Georgia State vs. Coastal Carolina Prediction: Can We Trust Darren Grainger, Panthers?
Georgia State comes into this Sun Belt showdown undefeated but are 6.5-point underdogs tonight on the road. Do they have what it takes to grab a road win tonight against Coastal Carolina? Let's break it down.
Joey Ruiz - September 21, 2023, 4:13 PM EDT
7 minGeorgia State vs. Coastal Carolina Prediction: Can We Trust Darren Grainger, Panthers?
Coastal Carolina has been one of the better Group of 5 programs over the last four to five seasons due in large part to the exceptional quarterback play of Grayson McCall. McCall is a fifth-year senior and has spent his entire collegiate career in a Coastal Carolina uniform, which is very rare given the current state of the transfer portal in college football.
Georgia State vs. Coastal Carolina Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: September 21, 2023
- Time: 7:30 pm ET
- Where to Watch: ESPN
Georgia State vs. Coastal Carolina Prediction
McCall is also entering his fourth year as the starting quarterback for the Chanticleers and has thrown for 2,400 yards and 24 touchdowns in each of the previous three seasons. McCall is also deadly with his legs, as he has racked up over 1,000 career rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns to go along with 82 career passing touchdowns compared to just ten interceptions. McCall's ability to make good decisions and take care of the football has been one of his best skill sets as a football player, as he has been a great leader for this Coastal Carolina offense.
Things haven't been as smooth for the Chants so far this year, though, as they enter this game at 2-1, largely due to their inability to defend. They allowed 417 yards to UCLA (Probably more if Dante Moore had played the whole game), 393 yards to Jacksonville State, and 347 yards to Duquesne, who is a below-average FCS team. Coastal Carolina will really have to ratchet up their defense in this contest if they are going to contain this high-powered Georgia State offense.
In three games to this point, the Panthers have scored 42, 35, and 41 points on their way to an undefeated 3-0 start. The Panthers offense is averaging 6.7 yards per play, which is ranked 24th in the FBS, and 483 total yards per game, which is ranked 17th. Over the past few seasons, the Panthers have been known to have an above-average and explosive offense, but their Achilles heel has been an extremely weak defensive unit.
That does not appear to be the case this season, as the Panthers have been solid on that side of the ball, particularly at stopping the run. The Panthers are only allowing 69 rushing yards per game (14th in FBS) and only 2.3 yards per rushing attempt (12th in FBS). The entire Coastal Carolina offense is based around running the ball to create opportunities in the passing game, but I am not sure the Chanticleers will be able to have success on the ground against this fairly stout front seven of Georgia State.
Darren Grainger and this Panthers offensive unit have also taken their game to another level with their efficiency and ability to take care of the ball. Grainger has accounted for over 1000 yards and ten total touchdowns without a single turnover through three games to this point, and Georgia State as a whole only has one turnover on the season and has won the turnover battle in each game.
They have forced seven turnovers compared to just one of their own to this point, and we watched Coastal Carolina turn the ball over three times against UCLA. Their ball security is just not as sure-handed as it has been in the past, and this may be an issue tonight for the Chanticleers.
This is a very experienced and explosive Georgia State group that has rectified their two main problems in years past, which was their defense and ball security on offense. Those are now two of the main strengths of this Panthers squad, and I think they are poised to pull off a midweek upset tonight. With that being said, I am rolling with Georgia State +6.5 at -108 for 1.5u as my most confident College Football Play of the Day for tonight's action.
1.5u Georgia State +6.5 -108 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
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