Underdog Dynasty: All Posts by Brian StoneAn unofficial The American, Conference USA, Sun Belt, and Independent football bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52546/ud_favicon.png2023-12-16T15:14:16-05:00https://www.underdogdynasty.com/authors/brian-stone/rss2023-12-16T15:14:16-05:002023-12-16T15:14:16-05:00Ohio’s second-string offense embarrasses Georgia Southern, 41-21
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 16 Georgia Southern at Wisconsin" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/K0mPD3yCAZ0BmCbr8zxJjTrCojU=/0x0:3946x2631/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72970327/1676979098.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Dan Sanger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Bobcats reach double-digit wins with the victory over the Eagles.</p> <p id="OLxdHb">As it always goes with the 2023 Georgia Southern Eagles, the Myrtle Beach Bowl game down to turnover machine Davis Brin.</p>
<p id="lRcMAh">Brin, who will ultimately lead the FBS in interceptions when this season ends, tossed 3 interceptions to bring his season-long total to 19 and cost his team a shot at winning over a shorthanded Ohio team on Saturday, 41-21.</p>
<p id="m84pHz">The Bobcats and running back Rickey Hunt dominated the time of possession, as the team from Athens held the ball for 33 minutes and smothered Georgia Southern for much of the game on defense.</p>
<p id="rUb9Xj">Hunt finished his day with 115 yards and a whopping four rushing touchdowns in the victory, as the Bobcats picked up their 10th win of the season despite missing many offensive contributors.</p>
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 09 Ohio at Florida Atlantic" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pYlpQCTlzopOc0gXnBLpVvuxWA0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25168006/1658336727.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Despite missing offensive contributors such as starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke, Ohio had no problem steamrolling Georgia Southern.</figcaption>
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<p id="Pg4J75">Ohio quarterback Parker Navarro did just enough to manage the game, something Brin could not do, throwing for 120 yards and rushing for 71 on the ground in the victory.</p>
<p id="SEQXkd">By the time Hunt cashed in his third rushing score in as many quarters, the Bobcats held a commanding 27-0 lead and the Eagles effectively had no shot of coming back. </p>
<p id="1FemgA">Georgia Southern ultimately scored three touchdowns in the second half and had an opportunity to pull within a score, but a turnover on downs in the mid-fourth quarter all but put an end to any hope of a comeback bid.</p>
<p id="LG6dBL">This season was essentially a disaster for Clay Helton and company, who I am on board with firing at this stage, at a 12-14 record through two seasons.</p>
<p id="RRQjLG">GS Athletic Director Jared Benko was quoted during the 2021 season as saying 7-5 records are unacceptable in Statesboro. </p>
<p id="7yDZXp">We’ll see how the program responds after a pair of 6-7 seasons and if any changes are eventually made. </p>
<p id="BAkOxa">My money is on Helton being canned following a flameout in 2024, similar to how previous coach Chad Lunsford was unceremoniously dismissed in 2021.</p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2023/12/16/24004214/ohios-second-string-offense-embarrasses-georgia-southern-41-21Brian Stone2023-12-15T10:00:00-05:002023-12-15T10:00:00-05:002023 Myrtle Beach Bowl Preview & How To Watch: Georgia Southern vs. Ohio
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 16 Georgia Southern at Wisconsin" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/E_BgJFPx4tXi7bs2hJErt46BmAg=/0x0:3362x2241/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72966219/1676979088.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Dan Sanger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Eagles have limped into the postseason while the Bobcats are feeling the pains of the transfer portal.</p> <p id="xOjLzx"><strong>Time and Date: </strong>11 AM ET - December 16</p>
<p id="Vubcxq"><strong>Broadcast Network: </strong>ESPN</p>
<p id="P7zMqT"><strong>Location: </strong>Brooks Stadium - Conway, SC</p>
<p id="PkCZTv"><strong>Records: </strong>Georgia Southern 6-6 (3-5 Sun Belt), Ohio 9-3 (6-2 MAC)</p>
<p id="UufTo2"><strong>Line: </strong>Georgia Southern -3.5</p>
<p id="3JiycY"><strong>Point Total:</strong> O/U 48.5</p>
<p id="bWZwci"><strong>All-Time Series: </strong>This will be the first-ever matchup between the two teams.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="n8rUTj">
<h2 id="dJ5671">Georgia Southern Outlook</h2>
<p id="CBC0af">Georgia Southern is coming into this bowl game on the heels of a disastrous end to its regular season, where the Eagles dropped four consecutive games after beginning the season 6-2.</p>
<p id="hXZE9S">Quarterback Davis Brin has been nothing short of a nightmare for Eagle fans to endure, tied for the FBS lead in interceptions this season with 16. Look no further than this poor throw and decision that put the nail in the coffin against rival Appalachian State last month.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is the worst <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Brinterception?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Brinterception</a> of the season <a href="https://t.co/olq3PPkU8X">https://t.co/olq3PPkU8X</a> <a href="https://t.co/ab0MbHw7sB">pic.twitter.com/ab0MbHw7sB</a></p>— Brian Stone (@WatchTheStone) <a href="https://twitter.com/WatchTheStone/status/1729217523696943399?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2023</a>
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<p id="i0UVNg">He makes poor decisions but ensures that he’ll make even worse throws.</p>
<p id="uaf5OW">Normally, one would hope a backup would take his spot, but second-stringer J.C. French injured his arm in the contest against App State and no other quarterbacks have even taken a snap for the Eagles this season.</p>
<p id="TjJKgB">With Brin being such a disaster, people would assume that GS offensive coordinator Bryan Ellis would run the ball more with backs OJ Arnold and Jalen White, right?</p>
