Georgia State vs Army 9/4/21 College Football Picks, Odds, Predictions

The Georgia State Panthers meet the Army Black Knights Saturday in week 1 college football action at Center Parc Stadium. Army is coming off a nine-win season and have won eight or more games in four of its last five seasons. Georgia State won six games last year and enter a fifth season under coach Shawn Elliott.

The Army Black Knights averaged 26.8 points and 317.8 yards per game last season. Army allowed an average of 14.8 points and 275.3 yards per game last season. Christian Anderson returns at quarterback after 47 pass attempts last season. Tyhier Tyler is back after leading Army with nearly 600 rushing yards and five touchdowns while Tyrell Robinson and Michael Roberts is a receiving duo that combined for three touchdowns. Defensively, Arik Smith returns after leading Army with 78 tackles, Ryan Duran III had 2.5 sacks and Jabari Moore had three interceptions. Army should like where it’s at, as the offense has the key players returning and the defense has most of the production coming back from a unit that was the best in total defense last season. Army has a real shot to win double-digit games for the third time in the last five years.

The Georgia State Panthers averaged 33.3 points and 424.3 yards per game last season. Georgia State allowed an average of 31.7 points and 410.3 yards per game last season. Cornelious Brown IV returns at quarterback after throwing for 2,200 yards and 17 touchdowns as a freshman. Destin Coates is back after rushing for nearly 800 yards and seven touchdowns while Sam Pinckney and Cornelius McCoy is a returning wide receiver duo that combined for 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns. Defensively, Blake Carroll returns after leading Georgia State with 74 tackles, Hardrick Willis had six sacks and Antavious Lane had four interceptions. Georgia State is absolutely loaded on the offensive side of the ball and should be better defensively with the returning production. With 13 combined wins the last two years, Georgia State is heading in the right direction and should have a say this year in who wins the Sun Belt.

The Black Knights are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall. The Panthers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall. The under is 7-2-1 in Black Knights last 10 road games. The over is 8-3 in Panthers last 11 games overall.

The Georgia State Panthers should be given the benefit of the doubt because they’re at home and have a lot of quality players on the offensive side. However, Army has become a really good team over the last five years and returns a good portion of players who made the Black Knights the best defense in the country. Army is going to be physical from the opening kick and will have a chance to steal this game in the fourth quarter. Expect a tight one. I’ll take the free field goal with Army on the road.