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Game Time: 7:00 PM EST, Saturday, September 16th, 2017
Location: Bobcat Stadium, San Marcos Texas
TV: ESPN3
Radio: Appalachian IMG Sports Network
Previous Meeting: Appalachian State won 35-10 last season in Boone
Series Record: App State 2-0
Spread: App State -23
Over/Under: 48.5
Outlook
Appalachian State opens up Sun Belt play this week when they travel to San Marcos with for a date with the Bobcats of Texas State. Both teams come into this matchup with a 1-1 record. Appalachian State is coming off a blowout win last Saturday in Boone against FCS Savannah State, while Texas State is coming of a loss to a possible PAC-12 noisemaker in the Colorado Buffalo's.
This is going to be a good matchup as Sun Belt play officially gets underway. Appalachian State will hope to have big play receiver Shaedon Meaddors back, but nothing has be said at this point on his availability for Saturdays game. Jalin Moore had a better game last week against Savannah State but still has yet to hit his full stride that many were expecting. Terrance Upshaw is the leading rusher for App State through two games as he has 17 carries for 103 yards. Don’t think Moore is going to stay quiet long, though, as he is primed for that big time performance and it could be this week.
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Texas State is doing some things better in 2017. Defense has been better than it was a year ago as so far Texas State is only allowing 5.6 yards per play. Linebackers Gabe Loyd and Bryan London have combined 21 tackles in 2017. The Bobcat defense as a whole has 7 sacks, 5 tackles for loss and 3 QB hurries. Running Back Anthony Taylor has shown improvement on the offensive side of the ball for the Cats also. Taylor has ripped off 66 yards on 8 carries and the Bobcats are averaging 1.5 yards more per play than a season ago.
The Appalachian State defense got back to its roots as a tough, hard nose, don’t give an inch style against Savannah State. App will look to keep that same pace on defense here against the Bobcats. App State can ill afford a loss in their first Sun Belt game of 2017, but Everett Withers and the Cats will be ready for the N’eers on Saturday.
Prediction
Texas State may come out ready to play in the opening quarter, but I don’t see that the Bobcats have enough to make this a game throughout the entire 60 minutes. Taylor Lamb needs another great passing day like he had a week ago to continue to boost his confidence and of course Jalin Moore can break out at any point and this could very well be the week he breaks the 100 yard mark in a single game.
Appalachian should not have too many problems, as they are by far the better team and the spread reflects that. Lamb leads App State to a victory by similar score from a year ago.