<p id="fRBPXK">Wrong. </p>
<p id="tLjHnH">Brin has uncorked the second-most attempts in the FBS this season, and why stop now? It’s only game 13.</p>
<p id="UeisKJ">Defensively, the Eagles have been better than last year statistically but have shown a penchant for quitting in games when the other team scores a few touchdowns in a row. Some pieces here could be good for future seasons, but that fruit has not come to bear very much results-wise this year.</p>
<p id="z86dnx">All that to say, a decent-sized group of Southern fans and I will be letting out a long exhale once the clock is all zeroes, and we can finally put the 2023 season behind us.</p>
<div id="2j3Aip"><div style="max-width: 660px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 175px; position: relative;"><iframe src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sun-belt-football-bowl-game-previews/id1698514636?i=1000638689247" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div></div>
<h2 id="uHAhnV">Ohio Outlook</h2>
<p id="l3T4Ge">When you look at Ohio’s record and who the Bobcats have beaten this season, it would stand to reason that they should be favored in this game, but the transfer portal has taken a toll this offseason on the team in green.</p>
<p id="8RaX4I">Starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke hit the portal following the team’s final regular season win over Akron, as did leading receiver Miles Cross, leading rusher Sieh Bangura and the team’s second-leading tackler in Keye Thompson.</p>
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 09 Ohio at Florida Atlantic" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aK1UFxe-GWEX0vWzypqJt95OsLY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25163562/1655922888.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Ohio will be starting a new quarterback Saturday following the announced transfer of starter Kurtis Rourke.</figcaption>
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<p id="lIyKYK">Parker Navarro is the leader in the clubhouse to get the start at quarterback for the Bobcats, having thrown just 10 attempts all season. </p>
<p id="3dmCOq">All portal players aside, Ohio has sported one of the best defenses in the FBS this season statistically. The Bobcats rank 4th in total yardage allowed, at 264 yards per game, and rank within the top-10 in the country in rush defense (9th, 96 YPG), pass defense (7th, 168 YPG) and scoring defense (5th, 15.4 PPG). </p>
<h2 id="aTVJsB">Prediction</h2>
<p id="oyLRIQ">This matchup spells potential disaster for a Georgia Southern team that is known to turn the football over in bunches, mostly thanks to Brin and doesn’t exactly sport one of the best defenses in the nation. I think this is a low-scoring affair that Brin throws the Eagles out of, as he is wont to do.</p>
<p id="Y2z4rq"><strong>Final Score: Ohio 23, Georgia Southern 20</strong></p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2023/12/15/24001837/2023-myrtle-beach-bowl-preview-how-to-watch-georgia-southern-vs-ohioBrian Stone2023-11-25T19:47:02-05:002023-11-25T19:47:02-05:00Appalachian State crushes Georgia Southern, 55-27
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Appalachian State at Wyoming" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HIZ0-Lkif8W8cxbYYEP5taPa61c=/0x0:6174x4116/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72901808/usa_today_21492651.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Who could have possibly foreseen this coming?</p> <p id="gEVT9L">Both Georgia Southern and Appalachian State closed out its regular seasons on Saturday afternoon, with the Mountaineers handing the Eagles a 55-27 beating in a result <a href="https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2023/11/24/23974613/georgia-southern-at-appalachian-state-how-to-watch-preview-prediction">nobody could have possibly foreseen</a>.</p>
<p id="It0nH4">Despite the team’s shortcomings on the road this season, the Eagles jumped out to a quick 14-3 lead after the first quarter, making this author believe he would have to eat crow, which I would have done happily, as I did in last season’s Appalachian State game.</p>
<p id="nlk9sn">But what happened after the first quarter? Well, GS quarterback Davis Brin turned back into a pumpkin, finishing the game with 3 interceptions and no touchdown passes as App State took advantage of nearly every mistake Southern made.</p>
<p id="yQ8Yt2">Few things were more emblematic of this game than in the second quarter, when the Eagles allowed a touchdown to Mountaineer receiver Kaedin Robinson to cut the deficit to 14-10. On the subsequent kickoff, Georgia Southern returner Dalen Cobb fumbled the ball, allowing App to recover and waltz into the endzone on a Kanye Roberts touchdown run just six seconds later, 17-14. </p>
<p id="VohHwb">From that point, the rout was on.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 10 Coastal Carolina at Appalachian State" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/c78om8F79IhamTK_iEu5phf_yBM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25111739/1717972544.jpg">
<cite>Photo by David Jensen/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>App State’s Kanye Roberts rushed for 109 yards and a score in the blowout of Georgia Southern on Saturday.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="4JgUXs">Everything went right for the Mountaineers on senior night, as quarterback Joey Aguilar threw four touchdowns and one pick to go along with 296 yards passing, as the Eagles switched back and forth between Brin and backup J.C. French, the latter of which left the game with an arm injury.</p>
<p id="rOYtkg">From the second quarter on, App outscored Georgia Southern by a 52-13 margin and making it clear that Eagles’ head coach Clay Helton’s seat should warm up quite a bit heading into 2024.</p>
<p id="FXbgZY">In the words of late Arizona Cardinals coach Denny Green, the Eagles are who we thought they were.</p>
<p id="4IxrjN">Appalachian State will square off with Troy in the Sun Belt title game next week thanks to James Madison’s 56-14 drubbing of Coastal Carolina, while Georgia Southern will get to play in a bowl game in Montgomery, Alabama or whatever.</p>
