College Football Predictions – Appalachian St Mountaineers 2020 College Football Preview
August 8, 2020
2019 Recap
Record – 13-1
ATS – 9-5
Some things never change.
Appalachian St rolled to a double-digit winning season, their fourth in five years, and walked away with another Sun Belt Championship. They lost any realistic chance of a New Year’s Six bowl bid when they lost by three points at home to Georgia Southern but finished in style by beating UAB in the New Orleans Bowl (W 31-17).
Former head coach Eliah Drinkwitz is off to the Missouri Tigers and it’ll be up to first-time HC (and Appalachian St graduate) Shawn Clark to keep the train steaming along.
2020 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
East Division – #1
Sun Belt – #1
Appalachian St Mountaineers 2020 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Mountaineers scored 33+ PPG for the 5th time in six years (38.8, #1 Sun Belt) and finished #4 in the Sun Belt in rushing offense and #6 passing offense. They scored 45+ on six different occasions, and it certainly helped to have so many non-offensive scores added to the mix (8, #1 FBS).
Things look REALLY good again with the return of their excellent starting QB Zac Thomas who has a great 49-12 TD to INT ratio over the past two seasons. Thomas also brings mobility to the equation as evidenced by his 440 yards and 7 TDs on the ground LY (504, 10 TD in 2018). Star WR Corey Sutton returns for his senior campaign (just 9 games LY) as does Thomas Hennigan who led the team in receptions and receiving yards a season ago. Depth? Not a problem. The #3 and #4 pass catchers also return. They will miss stud RB Darrynton Evans who is off to the NFL (Titans) but the Mountaineers ALWAYS find DUDES at the position who can carry the load. Appalachian St has tallied 200+ YPG on the ground every year since 2013. #2 and #3 RBs Marcus Williams Jr. and Daetrich Harrington combined for over 900 yards and 7 TDs LY. Four starters return on the offensive line and the Mountaineers are always strong up front. Center Noah Hannon might be the best at his position in the Sun Belt.
This is obviously one of the best offenses in the Sun Belt and we expect them to finish in the top-3 in total offense and scoring offense in 2020.
<Update – WR C Sutton has opted out of the 2020 season>
DEFENSE
Appalachian St has boasted a BRICK WALL for a number of years. They allowed just 20 PPG LY (#2 Sun Belt) and in the previous four years they yielded 15.5, 20, 18, and 19. WHOA NELLIE. They only return four starters on this side of the ball and it’ll be interesting to see if they can perform at their customary high-level with a new coaching staff and several new starters. There are some nice pieces to work with including DL Demetrius Taylor who led the team in sacks LY (7) and CB Shaun Jolly who bagged 5 INTs in 2019. They will definitely miss their solid 1-2 punch at LB (Fehr, Davis-Gaither) who finished 1st and 2nd in tackles LY, as well as their two starting safeties. The revolving door of talent has been working well for a number of years but this may be the season that they take a bit of a step backwards.
This is still one of the top defenses in the Sun Belt as it’s all relative, yo.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Things look pretty good. Solid contributors are back at punter and in the return game. PK Chandler Staton was a bit inconsistent LY (11/16 FG).
Schedule Analysis
Overall – 11 games, baby. They should be able to defeat Charlotte and something called the Campbell Camels in non-conference play but the other non-conference game will be tough (at Marshall). Their two toughest Sun Belt opponents (Arkansas St, Louisiana) both have to travel to Boone, NC.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at ULM (October 31st)
This game follows a rugged three-game stretch (Louisiana, at Georgia Southern, Arkansas St) so this isn’t a spot we’ll be super-pumped to lay a ton of points.
Season Win Total
Waiting for Vegas/Offshore number.
MEGALOCKS says:
Waiting for Vegas/Offshore number.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
The Mountaineers have won or shared the Sun Belt Conference title four straight years.
Appalachian St has featured a 1,000-yard rusher in eight (!) consecutive seasons.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
Yup. This is the team to beat in the Sun Belt once again. The offense is going to be potent and the defense will be really good, even if not a killer like it’s been in past seasons. There’s always a bit of uncertainty when a new coaching staff takes over but this has truly turned into one of those programs that can seemingly reload at will. Our PICK to CLICK once again in the Sun Belt.
Want more Appalachian St football ?
WEBSITE
https://appstatesports.com/sports/football
FORUM
http://www.yosefscabin.com/forum/
NEWS
http://theappalachianonline.com/category/c13-sports/football/
http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2026/appalachian-state-mountaineers
TWITTER
Hashtags – #GoApp
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