Date: Saturday, September 8, 2018
Kickoff Time: 6:00 p.m. CT
Location: Jim Wacker Field at Bobcat Stadium, San Marcos, Texas
Watch: ESPN3/KNVA
All-Time Series: Texas State leads series, 9-0
Last Meeting: 2009, TXST-52 TSU-18
Betting Lines: Texas State -28.5 , O/U 50.5
Texas Southern Outlook
The Tigers opened up their 2018 campaign against the UT-Permian Basin last Saturday in Houston with a 26-16 victory.
Texas Southern’s quarterback Glen Cuiellette was 19/33 for 235 yards with three touchdown passes and two interceptions in their win against UTPB. The Tulane graduate transfer is in his first season in Houston after being the Green Wave’s starter in 2016.
Cuiellette’s 19 completions were to 11 different receivers. Their offense held the ball for 36:50 pacing the game in the Tigers’ favor but turned the ball over three times giving up 14 fourth quarter points to UTPB making the Tigers’ 10-point win a little too close for comfort.
For Texas Southern to have any chance the Tigers will of course have to cut down their turnovers and repeat their time-of-possession success from last week and hope Texas State collapses on both sides of the ball.
Texas State Outlook
Despite Freshman quarterback Tyler Vitt being inserted late in the game in a losing effort against Rutgers Head Coach Everett Withers is still going with the sophomore Willie Jones III.
WJIII and the offense struggled only mustering a scant 176 yards of total offense in the 35-7 loss but again the offensive line struggled against the constant Rutgers pass rush.
But don’t fret. Jones III has the arm and scrambling ability to let loose the juice against Texas Southern. He broke off a few good runs against a low-end P5 defense and if the O-line can gain some traction and confidence against a FCS defense, WJIII will hopefully get replaced in the fourth quarter again, this time because State is up significantly.
One other problem Texas State faced was the astronomical amount of penalties. The Bobcats drew 15 flags for 119 yards in their opening game. At the recent press conference Coach Withers exclaimed some of the penalties were questionable and four were on special teams. In all you can probably chalk it up to first game jitters in terms of the penalties.
The defense gave up 423 yards to Rutgers but they looked the best they have been in a few years. Forcing three interceptions and a fumble the ‘Cats lone score was on a pick six by cornerback Kordell Rodgers. Rodgers also added another interception and leads the nation in pick offs.
Check out this week’s Uni combo for our matchup against @TSUFootball Come on out and support your 2018 @TXSTATEFOOTBALL team. Let’s #PUSH & #PackWack pic.twitter.com/8uz3bAnchE
— TXSTATE Equipment (@TXST_FootballEQ) September 6, 2018
Prediction
This is the game Texas State should iron out the problems and be able to instill some confidence on both sides of the ball. The defense showed that they’re hungry and had a few glimpses of what they can be.
Last year the Bobcats struggled against FCS Houston Baptist in their opener but Texas State has already endured a Big Ten team and they seem primed to blow away Texas Southern. I’d like to see them get some momentum started on offense and of course cut down on the penalties. Gimme the Texas State win, 48-16.