Kickoff: 1:00pm Georgia Dome
Radio: WCFO 1160 AM, WRAS 88.5
Quick Slant: The Panthers play their final home game on Senior Day after fighting back for a second week in a row before falling 39-34 to South Alabama. Lamar is coming off a 31-6 loss at North Dakota. This will be the first time that two first year programs will take the field this year on the floor of the Dome. Lamar is restarting football after closing the program down in 1989. The Panthers are aiming to clinch a winning season before next week's BYE week.
About Lamar: Lamar is 3-5 (1-5 vs. FCS opponents) on the season and has had struggles moving the ball on offense. They've beaten two NAIA schools and only average 13.8 point per game. The Cardinals will start JUCO Transfer from Navarro JC Andre Bevil and he's their best player having thrown for for 240 yards per game and can dodge pressure with his feet. Bevil does a very good spreading the ball around to his Top 3 WR targets: 6'3, 205lbs WR JJ Hayes, 6'1 195lbs WR Marcus Jackson and 5'9 170lbs WR Josh Powdrill. All 3 were JUCO teammates of Bevil at Navarro and they've combined for 95 catches and 1371 and 12 TDs. Jackson is the deep threat with Hayes as primary possesion, move the chains guy. 5'6 170lbs RB RB Octavios Logan has struggled on the ground but is a threat on kick returns averaging 24 yards per return and is their leading all purposed threat. 6'0, 210lbs LB Asim Hicks is their leading tackler and has 3 sacks which lead the team.
What to Watch:
1) Can the Panthers win the turnover battle? Lamar has been awful this year taking care of the football. They are a cumulative -10 with 14 INTs and 10 fumbles lost (22 fumbles total). The team that wins the turnover battle should win this game.
3) Can the Panthers continue to play great vs. the pass? ODU threw 38 times for 152 yards. South Alabama threw 21 times for 181 yards. That's tremendous pass coverage and not giving up the big play. With the injuries to ILB Olefemi Opanubi we will continue to keep the ball in front and roll our safeties back.
Georgia State Wins If...
They can keep the offense rolling and value the football. Drew has thrown for 648 yards and 5 total TDs in his last 2 games. He's ended his pass without an INT streak but it's time to start a new one (currently at 16 passes but you didn't need to know that, did you?).
Lamar Wins If...
They are opportunistic and hope for a low scoring, sluggish affair. This could also be the best game of the year running the football as the Panther run defense has sprung major leaks in the last few weeks. Don't see it happening for the Cardinals, though.
Georgia State Checklist:
1) Pound the football - The Panthers could not move the football vs. ODU or South Alabama on the ground but I expect to see a concerted effort to get our running game off. Lamar runs a 4-3 and will be facing a front 7 that weighs a combined 1677lbs. That ranks them lighter than ODU but heavier than Savannah State as our opponents go.
2) Make the Cardinals uncomfortable early - We were able to essentially stymie South Alabama in the 2nd half and only allowed 3 field goals. I expect Lamar to face a very agressive defense and constantly changing looks.
3) Take shots down the field - Danny Williams has been sensational but I believe that we can absolutely take advantage of a defensive backfield that is giving up 230 yards per game through the air and have only forced opponents into 4 INTs.
The Roar
Georgia State will conclude its 7 game home schedule and will honor 5 seniors. Those Seniors are: Walk-On WR Charles Borowsky, Back up Safety Hubert Davis, Back up ILB Trey Ennis, Punter / Holder Brandon Lupo and Kicker Iain Vance. The Panthers will be without Punter Bo Schletcher for this game and have announced that ILB Olefemi Opanubi will be out for the rest of the year with a partially torn meniscus.
Prediction: Georgia State 31, Lamar 13
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