Georgia State Panthers vs WKU Hilltoppers: LendingTree Bowl prediction and game preview.
Georgia State vs WKU: LendingTree Bowl Broadcast
Date: Saturday, December 26
Game Time: 3:30 ESPN
Venue: Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, AL
Network: ESPN
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Georgia State (5-4) vs WKU (5-6) Game Preview
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Three Reasons Why You Should Watch The LendingTree Bowl
– WKU went from having no offense to rolling late in the year, winning its last three games and getting the attack working in the last two to help earn the bowl nod. It might not bring a ton of high-flying O, but it’s a well-coached team under Tyson Helton that pulled out one of the more fun bowl games of last year – a 23-20 win over Western Michigan. The effort will be there.
– If WKU doesn’t bring the offense, Georgia State will. The Panthers – led by dangerous freshman QB Cornelious Brown – are versatile, explosive, and can put up points and yards in bunches. The program has just one bowl win in its young history – a 2017 victory over WKU.
– Conference USA is getting its shot in this bowl for the first time since 2011 – the Sun Belt has owned the thing through a variety of bowl name changes ever since. No pressure, Georgia State, but the conference has won five straight and seven of the last nine in Mobile.
Why Georgia, WKU Will Win
What’s Going to Happen, Prediction, History
NEXT: Why Georgia Will Win, Why WKU Will Win, Georgia State vs WKU Prediction
Why Georgia State Will Win
– The running game is dangerous enough to take over. A win hasn’t been guaranteed when the Panthers take off for over 200 yards, but they’re close to being able to take over games. Not only is the ground game fantastic, but the team is great at closing – it doesn’t miss chances in the red zone.
– The pass rush is devastating. The D is the best in the Sun Belt at generating sacks and tackles for loss, starting with Jordan Strachan and a linebacking corps that’s always working and always pushing into the backfield. The WKU offensive line is okay, but it’s nothing special and it doesn’t do enough for the ground game and for the offense that just doesn’t score.
– That’s not quite fair – the Hilltoppers managed to put up 38 against FIU and 37 against Charlotte over the last two games. That’s FIU and Charlotte. The Georgia State defense isn’t amazing, but it’s terrific on third downs and outstanding at taking the ball away. As long as that pass rush keeps working, the WKU offense that doesn’t move the chains will bog down.
Why WKU Will Win
– The WKU secondary has been among the best in the country for most of the year – at least statistically. It hasn’t faced a whole lot of high-powered passing teams, but it allowed fewer than 170 yards seven times. It gave up three touchdown passes in the opener against Louisville, three to BYU, and three more to Charlotte to end the year. It gave up a grand total of three to everyone else.
– No, the WKU offense doesn’t score a whole lot, but it’s coming off of its best game of the year. The team failed to hit 200 yards rushing and 200 passing in the same game, but it did against Charlotte in the win. As long as the O is doing something, and as long as there aren’t a slew of turnovers, the defense should be good enough to take care of the rest. It helps that …
– Georgia Southern gives the ball away way too much. It turned it over 19 times on the season and multiple times in six games. It hasn’t always been a deathblow for the Panthers, but considering WKU needs all the help it can get with its offense, at least two takeaways would mean a world of difference.
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NEXT: What’s Going To Happen, Georgia State vs WKU Prediction, LendingTree Bowl History
What’s Going To Happen
Neither of these teams have set the world on fire against the better teams, but WKU gave Liberty a big push in a 30-24 loss, and Georgia State gave Louisiana a hard time. The Panthers got obliterated by Coastal Carolina, and WKU got rocked by BYU, but for the most part, both were able to come up with wins over the teams they were supposed to beat.
WKU just doesn’t have a good enough passing game – the Georgia State secondary is getting a break. The Panther pass rush will be strong, Cornelious Brown will be just dangerous enough to keep the offense moving, and it’ll be a tight game in a low-scoring battle.
Georgia State can move the chains. WKU can’t.
LendingTree Bowl: Georgia State vs WKU Prediction, Line
Georgia State 26, WKU 20
Bet on Georgia State vs WKU with BetMGM
Georgia State -4.5, o/u: 50.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
– CFN Experts Picks: LendingTree Bowl
Must See Rating: 2.5
5: New Year’s Day on the couch
1: New Year’s Eve going out
LendingTree Bowl History
Jan. 6, 2020 Louisiana 27, Miami University 17
Dec. 22, 2018 Troy 42, Buffalo 32
Dec. 23, 2017 Appalachian State 34, Toledo 0
Dec. 23, 2016 Troy 28, Ohio 23
Dec. 23, 2015 Georgia Southern 58 Bowling Green 27
Jan. 4, 2015 Toledo 63 Arkansas State 44
Jan. 5, 2014 Arkansas State 23 Ball State 20
Jan. 6, 2013 Arkansas State 17 Kent State 13
Jan. 8, 2012 Northern Illinois 38 Arkansas State 20
Jan. 6, 2011 Miami Univ. 35 Middle Tennessee 21
Jan. 6, 2010 Central Michigan 44 Troy 41 (2 OT)
Jan. 6, 2009 Tulsa 45 Ball State 13
Jan. 6, 2008 Tulsa 63 Bowling Green 7
Jan. 7, 2007 Southern Miss 28 Ohio 7
Dec. 21, 2005 Toledo 45 UTEP 13
Dec. 22, 2004 Bowling Green 52 Memphis 35
Dec. 18, 2003 Miami Univ. 49 Louisville 28
Dec. 18, 2002 Marshall 38 Louisville 15
12, 19, 2001 Marshall 64 East Carolina 61 (2 OT)
12, 20, 2000 Southern Miss 28 TCU 21
Dec. 22, 1999 TCU 28 East Carolina 14