<p id="7G2wCl">The one benefit of the bowl game is that it will mark Southern fans’ last time seeing Brin play in blue and white.</p>
<p id="77gJxD"></p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2023/11/25/23976045/appalachian-state-crushes-georgia-southern-55-27Brian Stone2023-11-24T11:20:47-05:002023-11-24T11:20:47-05:00Georgia Southern at Appalachian State: How To Watch, Preview, Prediction
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Georgia Southern at Appalachian State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4JzdTMV84RdEO3eyqdLeNI1YrYQ=/0x0:4214x2809/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72898272/usa_today_13599680.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Appalachian State has everything to play for, while Southern has thrown in the towel on this season in recent weeks.</p> <p id="xOjLzx"><strong>Time and Date: </strong>3:30 PM ET - November 25</p>
<p id="Vubcxq"><strong>Broadcast Network: </strong>ESPNU</p>
<p id="P7zMqT"><strong>Location: </strong>Kidd Brewer Stadium - Boone, NC</p>
<p id="PkCZTv"><strong>Records: </strong>Georgia Southern 6-5 (3-4 Sun Belt), Appalachian State 7-4 (5-2 Sun Belt)</p>
<p id="UufTo2"><strong>Line: </strong>Appalachian State -9</p>
<p id="3JiycY"><strong>Point Total:</strong> O/U 63.5</p>
<p id="bWZwci"><strong>All-Time Series: </strong>Appalachian State is 20-16-1 all-time against Georgia Southern, with the Eagles having won last season in Statesboro, 51-48.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="Xbkum1">
<h2 id="Ha0iAA">Georgia Southern Outlook</h2>
<p id="rpKcL2">Following last week’s letdown against a middling Old Dominion squad, Georgia Southern seems to have waved the white flag on the 2023 season.</p>
<p id="aJXSSr">After defeating the Georgia State Panthers just before Halloween, the Eagles have dropped three straight, with most of the losses showing the team’s non-competitiveness.</p>
<p id="eIBrDB">Davis Brin continues to be a quarterback albatross hanging around the neck of what has the bones of a pretty good offense. Brin’s lack of good decision-making and execution of throws, particularly down the field, are second-to-everyone forcing the Eagles to throw little lollipop passes around the line of scrimmage, as offensive coordinator Bryan Ellis refuses to establish the run even when it’s working.</p>
<div id="YoQ2BY"><div style="max-width: 660px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 175px; position: relative;"><iframe src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sun-belt-football-week-12-recap-week-13-preview/id1698514636?i=1000636432182" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div></div>
<p id="GA74xb">This year’s version of Southern lacks any real consistency or mental fortitude, having quit on defense in multiple games this season, much to the chagrin of baby boomers on Twitter who hate hearing what’s been evident to most fans since the James Madison blowout.</p>
<p id="Kqufcr">To make matters even worse, Southern is currently 1-4 in road contests this season, with its lone victory away from Paulson Stadium coming against a now 4-7 MAC team. </p>
<p id="fcKBD9">App State and Ball State don’t really compare.</p>
<p id="9g8nWp">I’m not one of the people on social media ready to pull the ripcord on head coach Clay Helton just yet, but if serious changes are not made this offseason both in coaching and recruiting, he may not survive as Eagles head coach beyond 2024. </p>
<p id="KmGvpV">This season has been nothing short of an utter failure following a 6-2 start and 3-1 conference record following the win over the Panthers.</p>
<h2 id="AhelQe">Appalachian State Outlook</h2>
<p id="asNfEW">While Georgia Southern has crumbled after a hot start, Appalachian State has pulled its team together and overcome a rocky beginning to the season.</p>
<p id="uOoVB2">Sitting at 3-4 after the first seven games, the Mountaineers could have done what the Eagles did and packed it in, potentially leading to head coach Shawn Clark’s departure following a disappointing 6-6 campaign in 2022.</p>
<p id="AEUbuD">Instead, App has turned a corner and ripped off their last four in a row, culminating in 26-23 upset of JMU last week and spoiling the Dukes’ undefeated season.</p>
<p id="ZwytKd">Joey Aguilar has been a large part of the team’s success throughout the year, with 29 touchdowns to just 8 picks as the team around him has improved following its rough start. Aguilar’s biggest asset is that he is a great decision maker, not throwing the team out of games.</p>
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<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 10 Coastal Carolina at Appalachian State" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PfwYOBce8shWPldaa0_KLTAOL8E=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25108990/1717972605.jpg">
<cite>Photo by David Jensen/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Joey Aguilar has been an excellent find as a former junior college transfer.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="I62eIE">Defensively, the Mountaineers have been on fire as of late, allowing 300 or more yards just twice during the winning streak. This has been a stark departure from earlier in the season, when teams like Coastal Carolina and ODU were ripping off game-winning drives at the end of regulation.</p>
<p id="v4gisi">One major surprise this season has been the step back running back Nate Noel has taken in the offensive scheme, battling injuries and having not crossed the 100-yard threshold in a game since the end of September.</p>
<p id="uEkpa9">Whether the injury still lingers is up for debate or not, but look for the talented tailback to reach the century mark against a porous Georgia Southern defensive unit tomorrow.</p>
<h2 id="1TICVL">Prediction</h2>
<p id="djXLji">I would like to tell everyone that this will be a close, hard fought game between two heated rivals, but that simply won’t be the case. Appalachian State has title game aspirations and everything to play for, while Georgia Southern is poorly coached and talentless in key positions and is eyeing the Lysol Toilet Bowl for mid-December.</p>
