Dominic Lee-Knicely ran 70 yards for a touchdown on Coastal Carolina’s first snap after halftime at Marshall. The sophomore back finished with 169 rushing yards as Ryan Beard earned his first FBS win as Coastal’s coach. Beard brings a 2–4 team home to Brooks Stadium for tonight’s 8 p.m. kickoff against App State. Below is my preview, prediction, and pick for today’s college football game between the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers and the Appalachian State Mountaineers.
Here’s how I’ll play it. I’ll be pumping out these predictions for individual games all season, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more betting plays.
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Coastal Carolina vs. Appalachian State prediction, preview
Lee-Knicely gained 99 yards on his other 24 carries, too. I’d give him another busy night, especially with App State replacing injured defensive end Aiden Benton with Caleb Pitts. But the Mountaineers have allowed 3.5 yards per carry through five games. They can force quarterback Deuce Bailey to throw more often by containing Lee-Knicely early, exposing Coastal’s protection to App State end Caleb Sandstrom, who has five sacks.
Against Georgia Southern, receiver Karmello English turned a completion behind the line into 32 yards during an 82-yard touchdown drive that never reached third down. Then, after an incompletion and a five-yard run on the next possession, Bailey just needed five yards. Georgia Southern sacked him for a nine-yard loss. One series he never faced a third down; the next, he couldn’t convert a manageable one. With offensive lineman Kain McDonald questionable, Coastal must protect Bailey against Sandstrom. However, they’ve already conceded 19 sacks through six games. Six takeaways at Marshall shortened three scoring drives to a combined 69 yards. Bailey is due to struggle in this one, especially if the Chanticleers face long fields.
App State coach Dowell Loggains may have to trust a quarterback he has scarcely asked to throw. Starter Malachi Singleton remains questionable with an ankle injury; backup Henry Hasselbeck has attempted nine passes this season. Loggains has used him as a runner in all five games, getting 105 rushing yards. Hasselbeck still has to show he can repeatedly find receiver Sam Pickett III downfield when App State needs a first down.
Appalachian State vs. Coastal Carolina pick, best bet
With a healthy Singleton, I’d expect App State to attack Coastal downfield. He led two 75-yard touchdown drives at NC State before an interception and recovered onside kick supplied shorter fields. Having allowed only six sacks through five games, App State’s blockers should give him time against a defense conceding 8.4 yards per pass attempt this season. Friday’s mostly dry forecast should help him throw more accurately than he did in the downpour against Old Dominion. A healthy Singleton could reach the upper twenties here. With Hasselbeck, I’d expect more carries for running back Jaquari Lewis against a defense allowing 4.8 yards per carry, but App State averaged under three yards per rush in all three FBS games preceding the storm. More handoffs won’t necessarily bring more first downs.
I won’t lay points with App State while Singleton remains questionable. I’ll take under 49.5: even if he returns and throws well, Coastal still has to block Sandstrom on passing downs. I expect him to force punts before the Chanticleers can trade touchdowns with App State.
Best bet: Under 49.5 (-115).
Projected score: App State 24, Coastal Carolina 20.
Best Bet: Coastal Carolina vs. Appalachian State u49.5 total points scored (-115)
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