App State Vs Coastal Carolina: Preview & Prediction

Game Time: 3:30 PM, Saturday September 28th 2019

Location: Kidd Brewer Stadium, Boone NC

TV: ESPN+

Radio: Appalachian Sports Network

Previous Matchup: App State 23-7 in 2018

All Time: App State 5-0

Spread: +15.5 App St, O/U 59.5

Preview

App State rolls into the first Sun Belt game of 2019 with spirits high after pulling the upset in Chapel Hill a week ago. The Mountaineers will look to keep the momentum rolling as the quest for a conference championship begins Saturday afternoon in Boone.

Coastal Carolina comes in with their best offensive performance coming last week when they demolished Umass 62-28. QB Fred Payton was 16/18 passing for 203 yards and a TD. Bryce Carpenter was also a solid 7/8 passing for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns. High end RB CJ Marable delivered 100 yards on 15 carries and 2 scores to.

The Coastal Carolina defense has seen major improvement from a season ago as the Chants’ defense has been able to force 6 turnovers in just 4 games which is a big reason Coastal is 3-1 overall to start 2019. The D also only gives up an average of 254 yards per game, with just 106 yards rushing allowed per game.

After defensive scares during the first two games of the season the App State defense stepped up and helped keep App going in last week’s win over UNC. The unit forced 3 turnovers and taking one back for 6 points off a strip sack. Forcing Coastal to beat you with the passing game will be key for App as outside of Umass Coastal has not been a good passing team this year passing just single digit times in past weeks.

The Chants’ defense has been stingy against the pass this year but they have not seen a QB the caliber of Zac Thomas either. Thomas went 20/29 in passing for 224 yards last week against the Heels and will look to have another good day back in front of the home faithful in Boone. As usual it’s going to be key for Darrynton Evans to be the staple as he is a major key to the App State offense.

Prediction

Two of the premier RBs in the Fun Belt between Evans and Marable meet in this game as the trenches will be where this game is won. I also see a flat spot on the way for App State after their big win last week. Not flat enough to lose the game but flat enough that Coastal covers the spread. But a late Zac Thomas TD pass seals the deal and a App State W.

App St 34-21