Previewing The 2017 Appalachian State Season: Mid Season Stretch

Recapping Last Week

Week 4: App 21 WF 17

Week 5: App 35 NMSU 13

Week 6: App 31 Idaho 28

Record: 5-1, 3-0 in Sun Belt

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Week 7: Vs Coastal Carolina (2016 Record: 10-2)

Appalachian State will welcome Fun Belt newcomer Coastal Carolina to Boone in a late October showdown. After a dogfight inside the Kibbie Dome a week ago, the Apps return home where a motivated Chanticleer team awaits the Sun Belt’s top dog.

Appalachian should be ready for this game as they have better athletes across many positions compared to CCU. Coastal will undoubtedly feed Osharmar Abercombie the ball as he is their biggest threat on offense. Joe Moglia will also miss the 2017 season so who knows how this will affect the Chants. Appalachian State has such a solid front line on defense between Myquon Stout, Caleb Fuller, and Devin Stringer, that Coastal will find it hard to see a lot of positive plays. Expect Appalachian State to flex its muscle here and show CCU why they are the better, more experienced football team.

Prediction: App- 38 CCU- 10 (Record: 6-1, 4-0 in Sun Belt)

Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images

Week 8: @ Umass (2016 Record: 2-10)

A rematch of the 2006 FCS National Championship game sets the stage for Appalachian State in Week 8 against the UMass Minutemen. UMass is coming off a rough 2016 campaign as they only managed wins against Florida International and FCS Wagner. UMass however does boast possibly the best tight end in the country in Adam Breneman, as he is their go-to weapon. They also have a couple solid receivers in Brennon Dingle and Sadiq Palmer. The big question mark for the Minutemen will be their defense as the squad gave up a ton of points.

Appalachian will need to get after quarterback Andrew Ford and not give him time to find any of his guys out in the field. The Minutemen does lose three offensive linemen from last year, so expect App state to try and attack that. UMass will be better in 2017 as they will just have to suffer the strains of a tough schedule that comes with being an FBS G5 independent. Jalin Moore and Terrance Upshaw should be a good one-two punch for the Apps in this game to lead ASU to victory over the Minutemen as App will look to dissect the Umass defense and succeed doing so.

Prediction: App- 31 Umass- 14 ( Record: 7-1, 4-0 in Sun Belt)

Photo by Todd Bennett/Getty Images

Week 9: @ ULM (2016 Record: 4-8)

Appalachian State will travel down to Monroe, Louisiana, for a contest with the Warhawks. App State took care of ULM a year ago in Boone, as they took out the Warhawks 42-17. One should expect the same kind of outcome again in 2017 as I don’t foresee a good season heading Monroe’s way. ULM has a tough schedule, especially in non-conference play with games against Florida State, Auburn and Southern Miss. ULM has a lot of JUCOs on their squad and guys that just are not that super talented, as their four-win season a year ago shocked me. I don’t see ASU struggling much in this game, albeit ULM will be fired up to play App in Monroe but App is just plain out better than ULM right now.

Prediction: App- 42 ULM- 13 ( Record: 8-1, 5-0 in Sun Belt)

*Next week we close out the 2017 season as Appalachian State battles the birds from Statesboro, cats from the ATL and the Cajuns from the bayou.