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NCAA Football Betting Online: It’s been a tumultuous offseason for head coach Tyson Summers and the Georgia Southern Eagles. The school finished 5-7 and missed out on a bowl after back-to-back nine-win seasons to start its time at the FBS level. Summers’ decision to change things up on both the offense and defense backfired in a huge way. Georgia Southern fired its co-offensive coordinators in the offseason and both recently filed lawsuits against the university alleging breach of contract. It was a very rough first season for a school that is used to winning and Summers will feel a lot of heat if that doesn’t change.
2017 Georgia Southern Eagles at a Glance
Georgia Southern National Championship Odds
Georgia Southern Odds To Win Sun Belt
Georgia Southern Regular Season Win Total
Summers has already announced that the team is going back to the option after trying to run a much different system with option personnel in 2016. The offensive production tailed off dramatically last year and reverting back should help the school’s numbers.
A new system means a new quarterback. Shai Werts holds the inside track for the starting job after a dominant spring, but he is going to have to battle with three or four others in the run-up to fall in order to claim the job. His mobility is a huge positive for this system and he can even throw the ball a little too.
The running game should be much better too with the school switching back to the option. Georgia Southern returns three starters from last season along the offensive line and all were originally recruited to be road graters. The Eagles averaged over two yards less per carry than they did the year before in 2016. Getting those rushing numbers up would help the defense out too.
This defense took a major step backwards last year. The Eagles switched to a 4-3 and the players had some trouble adjusting to the new defensive philosophy. They allowed over 60 yards per game more than they did in 2015.
Things might not get better soon. This defense is one of the more inexperienced units around and there are very few seniors that can lead the way. The defensive line lacks size and is susceptible to being run on.
2017 Georgia Southern Eagles Schedule
September 2: Georgia Southern at Auburn
September 9: Georgia Southern vs. New Hampshire
September 23: Georgia Southern at Indiana
October 4: Georgia Southern vs. Arkansas State
October 14: Georgia Southern vs. New Mexico State
October 21: Georgia Southern at Massachusetts
October 28: Georgia Southern at Troy
November 4: Georgia Southern vs. Georgia State
November 9: Georgia Southern at Appalachian State
November 18: Georgia Southern vs. South Alabama
November 25: Georgia Southern at Louisiana-Lafayette
December 2: Georgia Southern at Coastal Carolina
List of Georgia Southern Eagles Seasons
| Year |
Record |
Bowl Game |
| 2016 |
5-7 |
|
| 2015 |
9-4 |
W – GoDaddy Bowl |
| 2014 |
9-3 |
|
Georgia Southern was an FCS powerhouse for most of its history. The Eagles won six national championships at the FCS level between 1985 and 2000 and that planted the seeds for an eventual jump in the level of competition.
Outside of the titles at the FCS level, the Eagles are perhaps most known for helping to signal the beginning of the end of the Will Muschamp era at Florida. Georgia Southern pulled off a stunning 26-20 upset of the Gators that led to Florida missing out on the postseason.
Willie Fritz was the first coach for Georgia Southern after it made its jump to FBS and found instant success. He went undefeated in the Sun Belt in his first season and led the Eagles to their first ever bowl win too. Fritz left for a job at Tulane after last season and that gave Summers the opportunity to coach here.
The Eagles play seven road games this season and a bowl appearance might be tough to ask. There are few easy games on this schedule and with a very young roster, 6-6 might be considered a successful campaign. A win over Georgia State would be nice too after the Panthers have won each of their last two meetings.
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