Week 9 Preview: Georgia Southern at Arkansas State

Georgia Southern and Arkansas State will be meeting in Jonesboro this Saturday for their seventh meeting all time. The series in currently tied at three games a piece. Both teams sit at 3-4 looking for much needed wins. The Eagles are 1-2 in SBC play while Arkansas State is 2-1 after back to back one point wins. Arkansas State is currently one and a half point favorite.

Georgia Southern

The Eagles after getting off to an 0-2 start bounced back for two straight wins against Jacksonville State and Maine before hitting a two game skid once again against JMU and Southern Miss. Georgia Southern is coming off a big win last week after beating in state rival Georgia State 41-24. JC French IV is coming off of arguably his best game of the season in which he threw for 210 passing yards and three touchdowns while going for 85 rushing yards and another touchdown on the ground.

The Eagles are still looking to get the ground game going for OJ Arnold who is only averaging 46 yards per game in conference play. Arnold who was very active in passing game with 85 receiving yards against Georgia State is something to watch this coming weekend. The Eagles will look to continue the passing game which has been better over the last few games. That starts with getting the ball to Camden Brown who has been their most reliable receiver with 598 receiving yards, eight touchdowns, and 17.1 yards per catch this season. Dalen Cobb is a receiver that was expected to very reliable this season, he has 301 receiving yards, three touchdowns, and 8.9 yards per catch this season. They will look to help his stats out as well. Last week the Eagles went 10/15 on third and fourth down plays which is something to watch this weekend.

Georgia Southern’s defense has been a problem all season giving up 35.5 points per game. Arkansas State is an offense that has had it’s struggles through much of the season so this could be the side of the ball that the Eagles are able to take advantage of.

Arkansas State

Arkansas State has been the comeback kids the past two weeks executing game winning drives as time expired both games. Last week Arkansas State found themselves in a sloppy game against South Alabama filled with penalties but they were able to execute their two minute drill for a game winning field goal to win 15-14. The game prior they beat Texas State 31-30 in which they were able to go on a one minute touchdown drive scoring with seven second remaining. The Red Wolves will hope this week doesn’t come down to another heroic effort for the win.

Arkansas State’s quarterback Jalen Raynor has played relatively consistent this season throwing for 1,660 yards and nine touchdowns with four more coming on the ground this season. His number one target Corey Rucker hasn’t played his best this season but has played much better over the past three weeks going for over 100 receiving yards twice. He has 392 receiving yards, touchdown, and 11.2 yards per catch on the season.

The Red Wolves offense all season has struggled to score points only averaging 22.1 points per game. With Georgia Southern having the worst defense in the conference statistically by yards per game, and one of the worst in the entire nation the Red Wolves should be able to find some offense in the game. While Raynor and Rucker haven’t connected as much as last season so far the two are still one of the best quarterback-wide receiver duos in all of the group of five.

Arkansas State also has had defensive struggles this season giving up 446.6 yards per game and 29.1 point per game this season. Both secondaries would be expected to be tested with two quarterbacks that can fill up the stat sheet on their best days.

It’s an important game for both teams as they look to keep any hope alive to compete in their respected division as we enter the halfway point in Sun Belt conference play.