Who: Georgia State vs. Liberty
When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Three things to know
1. While this isn’t a rivalry, it may feel that way from Liberty’s perspective. It’s no secret that the Flames want to join the Sun Belt Conference, Georgia State’s home. It’s also no secret that no invitation has been issued. Making it worse, the conference did invite its fellow Big South member Coastal Carolina. So, Liberty may want to try to prove something Saturday.
2. Georgia State’s offense is playing very well, with averages of 27.3 points and 468.3 yards per game. However, it is also turning over the ball at a rate of more than three per game. The Panthers can’t continue that pace and expect to beat the Flames, who are a very good FCS team led by a very good quarterback.
3. Georgia State’s defense is much improved from last season and needs one more interception or fumble recovery to match last season’s number of takeaways (8). The players that it expected to create some of the impact plays, outside linebacker Michael Shaw and end Mackendy Cheridor, have just one sack between them, but are causing problems for offensive lines, according to defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.
Player to watch: Georgia State offense
WR Robert Davis. Donovan Harden's possible return and Penny Hart's emergence has taken some of the focus off fellow wide receiver Robert Davis. That may not be a good idea. He had a 75-yard touchdown reception against Oregon and is the team's second-leading receiver with 16 catches for 228 yards.
Player to watch: Georgia State defense
LB Alonzo McGee. He continues to play better and better each game and leads the Panthers in sacks (2) and tackles for loss (6). He will need to create chaos because Liberty's offense is very methodical and very efficient.
Player to watch: Liberty offense
QB Josh Woodrum. A senior, Woodrum is averaging 251.2 passing yards per game on a 58.2 percent completion rate. He has five touchdown passes and one interception. He was all-conference last season in passing for almost 3,000 yards with 19 touchdowns.
Player to watch: Liberty defense
DE Chima Uzowihe. He leads the Flames with 5 1/2 sacks. He led the team and the Big South Conference with 14 tackles for loss last year. He combines size (6-foot-2, 250 pounds) with speed to get to the quarterback and will be a handful for Georgia State tackles Michael Ivory, Jah-Mai Davidson and Sebastian Willer.
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