Kickoff: 1:00pm Georgia Dome
TV: CSS
Quick Slant: No one is giving the Panthers a chance in this game. Jacksonville State is ranked #4 in the latest FCS poll and have won on the road at Ole Miss to open the season. As Coach Curry said today, the Gamecocks will be playing their 882nd game in their 107 year history while this is the 3rd game in Georgia State history. How do the Panthers respond after losing to Lambuth last week?
Photo Courtesy of GSU Sports Communications
About Jacksonville State: They are coming off two enormous and emotional victories. Beating Ole Miss made their season and the effects caused a malaise over the Gamecock faithful until the 3rd quarter of Saturday's contest vs. UT-Chattanooga. They woke up just in time winning 21-17. They have not started well and have only scored 10 points in the first half total in their 2 contests. They run a 3-4 defense and have given up 48 points in the first half of games this season. Their offense will play both QBs Marquez Ivory and Coty Blanchard. Ivory is more of the pocket guy with Blanchard being able to tuck it and run.
What to Watch
1. Can the Panthers jump out to a lead? Jacksonville State has started slow but this time they are heavy favorites. Will they be overconfident and think they can just show up and win?
2. How will Drew Little perform against JSU's defense? They can give up points and the defensive line is actually smaller than Lambuth's.
3. Can the Panthers keep it under 30? Jacksonville State is 42-6 in games that they score 30 points.
Georgia State Wins If...
Drew Little and the Panther offense manage the game. Also, it's important to see how the ground game gets going. The Panthers were physically whipped on the offensive and defensive lines. If the Panthers can move the chains they have the athletes outside to put points on the board.
Jacksonville State Wins If...
They take advantage of a young secondary. The Gamecocks are not going to come out and run it 35 times in this game. They run a spread offense and would prefer to throw more than they pass. They will throw short and move the ball in spurts. They only have 3 total plays over 20 yards this year.
Georgia State Checklist:
1. Start Strong. Make this team sweat. They approached Ole Miss with a no lose attitude. They let that win affect them last Saturday night vs. UTC but adjusted. What will happen if they get punched in the mouth by a team everyone has told them they are better than?
2. Stop the Run. JSU is only averaging 2.6 yards per carry so far and will abandon the run. Force this team to be one dimensional and you can release the defensive mind of John Thompson's exotic blitzes.
3. Build confidence in the passing game. Drew Little's confidence was shaken and his poise was tested. Give him short passes, screens, quick slants to build his confidence. Don't be afraid to take some shots down the field.
The buzz
The Gamecocks are highly ranked and expected to bring more than 5000 clad in red and white to the Dome. Did you know the Gamecocks are 0-4 vs. teams from the State of Georgia (Georgia Tech twice, West Georgia and Georgia Southern) since 1995? Jacksonville State has never played in the Georgia Dome and is 0-2 playing on CSS.
The prediction: Jacksonville State 30, Georgia State 21
My concern is with the 3-4 defense (which is often a misnomer since teams almost always blitz an outside linebacker) it could be even harder for our young offensive line to pick up. If outside linebackers come through untouched it's a nightmare for Little.
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