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Start Time: 6 p.m. EST, Oct. 14
Location: Allen E. Paulson Stadium, Statesboro, Ga.
TV/Streaming: ESPN3
Records: Georgia Southern (0-4, 0-1 Sun Belt), New Mexico State (2-4, 0-2 Sun Belt)
Weather: 83 degrees at kickoff, 4 mph winds
Betting Line: NMSU -6.5
Series History: Georgia Southern leads the all time series 3-0 last defeating the Aggies 22-19 on October 22, 2016.
Georgia Southern Outlook
This one will be a matchup between a team that is being kicked out of the Sun Belt versus a team that plays like it should be kicked out of the conference.
Despite showing a little life early on offense against Arkansas State last Wednesday, Georgia Southern’s pass defense also showed the ability to lose the Eagles a game. Pretty impressive for a team that has all weaknesses and no real strengths.
Shai Werts mixed some pretty impressive throws with some absolutely horrible ones, but is still getting no semblance support from his offensive line, so who knows how talented he actually is.
Considering New Mexico State just played a tight game against Georgia Southern’s rival in Boone — something the Eagles haven’t been known to do in a decade — things don’t look great for GS.
Southern is averaging just 15 points per game as an offense, including last Wednesday’s “explosion” for 25 points, the most it has scored all season.
Seven of those came on one run by Monteo Garrett, who was seemingly shoved onto the bench to make sure we didn’t score any more of those pesky points people keep talking about.
The Tyson Summers era is like Sleepy Hollow, headless and seemingly invincible to people who just want it dead and buried.
New Mexico State Outlook
NMSU comes into Saturday’s game at 2-4 and looking for their first win over Georgia Southern in program history. This will be the third straight away game for the Aggies and will be another long trip, hopefully this time they can make it without plane troubles.
The Aggies will be the homecoming opponent for the second straight week. In fact, all of their remaining games except two will involve a homecoming.
Anyways, last Saturday the Aggies beat themselves as QB Tyler Rogers threw six interceptions that led to almost every single App St. point. Besides last week, however, Rogers has been amazing. The senior quarterback has thrown for 2,113 yards and 16 touchdowns and is averaging 352.2 yards per game. Impressive numbers, but he does throw a lot.
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The backfield will look to build on last week’s game especially Jason Huntley how displayed his speed and agility in the run and passing game. Hopefully more running plays are called on Saturday because when the rock has been on the ground, the offense has done pretty well.
The defense will be the key to the Aggies getting back to the win column Saturday because they will have to face off against another triple option attack that has been improving.
I think NMSU will win Saturday but the option attack has me a little worried. New Mexico State was able to shut down New Mexico’s triple option but they run their offense a little differently.
Look for Dalton Herrington and the rest of the linebackers to be all over the field and make a ton of plays and look sick while doing it.
SWAG ALERT | Fresh uni combo for the boys this week in Statesboro.
— NM State Football (@NMStateFootball) October 13, 2017
Oh yeah & they'll be featured on @SportsCenter!#AggieUp #MakeAPlay pic.twitter.com/CpDNzYtzne
Prediction
Brian: Again, the fact that New Mexico State played App so closely last week gives me very little hope for some kind of turnaround for Georgia Southern this season. Give me NMSU and the points easily. Southern hasn’t lost a game this season by less than 10 points.
AdoptedAggie: I think the triple option will keep the game closer than people think but the Aggies are the better team and should get their last first Sun Belt win of the season. NMSU 38, GA Southern 25