<p id="FpANAG">I don’t think this one is particularly close, either.</p>
<p id="sgDLz6"><strong>Final Score: Appalachian State 41, Georgia Southern 17</strong></p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2023/11/24/23974613/georgia-southern-at-appalachian-state-how-to-watch-preview-predictionBrian Stone2023-11-17T10:04:16-05:002023-11-17T10:04:16-05:00Georgia Southern vs. Old Dominion: How To Watch, Preview, Prediction
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Georgia Southern at Wisconsin" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FTzR05Y2S0InKv-fZiY0Ld1eCHw=/0x0:4506x3004/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72875709/usa_today_21432517.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Both teams seem to be inert at this point in the football season.</p> <p id="xOjLzx"><strong>Time and Date: </strong>6 PM ET - November 18</p>
<p id="Vubcxq"><strong>Broadcast Network: </strong>ESPN+</p>
<p id="P7zMqT"><strong>Location: </strong>Paulson Stadium - Statesboro, GA</p>
<p id="PkCZTv"><strong>Records: </strong>Georgia Southern 6-4 (3-3 Sun Belt), Old Dominion 4-6 (3-3 Sun Belt)</p>
<p id="UufTo2"><strong>Line: </strong>Georgia Southern -7</p>
<p id="3JiycY"><strong>Point Total:</strong> O/U 60.5</p>
<p id="bWZwci"><strong>All-Time Series: </strong>Georgia Southern is 3-0 all-time against Old Dominion, with the Eagles having won last season in Norfolk, 28-23.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="nwwVeW">
<h2 id="iovNLN">Georgia Southern Outlook</h2>
<p id="uXxZRy">Georgia Southern continued digging a hole for itself and seemingly continues to wish for the season to be over pronto with a pitiful effort <a href="https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2023/11/11/23957324/marshall-sprints-past-hapless-georgia-southern-38-33">in a loss</a> to a reeling Marshall last week.</p>
<p id="OKXP3X">The Eagles found a way to make the Herd, coming off of a five-game losing streak in which it hadn’t scored more than 9 points in a game in a month, look like a team ready to vie for the Sun Belt East championship.</p>
<p id="bEr3kr">The defense is just as atrocious as last season, except now Southern has traded an awful run defense for an awful, uninspired all-around defense. One obvious change that needs to be made by the end of this season is secondary coach Kevin Whitley, whose unit has been thrashed by any quarterback with a pulse this season.</p>
<p id="n2sM0m">Georgia Southern currently ranks in the bottom half of the FBS in both pass defense, at 95th with 242 yards per game allowed, and total defense (87th, 391.7 YPG).</p>
<div id="ncETsf"><div style="max-width: 660px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 175px; position: relative;"><iframe src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sun-belt-football-week-11-recap-week-12-preview/id1698514636?i=1000634918781" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div></div>
<p id="JycUpn"></p>
<p id="1I7KgA">Offensively, quarterback Davis Brin has sunk this team’s chances of winning games where the Eagles don’t have the clear talent or coaching advantage. Last week saw Brin throw three touchdowns, but captained the team to just 5-19 (26% conversion) on third downs as Southern dropped its second conference game in a row coming off the victory over Georgia State.</p>
<p id="pSdYc9">Brin needs to be benched, having ran a promising Georgia Southern season into a cement dock, and the Eagles’ season is now taking on water in a hurry. Anyone and everyone should be on the table to start at quarterback for GS, which needs to begin preparing for 2024 with all but a low-tier bowl game out of reach.</p>
<h2 id="3s9zIo">Old Dominion Outlook</h2>
<p id="P4CBdc">Similarly to Georgia Southern, Old Dominion’s problems lie in its inability to generate production from the quarterback spot. The Monarchs have rolled out Grant Wilson, who seems to be a game manager on a team desperate for a dynamic talent at the position.</p>
<p id="25IBwG">The Monarchs, also like Southern, picked up a couple of encouraging wins weeks ago against Southern Miss and an Appalachian State team that has shown real promise as of late, following those up with three consecutive losses, headlined by last week’s 38-10 shellacking at the hands of Liberty.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 02 Old Dominion at Virginia Tech" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oRT0IdlchtbfCDs70RK1AdveVzM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25091909/1641525352.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Kadarius Calloway has been a diamond in the rough for Old Dominion this season.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="lqsQeX">Head coach Ricky Rahne has done an admirable job, squeezing four wins out of roster largely devoid of top end talent at most key positions. Running back Kadarius Calloway has been a lone bright spot on the team’s roster, rushing for an incredible 8.1 yards per carry this season, but it has not been enough to carry an entire offense.</p>
<p id="n3afiX">Defensively, Jason Henderson is one to watch at the linebacker spot, having racked up 152 total tackles this season and four sacks. Despite Henderson’s efforts, ODU ranks even worse on the defensive side of the ball than Georgia Southern, sitting at 93rd in total yardage (397.2 YPG) and are tied with the Eagles for passing yards surrendered per game, at 242.</p>
<h2 id="BqXLMh">Prediction</h2>
<p id="4s3uqS">Georgia Southern plays better at home than on the road, which leads me to believe the Eagles will take this one before plummeting back to Earth and getting smacked on the road against rival Appalachian State next week. Plenty of points should be scored with two terrible defenses facing off, so I like GS -7 and the over as two bets this week.</p>
<p id="E40l63"><strong>Final Score: Georgia Southern 37, Old Dominion 27</strong></p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2023/11/17/23965343/georgia-southern-vs-old-dominion-how-to-watch-preview-predictionBrian Stone2023-11-11T23:01:35-05:002023-11-11T23:01:35-05:00Marshall sprints past hapless Georgia Southern, 38-33
