The Georgia Southern Eagles will face the App State Mountaineers in a Sun Belt Conference matchup on Thursday night. Both teams currently hold a 1-3 record.
Appalachian State's strength lies in stopping the run, allowing only 110 rushing yards per game. In contrast, Georgia Southern's defense gives up 240 rushing yards per contest. This significant difference could prove decisive.
Georgia Southern’s offense shows promise with quarterback JC French IV leading the charge, but their defense remains a concern. Appalachian State’s offense experienced a setback last week against Old Dominion, scoring just 21 points after averaging 39 points over the previous two games.
That was App State’s second straight loss and has put them in a position where they need to win two of their final four games to become bowl eligible.
Appalachian State leads the all-time series against Georgia Southern, although the Eagles won last year’s meeting 29-20.
Georgia Southern’s JC French IV has accumulated 1,677 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, six interceptions, and five rushing touchdowns this season.
Author's summary: Appalachian State's strong run defense and home advantage contrast Georgia Southern's struggling defense and road record, making this a crucial battle for bowl eligibility.