Georgia State vs. Troy Prediction, Game Preview
Georgia State vs. Troy prediction and game preview. Projecting who wins the matchup at Veterans Memorial Stadium between the Panthers and Trojans.
Georgia State vs. Troy prediction and game preview. Projecting who wins the matchup at Veterans Memorial Stadium between the Panthers and Trojans.
Georgia State vs. Troy Game Preview
When: Saturday, October 15 – 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Troy, AL
Broadcast: ESPN3
Troy comes out of last week’s bye rested, recharged and realizing it might be the team to beat in the Sun Belt this season. The Trojans are 4-1, but that lone loss was a six-pointer at Clemson in Week 2. And since that moral victory, Neal Brown’s team has beaten Southern Miss in Hattiesburg and opened the league schedule with blowouts of New Mexico State and Idaho. Georgia State got off the mat in a big way in Week 6. The Panthers shook of an 0-4 start by posting a 41-21 win over visiting Texas State. It was the kind of effort Trent Miles hopes his kids can build on, much the way they did in 2015.
What To Know About Georgia State
Using the Sun Belt slide rule, the Panthers are stout on defense, nearly spearheading an upset of Wisconsin and holding Appalachian State and Texas State below their usual output. This past weekend, DE Mackendy Cheridor was the catalyst of the defensive effort, making 3.5 stops for loss and 2.5 sacks. When Cheridor is getting is getting off his blocks, it’s that much harder to throw on a secondary that’s second in the league in pass defense and has only allowed three touchdown passes. While suspect, the GSU offense is coming off its best game of the season, fueled by 340 yards and two touchdowns from inconsistent QB Conner Manning.
What To Know About Troy
There’s not much to nitpick about the Trojans, which lead the Sun Belt in scoring offense and scoring defense. Plus, they’ve already picked off a dozen passes, four from converted WR Blace Brown, and have allowed just a single sack. The offense is a balanced and potent production that can move the chains with Brandon Silvers’ arm or the hard running of Jordan Chunn. Silvers need to cut down on his picks, but he has thrown a dozen touchdown passes and he’s completed more than 70% of his passes in the two league games.
Advantages
Offense: Troy. The Trojans possess decidedly more firepower than the Panthers, which only perked up when lowly Texas State visited the Georgia Dome.
Defense: Troy. Georgia State is underrated, but the Trojans have been a takeaway machine, while surrendering only 3.3 yards per carry.
Special Teams: Troy. Jabir Frye has taken a kick back for six, and dual-threat specialist Ryan Kay has hit 8-of-10 field goals and averaged 42 yards a punt.
Coaching: Troy. Brown is a 36-year-old rising star whose agent could hear from Power Five programs by December.
Intangibles: Push. The Panthers have renewed confidence after copping that first win, but Troy is back home coming off a week of rest to heal up injuries.
Matchup To Watch
Silvers vs. the Georgia State secondary
Silvers will occasionally force the issue when trying to get the ball to receivers Deondre Douglas and Emanuel Thompson. The Panthers are built on the back end to make the junior pay for his mistakes. Led by S Bobby Baker and CB Jerome Smith, Georgia State is 13th nationally in pass efficiency defense.
Betting Odds
Spread: Troy -16
Over/Under: No line (as of posting)
Georgia State vs. Troy Prediction
If passing lanes are congested, Troy can simply feed Chunn, who’ll be running on a defense allowing 263 rushing yards per game. Georgia State can be a scrappy bunch, but it lacks the components to beat one of the Sun Belt’s more complete teams. And this is one of those games that Manning, who has struggled with his accuracy, throws a couple of costly picks and completes less than 50% of his throws after his team falls behind.
Georgia State at Troy Score Prediction: Troy 34, Georgia State 16
