College Football Predictions – Georgia Southern Eagles 2020 College Football Preview
August 9, 2020
2019 Recap
Record – 7-6
ATS – 5-8
The Eagles got off to a slow start losing three of their first four games but kept their heads up knowing that those losses came to really good teams (LSU (!), Minnesota, Louisiana). They proceeded to rattle off four consecutive wins including a SHOCK the WORLD moment when they took down Appalachian St on the road. Yup, that was the only game the Mountaineers lost all year. They lost a pair of games down the stretch that were there for the taking (Troy, Arkansas St) and couldn’t get it done in the Cure Bowl when they fell to Liberty (L 23-16).
Can they challenge the Mountaineers for the division crown in 2020?
2020 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
East Division – #2
Sun Belt – #4
Georgia Southern Eagles 2020 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Eagles ran the ball well as expected (#2 Sun Belt, #7 FBS) but averaged less than 350 YPG of total offense for the third consecutive season. QB Shai Werts is back for his senior campaign and note that he has rushed for over 1,600 yards and 20 TDs whilst posting an impossible 19-1 TD to INT mark over the past two years. They also return their great 1-2 combo at RB (Wesley Kennedy III, J.D. King) who combined for an impressive 1,628 rushing yards and 19 TDs on the ground a season ago. The Eagles don’t do much in the THROW GAME (80 receptions as a team LY, #127 FBS) and it’s unclear what they have at WR. There are only two starters returning on the offensive line but they have a small handful of guys with starting experience.
We project a performance typical of recent seasons.
DEFENSE
The Eagles were solid on defense last season and finished the campaign ranked #3 in the Sun Belt in both scoring defense (28.2) and total defense. They were particularly stingy vs the run LY (#2 Sun Belt, #35 FBS) and they should be good again given that they have seven returning starters, many of which are in the DL and LB groups. The strength of the stop unit will be a LB corps that returns three upperclassmen starters (Byrd, Ellis, Wade Jr.) who finished #1, #2 and #4 respectively LY in tackles whilst combining for 8 sacks. The pass defense was among the weakest in the conference a season ago (#8 pass defense) and they allowed the most TD passes in the Sun Belt (28). They lose a lot of talent in the secondary so it’s unclear how they’ll be able to improve in defending the pass.
We project a similar performance to last year, good vs the run, mediocre vs the THROW GAME.
SPECIAL TEAMS
There’s a big hole to fill at PK with the departure of Tyler Bass. Punter Anthony Beck II is back for duty and he did a good job LY (Eagles #25 FBS net punting). Wesley Kennedy returns to handle the return duties and he made a HOUSE CALL on a PR in 2019.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – A pair of daunting road games (at Boise St, at Ole Miss) have been canceled. We’ll keep tabs on the situation and see if they add any games. The Sun Belt docket gets REAL in a hurry as they start with a nasty road trip to Louisiana. Two weeks later they take on Appalachian St.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Coastal Carolina (October 24th)
The Eagles may be “under the weather” at this point if they lost to both Louisiana and Appalachian St. Also recall that the Chanticleers took Georgia Southern to OT last year.
Season Win Total
TBD
MEGALOCKS says:
TBD
MEGAmazing Tidbit
Back in the day when we didn’t postpone football games due to lightning strikes 480 miles away, Georgia Southern and MTSU played in the epic HUGO BOWL. These teams stared down the barrel of a devastating hurricane and the show went on. Georgia Southern won the Thursday night ESPN tilt by a score of 26-0. Fun fact. This was the first night game played at Paulson Stadium.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
The Eagles have the ability to beat anyone in the conference on any given day. Just ask Appalachian St. They’re set at QB and RB, and the defense should still be fine. It’s just hard to see them winning the division with an offense that often gets stuck in the mud. The Eagles have typically been at their best when destroying people on the ground, and this doesn’t look like a team that can do that. Minor bowl bid and an upset along the way would be a good season in our estimation.
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NEWS
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/georgia-southern-eagles
http://www.thegeorgeanne.com/sports/
http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/290/georgia-southern-eagles
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