So last season, Vanderbilt got off to a 2-0 start, with the big season-opening win over Virginia Tech followed by an easy blowout of Alcorn State. The third game was on the road, but Georgia State was a bad opponent who should be easily dispatched.
And then Vanderbilt lost the game. And Georgia State finished the season 3-9. One of the three wins was 24-21 over UT-Chattanooga. They were a bad team. Vanderbilt played a bad game that included utterly stupid shit like a kick returner taking a safety
by having second thoughts about trying to return a kick and then backing up into the end zone to take a knee, and, after Vanderbilt took the lead with 1:14 left, the defense lit itself on fire during Georgia State’s final drive.
Let’s not do that again. Anyway, Georgia State by all appearances is even worse this year than they were last year. They’re 1-2 on the season, getting obliterated by Ole Miss in the season opener by a 63-7 score and letting Memphis State run away with it in the second half in Atlanta. They did beat Murray State by a 37-21 score. Murray State is 0-3 this season and ranked 257 of 265 Division I (FBS and FCS) teams in Sagarin. ETSU beat them by four touchdowns and they play in the utterly ridiculous Missouri Valley Football Conference. In other words, Georgia State beat an FCS team that’s probably going 0-12 by two touchdowns.
Given the revenge factor, it’s hard to imagine Vanderbilt not taking this game seriously. Do the writers think that Vanderbilt will cover the massive spread?
Thomas Stephenson
Yeah, this could get hideously ugly. Georgia State’s defense is allowing on average 6.5 yards per play, which, fine, Ole Miss rang up 695 yards of total offense on them, but that’s pretty much cancelled out by them also playing a godawful Murray State team. They did show some fight against Memphis State.
The main thing that puts covering the spread in question, of course, is the very plausible scenario where Blaze Berlowitz plays the entire second half. I’m frankly surprised that we didn’t see much of Blaze against Charleston Southern (though, in fairness, we did actually see a bit of him against Virginia Tech and South Carolina as those games got out of hand.) Clark Lea usually seems to let off the gas against overmatched opponents; he’s not Josh Heupel looking to impress the playoff committee by hanging 70 on ETSU.
Then again, they’ll probably want to prove a point.
The Pick: Vanderbilt 52, Georgia State 7
The SEC Upset Pick of the Week: And speaking of MEMPHIS STATE (+7.5), I like them to beat Arkansas at home.
Andrew VU ‘04
Don’t let it happen again. Please and thank you. That’s all I’ve got for this one.
The Pick: Vanderbilt 44 – Ugga State 11
The SEC Upset Pick of the Week: LaNorris Sellers should be back, and despite the absolute whooping we laid on the Penises, I don’t think they’re dead yet. Give me The South Cackalacky Game Penises (+12.5) to overcome a double digit spread and beat Missourah (spits).
Patrick Sawyer
This could get ugly fast. There are going to be a number of players very interested in making a statement after last season. If you want to be cynical, that eagerness could cause some mistakes. My expectation is that Diego Pavia and this offense is going to go straight up and down the field, and the defense is going to make ball carriers and QBs need ice baths by halftime.
Tom already pointed out how bad Georgia State is. Even with Blaze Berlowitz, and maybe even Drew Dickey, getting time late in this one, I do not see any way these players or coaches do anything except absolutely bury the Panthers as revenge. No, I do not think there will be deep shots dialed up after halftime to rub their noses in it, but Jamezell Lassiter might break off 2 or 3 big runs. AJ Newberry might flash once or twice. Brycen Coleman could get enough snaps to have an impact again. Vanderbilt’s depth is going to mean that the backups can still dominate a team like Georgia State.
The Pick: Vanderbilt 52, Georgia State 10
The SEC Upset Pick of the Week: Tulane beating Ole Miss? Uh…that’s about all that I’ve got. I want to believe Auburn will beat Oklahoma, but that feels like maybe a house of cards in Auburn after they looked poor against South Alabama.
Cole the Mascot Head
Well well well… It’s our old rival from Atlanta, Georgia State. Fool me once, shame on you, 90’s Sex Panthers. Fool me twice? You don’t fool Vanderbilt twice (at least not this year).
The Pick: Vanderbilt 56, Georgia State 10
The SEC Upset Pick of the Week: It will probably play more like an Arkansas home game in the stands, but I feel like Memphis has what it takes to upset Great Value University. Arkansas held Ole Miss to a one score game, but I don’t think the piglets are actually all that good this year. Memphis hasn’t exactly proven themselves, but they finished last year hot and have kept it rolling so far this year. I bet they win by 10, maybe a little more.
