Appalachian State Mountaineers (8-4) vs. Troy Trojans (10-2)
Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Troy Trojans December 2, 2023 – Appalachian State Mountaineers (8-4) will face off against Troy Trojans (10-2), in a Sun Belt Conference matchup scheduled to take place Saturday at Larry Blakeney Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium and broadcast by ESPN, drawing great anticipation among both fans and bettors. Many seek NCAAF free picks for guidance, exploring options on gambling sites for college football insights.
Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Troy Trojans December 2, 2023 Game Info
| When: | Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 4:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Larry Blakeney Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium |
| TV: | ESPN |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Joey Aguilar QB vs. Gunnar Watson QB
Joey Aguilar has put together a tremendous 2023 season for Appalachian State’s Mountaineers, amassing an impressive 3271 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and 157.5 passer rating. His strengths lie in deep ball accuracy, poise under pressure and quick decision-making but has struggled at times with turnovers; therefore his performance will be key in keeping pace with scores on Appalachian State’s scoreboard.
Gunnar Watson has been the driving force behind Troy’s high-flying offense. He has amassed 3147 yards, 26 touchdowns, and the 18th best passer rating in FBS history. Watson excels at finding open spaces for playmakers to thrive; his main weaknesses lie in arm strength and physical durability – something Mountaineers’ pressure on Watson could mitigate effectively by forcing errant throws that might slow their Trojan attack down.
Battle of the Backfields: Which Rushing Attack Will Dominate?
Nate Noel and Camerun Peoples provide App State with a formidable rushing tandem, giving opposing defenses fits all season long. Troy has proven vulnerable against the run this season, giving up more than 150 rushing yards per game; if App State can establish their ground game more successfully it could reduce Troy’s possession advantage and mitigate Troy’s dominance on defense.
However, Kimani Vidal of the Trojans boasts his own 1000-yard rusher in him – his vision and burst allow him to create chunk plays even when defenses pack the box. Vidal amassed 134 rushing yards earlier this season when these teams met, so expect another huge performance when these teams meet up again on Saturday. Whoever can best leverage their rushing attack is likely to come away victorious!
Sun Belt Supremacy on the Line
With a crucial conference championship game berth within reach, both squads are motivated to secure it. The Mountaineers have played one of the toughest schedules in college sports this year; victories over Texas A&M and Marshall highlight their potential when at their best; however, two late season losses have put their championship aspirations in jeopardy; beating their heated rival would secure them a spot in Sun Belt title game and give them a shot at redemption after last year’s devastating final game loss.
Troy has been impressive, except for a 2-point nailbiter loss to UTSA. Under first-year coach Jon Sumrall’s guidance, quarterback Gunnar Watson has excelled on offense while their swarming defense has held opponents to just 16 points per game over their nine game win streak. Playing at home gives Troy an ideal opportunity to capture their first conference championship title since 2013.
NCAAF Betting Odds: Troy Trojans -265, Over/Under: 52.5
Despite being on the road, Troy opens as 6-point favorites in this Sun Belt showdown. This line indicates oddsmakers view the Trojans as the superior team, even factoring in Appalachian State’s solid 8-4 record against the spread this season. The over/under comes in at 52.5 points, a reasonable bar considering both teams average over 30 points per contest.
Appalachian State Mountaineers Betting Trends
Appalachian State are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Appalachian State’s last 7 games.
Appalachian State are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games.
Appalachian State are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games against Troy.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Appalachian State’s last 5 games on the road.
Appalachian State are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games against an opponent in the Sun Belt conference.
Troy Trojans Betting Trends
Troy are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Troy’s last 10 games.
Troy are 9-0 SU in their last 9 games.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Troy’s last 8 games against Appalachian State.
Troy are 12-1 SU in their last 13 games at home.
Troy are 7-0 SU in their last 7 games against an opponent in the Sun Belt conference.
Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Troy Trojans Betting Picks
This Sun Belt rivalry has produced its fair share of instant classics over the years, and all signs point towards another hotly contested affair on Saturday. The Mountaineers’ stout defense paired with quarterback Joey Aguilar’s big-play ability gives them a fighter’s chance to pull off the upset. However, Troy’s ascendance under coach Jon Sumrall is no fluke. Playing in front of their home fans with a conference title berth on the line, we expect the Trojans to seize the moment and cement themselves as the class of the Sun Belt. The play is to lay the points with Troy -6 (-116) in what should be a thrilling contest that comes down to the final possession. Those looking to wager would be wise to use one of the online betting websites offering lucrative sign-up bonuses.
Receiving Yards Prop: Troy 35, Appalachian State 28.
