:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50768069/usa-today-8084113.0.jpg)
When: Saturday, September 10th
Where: Falcon Stadium (Colorado Springs, CO)
Start Time: 2:00 pm (ET)
Where to watch: Campusinsiders.com or mountainwestconference.com
Audio streaming: georgiastatesports.com or tunein.com
Betting line: -20.5 Air force via oddshark
Series Record: 1-0 Air force
Georgia State is coming off of a lackluster performance against Ball State. The Panthers cannot seem to fix their issues on the ground. With Kyler Neal, Glenn Smith, and Demarcus Kirk in the backfield, there is no reason the Panthers should not be able to run the football. Trent Miles has yet to make a decision on the starting quarterback. I expect both Conner Manning and Aaron Winchester to play.
I like the Panthers defense. The 325 yards they gave up on the ground last week were not entirely their fault. I think the secondary played well last week, which is a good sign after losing Tarris Batiste. The defense is key to keeping the Panthers in this game.
My biggest concern in this game is the altitude. We all saw what happened to Georgia State’s defense once exhaustion set in. Playing up in the mountains makes a big difference in a team’s conditioning. I hope defensive coordinator Jesse Minter can find a way to keep his players fresh come Saturday.
Air Force
The one thing you can guarantee an academy team will bring to the table is discipline. Unfortunately for Georgia State, discipline isn’t the only thing the Falcons have.
Air Force returns 15 starters from an 8-6 team a season ago. Air Force’s rushing attack ranked 4th in the country in 2015. In 2014, the first time the Panthers and Falcons played, Air Force rushed for 315 yards and 4 touchdowns. If Georgia State can’t manage to stop the run once again, it will be a long evening in Colorado Springs.
What the fans are saying
- Danielofthedale
- Fresh Prints
- Markus Golden
Score prediction: 35-24 Air Force
X-Factor: Georgia State running game/altitude
MVP: Jacobi Owens, HB