Hate Week 2K19: Preview & Prediction

Game Time: Thursday October 31st 2019 8PM

Location: Kidd Brewer Stadium, Boone NC

TV: ESPNU

Radio: Appalachian Sports Network

Previous Meeting: Georgia Southern won 34-14 in 2018

All Time: App State leads 19-14-1

Spread: -16 App State, O/U 45.5

Weather: RAIN and more RAIN

Photo by Bobby McDuffie/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

#20 App State Outlook

Halloween and App State football kinda have a connection. This will be the 14th time App State has played on Halloween night and its been more treat than trick for the Mountaineers as they have a 10-3 record and a 349-130 collective scoring advantage. The famous one being the slaughter-fest that was 70-24 against Wofford in 2008.

Battling the elements played a roll last week in Mobile and it definitely will rear its head again Thursday night in Boone. While not having his best day QB Zac Thomas still was a effective 16/28 passing for 132 yards and a nice strike to Thomas Hennigan early in the game. The rising star may have been freshman RB Raykwon Anderson who tallied 99 yards on just 4 carries and a TD.

The App State defense has seemed to settle in since the start of the season as the unit has only given up 17 combined points in the last 3 games combined. As everyone knows when you play Georgia Southern your D gets tested in ways other teams cant with their option attack that can give you fits. Last year Zac Thomas was knocked out on just the 3rd play of the game and then LB Jordan Fehr was ejected on a “interesting” targeting to say the least so the N’eers will look to dish out a little payback on the mountain this year.

I expect a low scoring game between the two schools (bet the under), with weather playing a major factor and then Georgia Southern using up the clock left and right. Southerns pass defense has not been the best but who knows how much or how well App will be able to sling the ball downfield with the conditions. I expect a close game where Georgia Southern covers the spread but at the end of the day the Apps keep the good times rolling for one more week.

App State 21-13

Georgia Southern Outlook

Photo by Chris Thelen/Getty Images

Following last weekend’s offensive explosion in the midst of a monsoon, Georgia Southern will take on arguably its toughest test to date when it comes to conference opponents.

I mentioned this on the Sun Belt Podcast, but tell me if this sounds familiar: App State is ranked, rolling and coming off of a big win. Georgia Southern has spent the season starting slow and not really clicking offensively, but the offense recently has shown signs of life. The above scenario is similar to last season’s preview of this game, where all of these same factors were at play.

The only real difference is the venue, Boone, where the Eagles haven’t won since 2007. With that said, nobody really expected Southern to be able to come away with a win against a ranked Mountaineer team last season either.

This will be some true football weather coming into this one with a ton of rain expected, and I think that benefits Georgia Southern and the ground game. Zac Thomas was limited in his efforts throwing the ball in bad weather last week, and if Southern can keep the prolific rushing attack of App hemmed up, it will have a chance provided the offensive line does their job and Wesley Kennedy III is given the opportunity to make things happen in space.

Kennedy scored three touchdowns last week, with two coming on the ground (143 yards rushing) and one on a 67-yard punt return. The real key for Southern in this game will come down to how much room quarterback Shai Werts and J.D. King are able to find on the ground. King may have had his breakout game last week, running for 143 yards and two scores as the Eagles drubbed New Mexico State.

Defensively, Georgia Southern will need to keep everything in front of them both through the air and on the ground and not let App’s receivers get free for deep passing attempts. I think the weather in this one plays to the under and the +16 Georgia Southern’s currently receiving from a betting perspective.

Georgia Southern 24, Appalachian State 17