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<img alt="R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cc9Bgo4VrI_RRegePEdxlRhmcqw=/0x0:1628x1085/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72856365/1359769628.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Herd rebounded from a five-game losing streak while the Eagles effectively ended their own season with the loss.</p> <p id="IuU92M">Georgia Southern had one final chance to keep themselves in contention for the Sun Belt East title race, but Marshall sat up as if it was The Undertaker lying in a casket and chokeslammed the Eagles’ chances of doing anything meaningful this season in a 38-33 win.</p>
<p id="MSQWga">After all, the Thundering Herd had dropped five consecutive games coming into the contest, and made a change at quarterback that ended up being the difference. </p>
<p id="m7kg82">The contest was a back-and-forth affair for the first three quarters with the teams trading blows before Georgia Southern suffered stage fright beginning in the fourth quarter and completely crumbled, allowing the Herd to score 14 unanswered and euthanizing Southern’s season as a result.</p>
<p id="IofAVz">Freshman Cole Pennington, son of former Marshall standout Chad Pennington, stepped in and played okay with 201 yards and an interception, but mostly stretched the Southern secondary with some deep attempts, opening up running lanes for standout running back Rasheen Ali.</p>
<p id="gYMxAq">Ali made the most of his opportunity with signal caller Cam Fancher finally sidelined, racking up 156 yards and two touchdowns as Marshall powered its way past Georgia Southern for the five-point victory.</p>
<p id="XFXXEc">Marshall receiver DeMarcus Harris did much of the damage to the Eagles’ clueless secondary, assuring the team that there is nothing to play for in the weeks ahead. Harris finished the contest with a game-high 147 yards on just four catches and tested Georgia Southern’s “defenders” (if you can call them that) all night.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="NCAA Football: Youngstown State at Kentucky" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/T6E7iLbMc8ib6ZsmJSCqoKMB35g=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25077764/usa_today_19064362.jpg">
<cite>Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
<figcaption>Kentucky transfer DeMarcus Harris torched Georgia Southern’s secondary repeatedly in the win.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="Ajlhcj">The Herd also put a ton of pressure on Eagles quarterback Davis Brin, who turned in a performance that looks better on the stat sheet than it did in real-time. Brin racked up 307 yards and three touchdowns, but failed on a number of key 3rd down attempts which left Georgia Southern unable to make a comeback when it was all said and done.</p>
<p id="AaEYig">With GS effectively ending its own season — outside of an appearance in the Dukes Mayo Bowl or whatever — Eagles head coach Clay Helton needs to look elsewhere at the quarterback position moving forward. </p>
<p id="7mLSFR">Freshman QB J.C. French may not be the long-term answer, but Brin is not the future of this football team, nor is he really anything of value on a team which needs to start building towards next year rather than spinning its wheels to minorly improve its bowl standing or whatnot. </p>
<p id="yvWfeX">That time has passed.</p>
<p id="cV5Y0c">Marshall will look to build on this next week at South Alabama, while Georgia Southern will look to pick up a meaningless seventh win at home against Old Dominion.</p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2023/11/11/23957324/marshall-sprints-past-hapless-georgia-southern-38-33Brian Stone2023-11-10T10:33:21-05:002023-11-10T10:33:21-05:00Georgia Southern at Marshall: How To Watch, Preview, Prediction
<figure>
<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 16 Georgia Southern at Wisconsin" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2dCB3U2ZPbhFDb0XFYfJnvUp510=/0x0:4528x3019/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72851390/1676979125.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Dan Sanger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Eagles and Thundering Herd are both limping to the end of the season.</p> <p id="xOjLzx"><strong>Time and Date: </strong>7 PM ET - November 11</p>
<p id="Vubcxq"><strong>Broadcast Network: </strong>NFL Network</p>
<p id="P7zMqT"><strong>Location: </strong>Joan C. Edwards Stadium - Huntington, WV</p>
<p id="PkCZTv"><strong>Records: </strong>Georgia Southern 6-3 (3-2 Sun Belt), Marshall 4-5 (1-4 Sun Belt)</p>
<p id="UufTo2"><strong>Line: </strong>Georgia Southern -2</p>
<p id="3JiycY"><strong>Point Total:</strong> O/U 56.5</p>
<p id="bWZwci"><strong>All-Time Series: </strong>Marshall is 5-2 all-time against Georgia Southern, with the Herd having won last season in Statesboro, 23-10.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="LUZlVB">
<h2 id="Lp9lDf">Georgia Southern Outlook</h2>
<p id="eb2Dwe">What happens when the stoppable force meets the moveable object? That’s what we’ll find out this Saturday when Georgia Southern meets Marshall.</p>
<p id="MojScP">The Eagles are coming off of a <a href="https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2023/11/4/23946794/texas-state-dismantles-an-uninspired-georgia-southern-team-45-24">road walloping</a> at the hands of Texas State from last week, having given up mid-second quarter when the Bobcats ripped off a couple of touchdowns.</p>
<p id="Bs6Kxj">I’d say this is a must-win game for Southern, who still holds a tiebreaker win over Coastal Carolina in the East division, but we’ve seen time and time again that “must win” doesn’t mean much to this Georgia Southern football program.</p>
<div id="g77HIJ"><div style="max-width: 660px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 175px; position: relative;"><iframe src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sun-belt-football-week-10-recap-week-11-preview/id1698514636?i=1000634148924" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div></div>
<p id="v6kgpC">Last week gave the Eagles prime position and a one-game advantage in the East division and they threw the towel in after a couple of bad drives, as Davis Brin imploded for the umpteenth time this year.</p>
<p id="jZYIGk">Brin now sports an 18:13 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and will almost certainly surpass the 16 picks thrown by last season’s quarterback Kyle VanTrease when all is said and done. </p>
<p id="qW1dr1">The only player who seems to come and give effort on a weekly basis is running back Jalen White, who is up to 914 yards rushing and 10 TD’s this season. Offensive coordinator Bryan Ellis should prioritize the run game for the rest of this year, unless he simply enjoys seeing his quarterback fling passes into double and triple coverage.</p>
<p id="8Gpzkr">If Georgia Southern drops this game to a floundering Marshall team coming off five consecutive losses, go ahead and start J.C. French or anyone else over Brin moving forward. </p>
<p id="hsnKCs">The worst that could happen under a non-Davis Brin quarterback is the team underperforming in the Meineke Car Care Bowl or something.</p>
<h2 id="xcuFMB">Marshall Outlook</h2>
<p id="O7LPmM">If we want to talk about teams that have simply taken their ball and gone home, look no further than the Herd, who began their season 4-0 but have now lost their last five in a row and have not scored more than 9 points in a game since October 14th.</p>
<p id="Akb3oG">Much like Southern, the quarterback position is killing Marshall, as Cam Fancher is simply not the answer either long term or in the interim. Fancher has thrown 8 touchdowns to 11 interceptions this year and has not tossed more than one touchdown in a game since the NC State contest in week 5.</p>
<p id="4D9kfM">This, in turn, is crushing dynamic tailback Rasheen Ali’s chances of being, well, dynamic. </p>
<p id="8UGjIF">Ali has topped 100 yards rushing in a game just 3 times this entire season as teams can simply stack the box and dare Fancher to try and throw.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEC 19 Myrtle Beach Bowl" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WkbVhHeMrseBFPHc_dTjjhMRylc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25073606/1245735159.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Charles Brock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Rasheen Ali’s talent is being crippled under the weight of quarterback Cam Fancher’s incompetence.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="yLPboi">The Herd defense also seems to be reeling after the loss of defensive coordinator Lance Guidry in the offseason to Miami (FL). Outside of pass rusher Owen Porter, the entire unit has been mediocre, surrendering 175 rushing yards per game, ranking 109th in the country this season.</p>
<p id="aEp7aw">Marshall should see a ton of Jalen White coming right at them in this one, but who knows what kind of gameplan Georgia Southern will implement. It may be 74 called screen passes like the Eagles attempted against James Madison.</p>
<h2 id="1wILlR">Prediction</h2>
<p id="rpbvml">Here, my dear readers, I leave you with a simple betting pick. Take the under. </p>
<p id="3VQy2Y">Georgia Southern is averaging 24 points per game on the road this season, but if you eliminate the win over Ball State that number reduces to 17 PPG. Meanwhile, Marshall hasn’t scored more than 9 points in a game in nearly a month. This doesn’t have to be hard.</p>
<p id="dQSwCR">Ultimately, I think the Eagles win an ugly game with two underwhelming passers, but I wouldn’t put money on it.</p>
<p id="gsm9Ae"><strong>Final Score: Georgia Southern 21, Marshall 16</strong></p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2023/11/10/23955369/georgia-southern-at-marshall-how-to-watch-preview-predictionBrian Stone2023-11-04T20:28:34-04:002023-11-04T20:28:34-04:00Texas State dismantles an uninspired Georgia Southern team, 45-24
<figure>
<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 09 Texas State at UTSA" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OUObBPNE3vI7knCDsWS0nZXW9es=/0x0:5864x3909/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72829764/1655938294.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Daniel Dunn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Eagles showed they have yet to learn the art of winning a “must win” on the road Saturday.</p> <p id="JZdjFp">Texas State cemented itself as a solid team in the Sun Belt by dismantling a Georgia Southern team that never got off the bus Saturday, by a margin of 45-24.</p>
<p id="zfj9F2">Don’t let the final score fool you, the Eagles were outclassed by the middle of the third quarter in this contest, as the Bobcats were happy to dogwalk their opponent before letting Southern score a couple of pity touchdowns in the second half to make it appear competitive on the surface.</p>
<p id="W5m1RC">TSU quarterback T.J. Finley diced up a GS secondary that has oscillated between passable and a fireable offense in 2023, as the Bobcats signal caller put up 300 yards and 3 touchdowns on an incredible 80% completion percentage in the win.</p>
<p id="WbC1Z8">Receiver Joey Hobert did most of the damage as Georgia Southern threw in the towel in the middle of the second quarter, with Hobert hauling in 13 grabs for 141 yards and a score in the victory. Bobcats’ running back Ismail Mahdi was his usual efficient self, running for 99 yards in the win.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 02 Texas State at Baylor" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dYrNpPFaSc9M6VXrEKnt0_E5Lt8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25058611/1641680783.jpg">
<cite>Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Joey Hobert torched the Georgia Southern secondary for 141 yard and a touchdown on Saturday.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="8WaUY5">On the other side of things, Davis Brin was downright awful once again, making Eagle fans thankful this will be his final year with the program. Brin had a paltry 36 passing yards and an interception at halftime, and only got marginally better throughout when Texas State dropped into prevent defense up multiple touchdowns on the scoreboard.</p>
