New Mexico State.
The biggest surprise for the Panthers has been an ability to run the football that was non-existent last season. Georgia State is averaging 4.2 yards per carry on the season for 151.5 yards per game on the ground. Kyler Neal (27/111/2TD), Taz Bateman (15/99/0TD), and Kirk Demarcus (12/49/0TD) have developed a three-headed attack on the ground that should take pressure off of the passing game. Quarterback Kick Arbuckle (57-86/671/4TD) has been good in the air with 335.5 yards passing per game. Robert Davis (13/139/0TD) and Penny Hart (12/203/3TD) have been the beneficiaries of the passing game with 25 of the 57 overall receptions. 12 players have made receptions for the Panthers so far this season.
The Panther defense has been a bit odd in being very good versus the run and very poor versus the pass. Opponents are averaging 3.2 yards per carry on the season and 124 yards per game versus the surprisingly stout front seven. Even in stopping the opposition in the running game, the Panthers have been gouged at the rate of 344.5 yards in the air per game, 7.9 yards per pass attempt. Joseph Peterson (17 tkl, 0.5 tfl, 0.5 sacks), Bobby Baker (13 tkl, 2 INT, 3 fr), and Tarris Batiste (13 tkl), and Alonzo McGee (11 tkl, 5 tfl, 2 sacks) have been the bright spots for a defense that has 13 tackles for loss and seven sacks on the year.
Oregon Outlook: The Ducks are coming off of a disappointing loss to Michigan State one the road and should be angry and ready to score lots of points.
The Ducks are nearly impossible to fully stop with 581 yards of total offense and 44.5 points scored per game. The rushing attack is putting up 304 yards per game with a 6.1 yards per game average so far. Royce Freeman (45/272/4TD) and Vernon Adams Jr. (28/100/1TD) have broken the 100 yard barriers with Kani Benoit (12/84/1TD) and Tony Brooks-James (9/83/2TD) knocking on the door. Adams Jr. (41-64/555/3TD) has been good in the arm, despite playing week two with an injured finger on his throwing hand. Bralon Addison (10/162/1TD), Byron Marshall (7/110/2TD), and Charles Nelson (7/79/0TD) have been the favorite targets of Adams Jr. in the opening two weeks of action.
After giving up over 40 points to Eastern Washington in the season opener, the Ducks defense was much better versus Michigan State in week two. The numbers, 36.5 points allowed per game, 315 yards allowed in the air, and 469 total yards allowed per game, should all go down as the defense settles in this season. The second and third quarters are when teams have been having the most success versus the Oregon defense with a combined 45 points allowed in those quarters this season. Arrion Springs (20 tkl, 4 pbu, 4 pd) and Joe Walker (19 tkl, 2.5 tfl, 1 sack) have been good for a defense that has only 10 total tackles for loss and only one sack on the season.
Prediction: In one of the largest lines in the nation this week, Oregon will come into this game looking to make a statement versus the Panthers. Georgia State is making the trip to Eugene for this game in a very tough atmospehere for any opponent, much less a Sun Belt school that has trouble on the defensive side of the ball. Oregon can virtually name their final score and should easily put up 50+ points in this rout.