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What: Idaho Vandals at Georgia Southern Eagles
Where: Allen E. Paulson Stadium, Statesboro, GA
When: 6pm EST, 11 October 2014
How to watch: ESPN3 or the WatchESPN app
How to listen: Idaho / Georgia Southern
Live Stats: Can be found HERE.
Line: Georgia Southern by 24
Preview:
The Idaho Vandals face a tough test in their first trip to Statesboro in 24 years. Back then it was a semi-final FCS game. This time it's a conference game. What a strange world we live in when a team from southeastern Georgia is in the same conference as a team from northwestern Idaho.
Idaho is winless on the season and statistically ranks near the bottom in the country in scoring defense. They've put up fights against conference mates Louisiana Monroe and Texas State, but have been unable to capitalize on any opportunities.
Meanwhile, Georgia Southern enters the game undefeated in Sun Belt play and with the nation's top rushing attack. The game will be in front of a loud and full crowd at Paulson Stadium for homecoming, and the Eagles will be pumped up to continue a march towards winning the Sun Belt crown in their first season in FBS.
On offense, QB Matt Linehan is completing 61% of his passes for 1644 yards on the season. Their rushing totals have been lacking, however. Idaho has 434 total yards rushing on the season. The Eagles are averaging 376 yards per game. Idaho will face a big challenge in attempting to slow the Georgia Southern rushing attack, as they're averaging giving up an average of 262 yards/game on the ground.
New Mexico State provided a decent blue print on how to move the ball against Georgia Southern last weekend. It will be interesting to see if Idaho can exploit those weaknesses or whether Georgia Southern has adjusted enough to fix the defensive issues.
As the line on this game shows, that is unlikely. Georgia Southern is on a roll and they will be in front of an amped up homecoming crowd. Idaho may keep it close early, but the Eagles should be able to pull away by the end of the first half and roll to another victory in the Sun Belt.