JOE GAVAZZI
CFB STEAMROLLER GAME OF THE WEEK
Georgia Southern (-6) at LA Monroe 7:00 ET
Georgia Southern traveled to Moscow, Idaho last week where they demolished the Vandals in the Kibbie Dome by a count of 44-20 as our CFB BLOWOUT OF THE WEEK. The game was not as close as the final score, if you consider the fact that the Eagles won the overland battle 441-111. This is a team who is on a mission. Georgia Southern, a program with multiple national championships in lower classes, was denied a Bowl last season (by an archaic NCAA rule) despite winning the Sun Belt conference and posting a 9-3 SU record. Starting QB Ellison was suspended for Georgia Southern’s first game of the year at WVU. Final score: WVU 44-0 with Ellison’s replacement, Upshaw, completing twice as many passes to the opposing Mounties as to his own Eagles. The next 3 games have seen GS return to their dominating overland form in whipping out same class competition, W. Michigan 43-17, the Citadel 48-13 and Idaho 44-20. Now, they travel again to Monroe, where they will face a team for whom they will have respect. As 14 point home favorite last year, the Eagles won only 22-16, despite a 333-19 overland edge. It is nearly impossible to not cover with that type of overland dominance.
This week, LA Monroe takes the field, after being battered and bruised by Alabama in a 34-0 defeat. Getting off the mat to face this rushing attack is improbable, especially noting that they have lost their 2 best receivers (Turner and Ceaser). With a limited aerial attack and an offense that rushes for just 85/2.7 and a defensive front allowing 4.6 YPR, is there any way they can prevent the highly focused Eagles from yet another STEAMROLLER victory? I don’t think so.