Arkansas State Red Wolves vs Georgia State Panthers Preview

Arkansas State (3-4, 3-0) at Georgia State (2-6, 1-3)

Nov. 3, 2016 / Georgia Dome (74,228)

Atlanta, Ga. / 6:30 p.m. (CT)

Radio: EAB Red Wolves Sports Network (107.9 FM, flagship)

Television: ESPNU, WatchESPN

Live Stats: AStateStats.com/AStateRedWolves.com

Live Game Notes: twitter.com/AStateGameDay

Ark St -3.5 O/U 45.5

Series : Ark St leads 3-0

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When Last We Met: ASU scored the last 21 points to pull away from Georgia St 38-24 as Fredi Knighten threw for 224 yards and 3 TDs. Nick Arbuckle torched the ASU secondary for 390 yards as the Panthers held a 27-20 halftime advantage.

Game Notes: QB Justice Hansen was names the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week after his performance in the ASU win over La Monroe last week. Hansen went 21-36 for 303 yards and 4 TDs. This was his 2nd POTW honors after earning the same after the Georgia Southern game.

This game marks GSU’s first midweek game as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.

GSU’s pass defense has been the story of the season with FBS rankings of 8th in pass efficiency defense, 13th in passing yards allowed(177), and 13th in interceptions(11).

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Special thanks to fellow Underdogdynasty.com writer Anthony Messenger who covers the Panthers for helping with a Q & A.

• Standing at 2-6 GSU finds themselves on the verge of being eliminated from bowl contention Thursday night against ASU. After many predicted that this would be a team challenging for a bowl spot this year, what has been the teams biggest issues this year?

Georgia State's biggest issue this season has been their ability to run the football and defensively as a whole. The Panthers late run a season ago was enabled by their ability to limit opponents scoring and run the ball effectively.

• Is there any pressure on Trent Miles if this team doesn't show signs of life in the last 4 games?

I believe that there is pressure on Trent Miles. Miles has yet to have a winning season with the Panthers and Georgia State is going to regress record wise from a year ago. The program is going in the wrong direction and Miles must turn it around fast.

• Who is one player on both sides of the ball that ASU fans may not know but should ?

Offensively Ari Werts is a name to remember. Werts may not have the amount of catches as some of the other Panthers, however, he is a big play threat. Werts averages 15.38 yards per reception. Defensively, Chase Middleton is a name to remember. The sophomore linebacker has been very active in his limited action. Middleton has 35 tackles, 1 sack, and 1.5 tackles for loss on the year.

• The offense is averaging 20 points a game, and it will probably take that or more to beat ASU, how can they accomplish it?

I'm going to beat an old drum on this one. Run the football, plain and simple. If Georgia State can take the pressure off of Conner Manning by running the football, the Panthers offense will be more balanced.

• How do you see this game playing out?

Arkansas State has turned things around as of late. The Red Wolves are on a three game winning streak and have momentum coming into this one. I expect Arkansas State to smother Georgia State offensively. The Panthers are going to be one dimensional against Arkansas State's front seven. Defensively, the Panthers will not be able to stop the Red Wolves rushing attack who is averaging 141.14 yards on the ground per game. Ill go 31-17 Arkansas State.