TSN Week 8 Predictions

[Black Saturday]

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnf ... /index.htm

No. 8 Wofford Terriers (5-1, 3-1 SoCon) at No. 13 Appalachian State Mountaineers (5-2, 3-1), 3:30 p.m.

Series Record: Appalachian State leads, 17-11

Last Meeting: Wofford 28, Appalachian State 14 (Oct. 1, 2011)

What to know: The last time Appalachian State faced a triple option offense, it fell in Week 3 at home to The Citadel, 52-28. Of course, since then, App State has not lost, but that game has to be in the back of its defense's mind. The Citadel snapped an 18-game winning streak at "The Rock," scored 38 first-half points and rolled up 618 yards of total offense.

Wofford fell for the first time in 2012 last week at Georgia Southern, 17-9. It's easier said than done, but all the Terriers had to do was stop the run attack of GSU because the Eagles set a new FCS single-game record by not attempting a pass.

The Terriers want to get back on track ASAP due to the difficulty of its upcoming schedule. After Appalachian, coach Mike Ayers' team still has to play The Citadel, Samford, Chattanooga and a regular-season finale at FBS South Carolina. Yikes.

Wofford still leads the FCS in rushing with 410 yards per game and has scored 24 rushing touchdowns this season, tying first nationall with The Citadel.

Appalachian State redshirt freshman and Jerry Rice Award nominee Sean Price hauled in a 22-yard touchdown catch with 22 seconds remaining to steal a win on the road at Samford last week. ASU has played well in the series in recent years at home and have outscored the Terriers, 113-37, in the last two contests in Boone, N.C.

Fullback Eric Breitenstein suffered a high ankle sprain in the loss to Georgia Southern last week, but he is expected to play Saturday.

It's clear that two-loss teams in the SoCon title race don't have a lot of championship success. In fact, a two-loss school has won the Southern Conference title just twice in the conference's 79-year history.

A win for either team keeps postseason hopes very much alive, while a loss could put a lot of pressure on that team.

Prediction: Appalachian State 33, Wofford 27