The Sun Belt Championship Game has existed since 2018, and either the Appalachian State Mountaineers or the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers have qualified for every single one — but that changes this year.
My Appalachian State vs. Coastal Carolina predictions break down why backing the home team is the way to go with your college football picks in this Sun Belt showdown on Thursday, November 7, with kickoff at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
App State vs Coastal Carolina prediction and best bet
My best bet
Coastal Carolina +1.5 (-115 at FanDuel)
Picks made at time of writing may not reflect live odds.
My analysis
It’s been a tough season on and off the field for the Appalachian State Mountaineers. There's no doubt Hurricane Helene has impacted App State’s season, and the product on the field has not been what we have come to expect from this program.
The Mountaineers are 4-4 straight up and 3-5 against the spread heading into this matchup with Coastal Carolina, which isn’t great considering they had aspirations of a third Sun Belt Championship. And while App State has won two in a row, it's needed late touchdowns to secure victories in both.
The glaring problem for the Mountaineers this season has been the defense. They haven’t been able to stop anyone at this point and enter this game ranked 124th in defensive success rate and 127th in opponent EPA/play.
App State also ranks 129th in defensive success rate vs. the rush and 118th in EPA/rush. So, slowing down the Coastal Carolina duo of Braydon Bennett and Christian Washington could be a problem. Not to mention the dual-threat ability of quarterback Ethan Vasko.
Now, the Chanticleers have dropped three in a row, but Bennett and Washington haven’t slowed down.
Bennett has carried the ball 60 times for 391 yards at 6.5 yards per carry while scoring seven touchdowns. Washington has carried it 62 times for 317 yards at 5.1 yards per carry and four scores. Those two should do well setting up the Chanticleers.
Meanwhile, the Mountaineers also have huge issues with turnovers, ranking 133rd in giveaways per game vs. FBS opponents.
I expect the Chanticleers to control the game on the ground and get some key takeaways. With the added boost of being at home, I like their chances of getting the win in this Sun Belt matchup, where the winner not only gets the pride of winning this matchup but moves one win away from earning a bowl berth.
That said, I’ll take the point and a half if you’re going to give it to me.
App State vs Coastal Carolina same-game parlay (SGP)
Coastal Carolina +1.5
Braydon Bennett Over 65.5 rushing yards
Braydon Bennett 2+ touchdowns
The same-game parlay is pretty straightforward here. The running game is going to be the key to Coastal Carolina’s success in this matchup and if sportsbooks would give me props for both Chanticleers backs I would consider Overs for both of them.
Unfortunately, it’s just Braydon Bennett on the board. Bennett is still the team’s leading rusher despite missing a couple of games due to injuries, but he is healthy and rolling heading into this matchup.
Bennett rumbled for 132 yards on 13 carries in a loss to Louisiana. He followed that up with 69 yards on 10 carries in last week’s loss to Tory.
His rushing total for this game is sitting at 65.5. I’ll have a single wager on the Over at that number as well.
Bennett has also found the end zone nine times this season, seven times on the ground and twice through the air. He has multiple touchdowns in three of his six games. Give me him to find the end zone multiple times in this one.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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App State vs Coastal Carolina odds
App State vs Coastal Carolina live odds
App State vs Coastal Carolina opening odds
- App State vs. Coastal Carolina spread: Coastal Carolina -1
- App State vs. Coastal Carolina moneyline: App State -105, Coastal Carolina -115
- App State vs. Coastal Carolina Over/Under: 62.5
Odds courtesy of BetMGM
App State vs Coastal Carolina spread and Over/Under analysis
- Coastal Carolina opened this Sun Belt matchup as very slight one-point home favorites, but it's Appalachian State who has seen the early action and the line has jumped the fence.
- Don't be surprised if the moves invoke some return action on Coastal. This game could very well close as a pick'em.
- The total hit the board at 62.5 and has yet to move off that number as of writing.
- This is a game that features defenses that rank 124th (App State) and 105th (Coastal) in defensive success rate, so it's not a surprise to see a high total like this.
App State vs Coastal Carolina betting trend to know
Coastal Carolina has hit the game total Over in five of its last six games at home for +3.90 Units and a 59% ROI. Find more college football betting trends for App State vs Coastal Carolina.
App State vs Coastal Carolina game info
| Location: | Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC |
| Date: | Thursday, 11-7, 2024 |
| Kickoff: | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN |
App State vs Coastal Carolina latest injuries
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