Georgia Southern vs. New Mexico State Prediction, Game Preview
Georgia Southern at New Mexico State prediction and game preview. Projecting who wins the game between the Eagles and Aggies.
Georgia Southern at New Mexico State prediction and game preview. Projecting who wins the game between the Eagles and Aggies.
Georgia Southern at New Mexico State Game Preview
When: Saturday, October 22 – 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces, NM
Broadcast: ESPN3
Fans of old-school football, rejoice. The running games will be on display this weekend in Las Cruces. Georgia Southern leads the Sun Belt Conference in rushing—by far—while New Mexico State running back Larry Rose III is one of the league’s premier players when healthy. Both schools are currently mired in slumps. The Eagles have dropped three straight to fall back to 3-3, and they haven’t played in Statesboro in over a month. The Aggies have lost three of the last four, including last Saturday’s 55-23 drubbing at the hands of Idaho.
What To Know About Georgia Southern
The Eagles’ fast 3-0 start is now but a distant memory replaced by successive losses to Western Michigan, Arkansas State and Georgia Tech … all on the road. They have this final road trip before returning home. Tyson Summers’ defense has been average, led by linebacker Ironhead Gallon, though tempo-changing plays in the form sacks and turnovers have been scarce. Georgia Southern will go as far as the option offense will take it. It averages 266 yards per game, with backs Matt Breida and Wesley Fields and QBs Favian Upshaw and Kevin Ellison all sharing in the touches.
What to Know About New Mexico State
There have basically been two New Mexico States this fall, the home version and the road edition. The home Aggies are unbeaten, defeating rival New Mexico and conference foe Louisiana-Lafayette. The road Aggies are winless, losing all four trips by at least two touchdowns. The key for Doug Martin’s squad will be to start fast, because a lead allows the offense to ride Rose. When the Aggies have fallen behind, such as last week against the Vandals, too much of the offensive responsibility falls on quarterback Tyler Rogers. Plus, not much can be expected from a defense currently ranked 126th in the country.
Advantages
Offense: Georgia Southern. The Eagles are more efficient on third downs, with more options in the running game.
Defense: Georgia Southern. While there have been exceptions, such as the Western Michigan game, the Eagle D has been sound this season.
Special Teams: Georgia Southern. The Eagles are being led by PK Younghoe Koo who has nailed all 10 of his field goal tries, including a 43-yarder.
Coaching: New Mexico State. Martin gets the nod in experience over Summers, who’s serving in his first season as a head coach.
Intangibles: New Mexico State. The Aggies are a different team in Las Cruces, while the Eagles are on the final leg of a rare four-game road swing.
Matchup To Watch
Rose vs. Gallon
Rose is a game-breaker, a Pac-12-caliber running back still looking for a groove after missing the early potion of the season to an injury. Gallon is a safety-sized speedster, with the motor and the intensity to spring out plays before they can reach the secondary.
Georgia Southern at New Mexico State Betting Odds
Spread: Georgia Southern -14
Over/Under: 66.5
Georgia Southern at New Mexico State Prediction
Georgia Southern is the better all around team, but there’s something about the venue that’ll lead to a closer than expected game. It’s not just that New Mexico State is markedly more competitive, but also that the Eagles have been away from home—at least on Fridays and Saturdays—for a month. Both ground games will churn out yards, but in the end, the depth and consistency of GSU will be too much for Rose and his team’s dilapidated D.
Georgia Southern at New Mexico State Score Prediction: Georgia Southern 38, New Mexico State 27