<p id="E07UNh">Jalen White was the lone bright spot for Georgia Southern, rushing for 159 yards and two scores. White has to be looking around during matchups like this one, James Madison and Wisconsin wondering where the hell the rest of his team went as the Eagles found another way to ultimately disappoint their fans in a road loss.</p>
<p id="Nuzwfy">Texas State solidified themselves as a team on the rise in this game, while the Eagles calcified themselves as a team not to be trusted during any week of the season, especially when playing on the road. </p>
<p id="r7nCCu">The Bobcats will look to build on this win next week at Coastal Carolina, while the Georgia Southern will limp to West Virginia to most likely lay down at the feet of Marshall after a couple of quarters after getting outclassed on the road for the fourth time this year.</p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2023/11/4/23946794/texas-state-dismantles-an-uninspired-georgia-southern-team-45-24Brian Stone2023-11-03T11:55:41-04:002023-11-03T11:55:41-04:00Georgia Southern at Texas State: How To Watch, Preview, Prediction
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Georgia Southern at Nebraska" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jNrQPuXV8TL_-hdFODm0mC4Htw4=/0x0:4285x2857/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72825331/usa_today_19026216.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Eagles will look to continue their hold over a tough Bobcats team that’s been a surprise in 2023.</p> <p id="xOjLzx"><strong>Time and Date: </strong>5 PM ET - November 4</p>
<p id="Vubcxq"><strong>Broadcast Network: </strong>ESPN+</p>
<p id="P7zMqT"><strong>Location: </strong>Bobcat Stadium - San Marcos, TX</p>
<p id="PkCZTv"><strong>Records: </strong>Georgia Southern 6-2 (3-1 Sun Belt), Texas State 5-3 (2-2 Sun Belt)</p>
<p id="UufTo2"><strong>Line: </strong>Georgia Southern -1.5</p>
<p id="3JiycY"><strong>Point Total:</strong> O/U 68.5</p>
<p id="bWZwci"><strong>All-Time Series: </strong>Georgia Southern is 5-1 all-time against Texas State, with the Eagles having won in San Marcos in 2021, 38-30. GS has also won five matchups in a row.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="HMUliT">
<h2 id="NVc9TH">Georgia Southern Outlook</h2>
<p id="FyLnO9">The Georgia Southern football team is coming off its finest performance of the season, when adjusting for strength of opponent after the <a href="https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2023/10/26/23934391/georgia-southern-dominates-georgia-state-en-route-to-44-27-win">44-27 walloping</a> of Georgia State last week, dethroning the Panthers atop the East division standings of teams that can compete in the Sun Belt Championship game. Sorry JMU. </p>
<p id="JaDcAH">The Eagles are in a familiar spot, having been in similar circumstances in both 2018 and 2019 under former coach Chad Lunsford. In those two years, Southern defeated its hated rival Appalachian State and controlled its own destiny in the East division and found ways to lose subsequent matchups in ‘18 and ‘19 to UL Monroe and Troy, respectively.</p>
<p id="MXLKox">Let’s hope the team has shed the mental weakness of coaches’ past, and is taking this matchup against an underrated Bobcats team seriously and does not make the same mistakes it did under Lunsford this time around.</p>
<div id="z44yGi"><div style="max-width: 660px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 175px; position: relative;"><iframe src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sun-belt-football-week-9-recap-week-10-preview/id1698514636?i=1000633477301" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div></div>
<p id="qsXKmK">Georgia Southern has discovered that handing the ball to running back Jalen White can yield some amazing results, as White has amassed 280 yards and 3 touchdowns over the previous two weeks alone.</p>
<p id="J5qOfW">They will need the talented senior tailback to come through for them once again in this one against a Texas State team that is not good statistically on defense but can light up the scoreboard with quarterback T.J. Finley on offense.</p>
<p id="m8g5OE">The most obvious gameplan here is to cut down the amount of possessions the Bobcats receive by holding the ball with White and winning the time of possession battle while edging out a few stops on the defensive side of the ball.</p>
<p id="QtBKLn">This gameplan also removes, or mitigates, the chances of quarterback Davis Brin turning the ball over in key spots of the game, as he is wont to do each week.</p>
<p id="5ndOgs">Most Texas State games have relied upon them scoring 30+ each time, so trying to limit the number of possessions has to be a must for Georgia Southern. </p>
<h2 id="P1ZxIE">Texas State Outlook</h2>
<p id="CLfLPC">Texas State has been the biggest surprise of the season in the Sun Belt under first-year head coach G.J. Kinne and Finley, an SEC transfer from Auburn.</p>
<p id="SZODC1">This team has turned from a directionless mess under previous coach Jake Spavital into one of the most explosive offenses in the country until it ran into a brick wall against Troy’s smothering defense last week.</p>
<p id="zx5DIY">The Bobcats are currently averaging 483 yards per game under the new regime, good for 10th in the country in total yardage on offense. While Finley has cemented himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the conference this season, he hasn’t done it alone.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="NCAA Football: Texas State at Baylor" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xtJI1A9VoPudkKPLtr5BU7BaaLg=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25055579/usa_today_21334824.jpg">
<cite>Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
<figcaption>Ismail Mahdi has been dangerous for a solid Texas State offense this season.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="p2m8zz">Running back Ismail Mahdi has run wild on opposing defenses this season, averaging 107 rushing yards per game and an eye-popping 7.2 yards per carry. The former Houston Christian standout also has a kickoff return for a touchdown either, so keeping the ball away from Mahdi on kickoffs will be imperative to limiting the Bobcats’ chances as well.</p>
