WKU vs. Georgia State

Western Kentucky (6-6) got off to a strong start to this season and looked like a contender in Conference USA heading into final week of October. The 2017 WKU team ended the year with 791 rushing yards, the fewest in program history since 1984. They are very easy to gameplan for because the defense just has to prepare for what Mike White can offer, so if they can establish a ground game they could walk around with this game when coupled with White’s passing. We’re gonna evaluate, look at everything, I’m gonna look at everything. I’m proud of my team, proud of our players, proud of our coaches. “Getting our first bowl win, it’d be everything we need to build this program”.

“I think one of the biggest things about bowl games are they truly carry on to the following year”, said Georgia State quarterback Conner, a redshirt senior who earned All-Sun Belt honorable mention honors after passing for 2,870 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Saturday’s appearance in the Cure Bowl was the team’s second in three years. They lost 27-16 to San Jose State that year.

“It’s a credit to all the guys around me”, Manning said. “We got to work early with the goal of being in this position”.

Western Kentucky’s football team has the chance to end an up-and-down season on a high note Saturday in the Cure Bowl.

For Georgia State, a win would special.

In rushing, Glenn Smith had 521 yards and three touchdowns in 147 attempts while Kyler Neal and Taz Bateman have combined for 357 yards and four touchdowns.

Western Kentucky (6-6, 4-4 CUSA) was the preseason favorite to win its third consecutive title.

The sophomore entered the day eighth in the FBS in receiving yards per game with 99.5 and 12th in receptions with 6.6.

Georgia State launched its football program in 2010. A season opening win was quickly forgotten after two straight losses.

“Our twist game was working really well”, Elliott said. “To win championships, we gotta run the football effectively”. Besides my fumble, I thought we did that for the most part.

“At the end of the day, it’s my job as the head coach of this program to find the solutions going forward for 2018 to make sure we run the ball effectively”, Sanford said.

Are the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers a good bet to cover the spread Saturday afternoon when they take on Georgia State in the Cure Bowl at 2:30 p.m. ET? He also lost a fumble late in the second quarter. After an extremely impressive junior year and making Hilltopper faithful forget about the days of Brandon Doughty, White was a darkhorse Heisman hopeful heading into 2017. “It’s disappointing for Mike to not go out the way he deserves to go out”. The Panthers have only 18 sacks.

On paper, Western Kentucky is likely the better team.

Western Kentucky, finishing its first season under coach Mike Sanford, won the Bahamas, Miami Beach and Boca Raton bowls the past three years. The Hilltoppers success this final outing will rely on White and spreading out the offense.

S&P+ ranks Western Kentucky’s offense as the No. 76 unit in the country. Hart leads the Panthers with 73 receptions, a school-record 1,094 receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions.