Georgia State vs. Tennessee-Martin Prediction, Game Preview
Georgia State vs. Tennessee-Martin prediction and game preview. Projecting who wins the game between the Panthers and Skyhawks.
Georgia State vs. Tennessee-Martin prediction and game preview. Projecting who wins the game between the Panthers and Skyhawks.
Georgia State vs. Tennessee-Martin Game Preview
When: Saturday, October 22 – 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
Broadcast: ESPN3
Georgia State wants back into the postseason after appearing in the GoDaddy Bowl a year ago. But the Panthers are running out of time. While they’ve played better than their mark, 1-5, their margin for error has all but evaporated. A visit from the Ohio Valley Conference’s Tennessee-Martin affords GSU a chance to earn that second win of the year. The Skyhawks have won consecutive games over Austin Peay and Murray State, and performed relatively in losing trips to Cincinnati and Hawaii to start the season.
What To Know About Georgia State
If Georgia State is going to rally in the second half of the season, it’ll likely be on the back of an underrated defense. The offense is a liability, averaging three yards a carry and throwing nearly as many picks as touchdowns. However, the D is equipped to shut down Skyhawk quarterback Troy Cook. True, Cook has thrown 19 touchdown passes, but the Panthers lead the Sun Belt pass efficiency defense. And they’ve only surrendered five touchdown passes over the first half of the season.
What to Know About Tennessee-Martin
The Skyhawks are rolling behind Cook, running back Jaimiee Bowe and wideout Ben Axline. But can they remain on course against FBS competition? They had success in the Hawaii game, but only produced a touchdown versus Cincinnati. Tennessee-Martin’s bigger concern will be with a defense that’s giving up 232 passing yards per game. No, Georgia State won’t unnerve many opponents with their playmaking ability, but this still represents a step up in weight class. Against Hawaii, for instance, UT-Martin was burned for four touchdown passes.
Advantages
Offense: Georgia State. It’s closer than Panther head coach Trent Miles would like, but UT-Martin’s output is due in part to the competition it’s faced.
Defense: Georgia State. Linebacker Alonzo McGee and safety Bobby Baker headline a defense that has overachieved all season long.
Special Teams: Push. Neither team is excelling on special teams, especially in the kicking game.
Coaching: Georgia State. It’s been a rocky four-year ride for Trent Miles, but he did guide the Panthers to their first-ever bowl game in 2015.
Intangibles: Georgia State. The Panthers don’t get many chances to be a heavy favorite, so they’ll revel at the opportunity to shove an opponent around for a change.
Matchup To Watch
Axline vs. Georgia State cornerbacks Jerome Smith and Chandon Sullivan
Axline is having a career year as a senior, needing just 27 catches to amass 511 yards and four touchdowns. But he’ll face one of his toughest challenges of the year in Smith and Sullivan, two of the cornerstones of a unit ranking No. 14 nationally in pass efficiency defense.
Georgia State vs. Tennessee-Martin Betting Odds
Spread: No Line as of post
Over/Under: No Line as of post
Georgia State vs. Tennessee-Martin Prediction
After getting bounced last week by Troy, Georgia State will seize the opportunity to be the bouncer. The Panthers will stifle Cook, who’s grown accustomed to toying with OVC secondaries in recent weeks. A visit from the Skyhawks will also help to open the GSU attack for a change, meaning a rare solid day from running back Kyler Neal on the ground and Conner Manning through the air.
Georgia State vs. Tennessee-Martin Score Prediction: Georgia State 40, Tennessee-Martin 17
