Western Kentucky HILLTOPPERS (6-6) vs. Georgia State PANTHERS (6-5)

When: Saturday, 2:30 pm  

Where: Camping World Stadium, Orlando  

TV: CBS Sports Network

Coaches: Western Kentucky—Mike Sanford, 1st Season (6-6, 4-4 C-USA) Georgia State – Shawn Elliott, 1st Season (6-5, 5-3 Sunbelt) 

About the matchup: After a 5-2 start to the season Western Kentucky finds themselves in a peculiar spot after not winning a game since November 17th when the team defeated Middle Tennessee in triple overtime. That win gave them its sixth victory of the year to seal up its fourth straight bowl berth.

The Hilltoppers are working with first year head coach Mike Sanford and despite an up and down season aim to close it out on a high note inside Camping World Stadium. The steady arm of senior Mike White, a Pembroke Pines, Florida native, has been the shining light for Western Kentucky all season long. Offensively the team has be dissipated with injuries in the running game, only averaging 66-yards a game but in-between getting sacked 42 times this year White has been able to pass for 3,826 yards and 24 touchdowns. The Hilltoppers success this final outing will rely on White and spreading out the offense.

As for Georgia State they’ve struggled offensively this year averaging only 20 points a game and have the worst rushing offense in the FBS. QB Conner Manning is completing 64% of his passes and has thrown for 13 scores—but the problem lays in not have many receiving options. Their main target is sophomore receiver Penny Hart as he’s pulled down 1,094 receiving yards and registered eight touchdowns for the Panthers this season.

On the defensive front Georgia State is pretty sound. This season the Panthers are only allowing 25.5 points per game and giving up 5.8 yards per play and have 10 interceptions. Senior safety Bryan Williams the shining star in the backfield for the defense leading the unit with 57 tackles and four interceptions.  The Panthers enter with a lot of momentum and added sense of urgency. This team will be playing for history on Saturday as they can earn their program’s first bowl victory.  

Western Kentucky is favored by 6.5 points.