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Troy, Alabama is a town of less than 20,000 people, surrounded by the pines of Southeast Alabama. Troy University, with its classic tree-lined quads and Fraternity row full of plantation style houses, could not be any more different than the urban campus of Georgia State. Located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia State sits among big business and only a few blocks from the Georgia state capitol. The Troy campus is home to about 9,000 students and the Atlanta campus of Georgia State is called home by over 30,000 coeds. The Sun Belt Conference is the only force that binds these two worlds together.
Not Like the Other
Like their campuses and student bodies, these two teams couldn’t be any more different. The Troy University Trojans are 3-3, suffering all road losses thanks to Arkansas State, Duke, and Mississippi State. Troy, currently 1-1 in the Sun Belt Conference, is poised to finish well in the conference. On the other hand, the Georgia State Panthers find themselves lost among the towering competition. GSU is 0-5 and this game is their conference opener. They have been handed stinging defeats by giants like West Virginia, Alabama, and UT Chattanooga. Close losses to Samford and Jacksonville show hope for a competitive in-conference team.
Losing to Alabama can skew statistics, but Georgia is averaging only a little over 14 points per game, while allowing almost 40 points per game. Troy is a little more balanced, scoring an average of 34.3 points per game and allowing 34.7 per game. Troy’s QB Corey Robinson just came off his best Saturday ever. Robinson completed 30-of-32 passes for 319 yards and a touchdown against UAB. His 93.8 completion percentage set an NCAA FBS record for a quarterback with at least 30 completions. He is averaging 256 yards per game and all signs point to him leading Troy to many more victories this season.
Playing for Pride
Georgia State is in their first year of Sun Belt Conference play. They are ineligible to win the Sun Belt Conference Title and are ineligible for any bowl appearance in their inaugural season. For Georgia State, capturing a win in Week 7 is about pride rather than end of season implications. GSU is equipped to score points against Troy in the air. QB Ronnie Bell is passing for an average of 180 yards per game and has connected with WR Albert Wilson for 4 TDs. Wilson is averaging over 20 yards per catch when Bell gets it to him. Georgia State is struggling on the ground with Evans leading the rush with few yards and 1 TD. When you having nothing to lose, you can play like you have everything to gain.
This game will be played Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in the Georgia Dome. 470 miles separates the Georgia Dome from the Mercedes Benz Superdome. For the Troy University Trojans, the road is full of Panthers trying to slow them down. Find this game on ESPN 3. And remember, cast your vote in the poll at the top to give your prediction of the outcome of Saturday’s game!
