Week 11: Appalachian State

I guess if someone forced me to pick a Group of 5 team to root for, it would probably be Appalachian State. I’ve been to Boone a time or two, and have a healthy respect for the consistent success they had in FCS and their amazingly successful transition to FBS. What I don’t have respect for is the bozo that scheduled a Home-Home-Home with App State. There is no reason at all for a middling SEC team to ever put the Mountaineers on the schedule. These guys are 2 weeks removed from a spot in the Top 25, but if the Gamecocks lose it will be considered a disaster. And playing a game at 1km altitude in 2025? That is insane.

The Gamecocks should dominate both lines of scrimmage in this game. I expect Appalachian State to out-scheme SC, however, and keep the game close. The line opened at -4.5 for SC, and has since grown to -6. I can buy that.

Prediction: USC 27 - App State 21