Georgia Southern vs. App State Prediction, Thursday NCAAF Picks

Georgia Southern (3-5, 1-3 in Sun Belt) travels to Boone, NC, to face Appalachian State (4-4, 1-3) on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Both teams sit in the middle of the Sun Belt, each seeking momentum as the season approaches its home stretch. The Eagles are aiming to rebound after a 34-24 loss, while the Mountaineers look to shake off a 24-21 defeat at Old Dominion.

Below, we’ll break down our Georgia Southern vs. App State prediction and picks, also highlighting the top PrizePicks player projection targets for this Thursday night showdown.

Georgia Southern vs. App State Preview, Prediction for Thursday, Nov. 6

This matchup features two squads with glaring weaknesses: Georgia Southern’s overall defense and Appalachian State’s pass defense. Let’s break down each team and how the game could flow.

While the series has been back-and-forth in the last three years, Georgia Southern currently holds the bragging rights in this series, collecting a 29-20 victory over the Mountaineers last season. With that said, App State has the historical edge. The home team is 4-0 in this series since 2021.

Georgia Southern Preview vs. App State

The Eagles’ season continues to be a struggle, largely tied to their defensive performance. Per Game On Paper, Georgia Southern sits at -0.22 EPA/play (131st nationally). Their defense allows 0.24 EPA/play (132nd) and a 51.9% success rate (136th), putting them among the worst units in the FBS.

Offensively, QB JC French has been the focal point by throwing for 1,677 yards, 14 TDs, and 6 INTs with a 61.5% completion rate. WR Camden Brown leads the team with 642 receiving yards and 9 TDs. RB OJ Arnold has been serviceable, posting 512 rushing yards and 3 TDs. The early-down success has seen better days, though.

On defense, the Eagles allow 502.0 yards per game and surrender 261.6 rushing yards per game (both worst in FBS). Georgia Southern might find itself reacting more to App State’s strengths rather than dictating the game.

App State Preview vs. Georgia Southern

The Mountaineers’ offense shows a little more balance. They register -0.08 EPA/play (97th in FBS), 0.05 EPA/rush (59th), and 0.19 EPA/pass (110th). RB Rashod Dubinion has rushed for 756 yards and 4 TDs, while WR Jaden Barnes has emerged as the primary vertical threat with 445 yards and 6 TDs.

Things look better on defense — at least partially. App State holds efficient run numbers, posting a 37.7% success rate (30th nationally).

In front of the home crowd in Boone, the Mountaineers are at least capable of playing with tempo and controlling their strengths against a team that offers exploitable matchups.

Georgia Southern vs. App State Best Picks for Thursday NCAAF

Below are the top PrizePicks targets to consider for this Sun Belt matchup.

Georgia Southern WR Camden Brown Projection: 69.5 Receiving Yards

• Brown has seen consistent volume when Georgia Southern is trailing. Game script could force extra targets; the Eagles’ defense has allowed 10.4 first-quarter points per game (sixth-most in FBS).
  
• The Mountaineers allow 268.1 passing yards per game (125th), creating opportunities for high-yardage plays.
• Brown’s route depth and ability to stretch the field could make him a prime candidate for explosive plays. App State's defense ranks in the first percentile in explosive passes, per Game on Paper.
• App State allows 7.3 yards per pass attempt (74th), giving Brown a chance to exploit downfield coverage.

App State RB Rashod Dubinion Projection: 66.5 Rushing Yards

• Dubinion averaged 5.7 yards per carry in App State’s 24-21 loss to Old Dominion on Oct. 25.
  
• The senior ball carrier is also one of the nation’s toughest players to bring down, tied for 17th in FBS in missed tackles forced (36), per PFF.
  
• With Georgia Southern’s defense surrendering the most rushing yards per game, Dubinion has an opportunity to assert early, especially if App State chooses to ground the game.
• If App State gets ahead, the script could favor Dubinion. He averages 19.5 carries and 114.7 yards per game across the Mountaineers’ four wins.

Make Georgia Southern vs. App State Picks on PrizePicks

This Thursday night Sun Belt affair may lean toward a controlled game, run by App State’s ground attack and Georgia Southern striking through the air.

With PrizePicks and the Playbook, you can cash in on Thursday night college football picks by targeting players like Camden Brown, Rashod Dubinion, and JC French.

Doing so is simple. Just pick your players, choose More or Less on their projected stats, and cash in if you’re right.