Georgia State QB Nick Arbuckle eager to face San Jose State

Panther QB Nick Arbuckle threw for over 4,000 yards this season, making him just one of seven quarterbacks to do so this year. That what the San Jose State football official travel party packed away in less than 50 minutes on their third afternoon of AutoNation Cure Bowl activities.

But with their backs against the wall at 2-6 and the possibility of double-digits in the loss column within range, the Panthers reeled off four straight wins: at Texas State (41-19), vs. South Alabama (24-10), vs. Troy (31-21), and, most surprisingly, the regular season finale at Georgia Southern (34-7) – a dominating performance against the reigning Sun Belt Conference champion.

The Spartans are playing their sixth bowl game in program history with their last coming in the 2012 Military in which they beat Bowling Green 29-20.

But don’t let the record fool you. In comparison, the Spartans are averaging 232.8 passing yards per game. Neal has rushed for 323 yards and five touchdowns on the year. He also has 44 catches for 337 yards and two scores.

Injuries: San Jose State – Tight end Brad Kuh (knee) is out. Game time in the Citrus Bowl is 7:00 p.m. (ET)/4:00 p.m. (PT) with national television coverage by the CBS Sports Network. The Spartans feature back just couldn’t stack up as Tyler Ervin was held to just 52 yards on 11 carries. The defense, however, is ranked second nationally, allowing just 153.6 passing yards per game, which should provide a test for the pass-happy Panthers. Now the betting odds for the game have the Spartans favored to pick up the victory. It’s an opportunity Georgia State and the student body seem to realize.

Nick: Will this bowl be the cure for our sadness?

Prediction The Georgia State passing game will work, but San Jose State will be too good defensively in key moments to keep Arbuckle from going insane.

Georgia State only had one game against a ranked team, and it was a 33 point defeat on the road against a then number 12 OR squad.

Georgia State has the better record and is riding an impressive winning streak, but the Panthers are one-dimensional on offense, having gained just 103.1 rushing yards per game this season. Many college basketball fans still have the image of GSU basketball coach Ron Hunter falling off his chair, injured Achilles and all, celebrating his son RJ’s game-winning shot in the NCAA tournament engraved in their heads.