<p id="ujQbLI">On the receiving side of things, Joey Hobert, Ashtyn Hawkins, and Kole Wilson each have notched over 400 yards receiving this season, with Hobert leading the pack at 663 and six scores.</p>
<p id="XTijUw">Defensively is where most of the Bobcats liabilities are, however. Texas State currently sports the 109th best total defense in the country, allowing 410 yards per game, with the 119th best pass defense (267 YPG) and 68th best run defense (144 YPG). </p>
<h2 id="y9PNLP">Prediction</h2>
<p id="ncyifH">The over/under of 68.5 on this game is insane, and leads me to believe the chances of hitting that are not super feasible. I think (hope) Georgia Southern has learned not to take any opponent lightly after looking poor against ULM and comes away with a close win on the road, keeping title game hopes alive.</p>
<p id="5Z3MRP"><strong>Final Score Georgia Southern 34, Texas State 30</strong></p>
<p id="XRvMkj"></p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2023/11/3/23945045/georgia-southern-at-texas-state-how-to-watch-preview-predictionBrian Stone2023-10-26T23:23:20-04:002023-10-26T23:23:20-04:00Georgia Southern dominates Georgia State en route to 44-27 win
<figure>
<img alt="Georgia Southern v Nebraska" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kjuMCvnHThKBaRwrFKaKVJokwOE=/0x0:2999x1999/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72798865/1423167399.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Eagles owned the first half and rode that momentum to a win over the Panthers.</p> <p id="UpA8pm">For the second consecutive week in a row, Georgia Southern put a game on ice via a pick-six.</p>
<p id="VnPCUY">As the Eagles were nursing a 37-21 lead, the Panthers looked poised to strike once again. After all, Georgia State had just scored two touchdowns after halftime and had the momentum in their favor.</p>
<p id="olcflL">With all that said, Panthers’ quarterback Darren Grainger pump faked a throw to the flat, looked downfield and then decided to throw to the flat. By this time though, Eagles linebacker Marques Watson-Trent jumped the route and took the ball back for a touchdown, leading to Southern defeating Georgia State by a 44-27 margin on Thursday night.</p>
<div id="QgsOHg">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">PICK SIX!!!! TAKE IT ON HOME, MAR!!! <br><br>4Q 8:26 | 44 21 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HailSouthern?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HailSouthern</a> | ESPN2 <a href="https://t.co/Y5xlinZOmm">pic.twitter.com/Y5xlinZOmm</a></p>— Georgia Southern Football (@GSAthletics_FB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GSAthletics_FB/status/1717731036279558619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2023</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="0L0WXp">Georgia Southern opened the game by trading possessions with State and nursing a 10-7 lead over the Panthers by the time the second frame began. But a 17-point, second quarter explosion thanks to a Jalen White score, a Davis Brin touchdown pass to Dalen Cobb and a field goal left Southern in a familiar spot, up big at halftime.</p>
<p id="jzLr1X">But like last week against UL Monroe, Georgia Southern came sleepwalking out of the half, and was caught flat footed until Watson-Trent’s interception return helped put away the victory for the Eagles.</p>
<h2 id="vIcAVe">Quarterback play was the decider</h2>
<p id="j7kZXl">I have been critical of Davis Brin as of late, and I do not feel as though it had been unwarranted. In two consecutive weeks against ULM and James Madison, the Eagles signal caller had compiled just two touchdown passes to four interceptions.</p>
<p id="sTOZkZ">Brin certainly made his mistakes in this one — an interception and fumble on back-to-back third quarter drives saw to that — but his first half play was near flawless, as he finished with 334 yards and 3 touchdowns with one pick.</p>
<p id="6Gnnip">On the other side, Darren Grainger could not seemingly get settled in the pocket against a Georgia Southern front that has struggled to pressure the quarterback this season, finishing the night with just 157 yards and as many interceptions as he had scores, with two apiece.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Georgia Southern v Wisconsin" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zj2nbYbbynJG8q1dB-AY7mjlOSU=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25037043/1685896922.jpg">
<cite>Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Davis Brin outdueled Darren Grainger to help Georgia Southern defeat the Panthers on Thursday night.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2 id="GkaGFo">Other notes</h2>
<p id="I03D1P">Marcus Carroll continued his campaign for top rusher in the nation, but much of it seemed like empty calories and never really put State in position to pick up a win. Carroll ended the night with 208 yards on the ground, but with Southern holding a 27-7 advantage after two quarters, it simply did not matter.</p>
<p id="DqD2z5">From a play calling perspective, Eagles offensive coordinator Bryan Ellis probably called his finest game of the season, and ran circles around counterpart Trent McKnight. Ellis was doing a solid job leaning on the run when necessary, evidenced by White’s 116-yard explosion, and largely kept a good Panthers defense on their heels on a number of occasions. </p>
<p id="VY8TKY">All-in-all, it was a great win for Georgia Southern, who is now firmly in the driver’s seat in the Sun Belt East at 6-2 with just one conference loss to a team that cannot compete in the championship game.</p>
<p id="hGX2ds">Georgia State must win next week to keep any title game hopes alive, and who do they play?</p>
<p id="PcXX7v">* checks schedule *</p>
<p id="CBNi0y">James Madison. Good luck with that.</p>
<div id="2Yuf2a"><div style="max-width: 660px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 175px; position: relative;"><iframe src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sun-belt-football-week-8-recap-week-9-preview/id1698514636?i=1000632580816" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div></div>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2023/10/26/23934391/georgia-southern-dominates-georgia-state-en-route-to-44-27-winBrian Stone