Western Michigan vs. Georgia Southern Prediction, Game Preview
Western Michigan vs. Georgia Southern prediction and game preview. Find out if P.J. Fleck's Broncos will beat the Eagles and improve to 4-0.
Western Michigan vs. Georgia Southern prediction and game preview. Find out if P.J. Fleck’s Broncos will beat the Eagles and improve to 4-0.
Western Michigan vs. Georgia Southern Game Preview
When: Saturday, Sept. 24 – 7 p.m. ET
Where: Waldo Stadium, Kalamazoo, Mich.
TV Broadcast: ESPN3
There’s a reason P.J. Fleck is one of the hottest coaching names in the country. Western Michigan became the fourth MAC team ever to beat two Big Ten teams in the same season and got paid $1.6 million to do, winning at Northwestern in its opener at 34-10 at Illinois last week. A showdown with fellow unbeaten Central Michigan looms next week, but Fleck won’t have his team looking past Georgia Southern.
The Eagles won their first two games by a combined score of 78-9 before surviving last week with a 23-21 win over Louisiana-Monroe. RJ Murray blocked a field goal attempt in the final minutes to preserve a win Georgia Southern should feel lucky to have after committing 14 penalties.
What To Know About Western Michigan
Look for the Zach Terrell-Corey Davis combo to provide more action this week. Terrell needed to throw only 13 times against Illinois and completed four passes for 97 yards to Davis, who is one of the most talented receivers in the country. The running game did most of the work last week, as Jamauri Bogan ran for 189 of the Broncos’ 287 rushing yards and two of the four touchdowns.
What to Know About Georgia Southern
The Eagles make no secrets about wanting to keep the ball on the ground, running 203 times compared to 42 passing attempts. They’ll give Western Michigan a far different look after Illinois matched that amount of pass attempts last week and rushed only 13 times. Quarterbacks Favian Upshaw and Kevin Ellison both get snaps and running backs L.A. Ramsby and Wesley Fields provide a solid punch out of the backfield.
Advantages
Offense: Western Michigan – Can succeed in both the run and pass, unlike GSU.
Defense: Western Michigan – The Broncos will be stacking the box.
Special Teams: Western Michigan – Darius Phillips is a dangerous return man.
Coaching: Western Michigan – Fleck is likely to wind up at a bigger program after this season.
Intangibles: Georgia Southern – This Broncos team is much better than last year, but the Eagles routed WMU 43-17 at home in 2015. Terrell tossed three interceptions and Georgia Southern finished with 413 rushing yards.
Matchup To Watch
Georgia Southern’s running attack vs. Western Michigan’s defense
Upshaw rushed for 103 yards in last year’s meeting, and Matt Breida run for four touchdowns, including a 70-yarder. The Broncos know what’s coming, they’ll just have to stop it.
Betting Odds
Spread: Western Michigan -7
Over/Under: 56
Western Michigan vs. Georgia Southern Prediction
Terrell gets revenge for last year and throws three touchdowns to Davis as Western Michigan pulls out the victory and goes to 4-0.
Western Michigan vs. Georgia Southern Score Prediction: Western Michigan 37, Georgia Southern 28
