Three storylines
Will the quarterbacks improve? Coach Bill Curry elected to start Drew Little against Houston, spelling him with Kelton Hill and benching Bo Schlechter, who played most of the snaps in the season's first three games. Perhaps because of the higher quality of the competition, the offense didn't improve compared with the previous games. However, Little, last year's starter, and Hill have had two weeks to prepare to face the Racers.
Will the run defense improve? It should. The Racers are a pass-first team, averaging 340.8 passing yards per game compared with 117.2 rushing yards on 3.6 yards per carry. The Panthers have allowed 209.8 yards per game. Plus, Georgia State's coaches have had two weeks to prepare to face Murray State's high-powered attack.
Do the Panthers even need to worry about run defense? The Racers have allowed an average of 197.4 rushing yards per game. If the Panthers can establish a run game and control the clock, and they have shown potential in the first half of games, it could give their beleaguered run defense the in-game breather and shot of confidence that they've needed for the past three games.
A Georgia State win would ...
- Snap a three-game losing streak.
- Be its second win in the Georgia Dome this season.
A Murray State win would ...
- Be its first in the Georgia Dome.
- Be its first over Georgia State.
Keep an eye on ...
For Georgia State: Drew Little. He hasn't been as effective as he was last season, when he passed for more than 2,100 yards, but he also has been a bit unlucky with tipped passes. Before Houston, he played mostly in situations where the other team was blitzing consistently. This game should establish if Little can re-create some of last year's productivity.
For Murray State: Casey Brockman. The quarterback has passed for more yards (1,647) than the Panthers have in total offense. He has completed more than 63 percent of his passes and has 11 touchdowns against five interceptions. He spreads the ball somewhat evenly around, with four receivers making at least 15 receptions this season.
The numbers game
32.4 Average number of points Murray State scores in each game.
35 Average number of points Georgia State allows in each game.
The history book
This is the teams’ first meeting.
The bottom line
It has been a tough start for the Panthers, losers of their past three games in the most difficult stretch of the schedule. The next two games, against the Racers and South Carolina State, could make or break the season. To make the season, the team must play with a mix of discipline and aggression that Curry says he hasn’t seen this season. Practices during the past two weeks have been good. Can the team take it to the field?
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