by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Oct 05, 2021
Game time: 8 p.m. ET, October 9, 2021
Venue: Malone Stadium, Monroe, LA
Where to watch: ESPN3
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Georgia State -16
BetMGM: Georgia State -15.5
Caesars: Georgia State -16
Season record
Georgia State: 1-4 (0-1 Sun Belt)
Louisiana-Monroe: 2-2 (1-1 Sun Belt)
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Georgia State - Louisiana-Monroe preview and analysis
Recent form
Georgia State: lost 45-16 vs. Appalachian State on Oct. 2
Louisiana-Monroe: lost 59-6 at No. 15 Coastal Carolina on Oct. 2
Get ready for a matchup featuring two awful offenses that could score a ton of points because their defenses aren't any better.
The Georgia State Panthers will take a trip to Monroe to face the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks in the classic battle of the resistible force meeting the other resistible force in this Sun Belt Battle on Saturday.
If you were to combine these two programs together, it would be an awful cluster of epic proportions. The teams combine (combine, I say) for 31.7 points. Even if you were to total those averages, they would still be outscored by their respective defensive averages (Georgia State has allowed 38 points per game, Louisiana-Monroe at 31.8).
The Panthers are coming off a 29-point loss to the Appalachian State Mountaineers in a game where the offense actually didn't do that bad. The Panthers rattled off 380 total yards. The bulk of them came in garbage time with Darren Grainger throwing for 75 yards and a touchdown in place of Cornelious Brown IV (171 yards, 2 INT).
Georgia State's defense was an eyesore. App State quarterback Chase Brice threw for 326 yards, had only eight completions and threw for three touchdowns, as the Mountaineers offense put up 502 yards and had only one turnover versus Georgia State's three.
Louisiana-Monroe had more of a dreadful Saturday, but that's what happens when you face the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers on the road and lose by 53 to a top-15 team in the country.
Chandler Rogers had a short afternoon by going 9 of 17 for 100 yards and interception, but the story was the quarterback on the other side. Grayson McCall completed all 13 attempts for 212 yards and two touchdowns. Braydon Bennett added two touchdowns on the ground while running for 76 yards on seven carries. It was not a banner day for the Warhawks defense.
Coastal Carolina outgained ULM by more than 350 yards and had 16 more first downs. Can you feel the excitement?
Prediction
I'd advise from this game just from the premise of Georgia State laying 16 points when the Panthers have their own problems. But Georgia State will win this game just because in the world of sports, you have to pick a winner and go from there. Georgia State by 13
Betting trends
Georgia State is 6-3 against the spread as a favorite in its last nine.
ULM is 2-17 outright in its last 19 as an underdog, but 7-12 ATS.
Statistical leaders
Georgia State:
Passing: Cornelious Brown IV -- 368 yards, 0 TD, 4 INT
Rushing: Tucker Gregg -- 267 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Jamari Thrash -- 209 yards, 2 TD
ULM:
Passing: Rhett Rodriguez -- 337 yards, 1 TD
Rushing: Andrew Henry -- 184 rush yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Boogie Knight -- 183 yards
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert FBS college football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Georgia State Panthers - UL Monroe Warhawks prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NCAA projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
