Red Wolves will attack

Who needs a caffeine rush? Watching an Arkansas State game provides the same thing. In their past two games, against Central Arkansas and Georgia State, the Red Wolves racked up a combined 109 points and 1,182 yards of offense.

Quarterbacks Logan Bonner and Layne Hatcher combined for 13 touchdown passes in those wins, and neither was intercepted. Taking advantage of these aerial exploits, not to mention some leaky opposing pass defenses, are wideouts Jonathan Adams (15 catches versus GSU) and lanky 6-foot-5 junior Dahu Green, who is gaining almost 17 yards per catch in 2020 with five TDs.

The flip side for coach Blake Anderson is a defense that has allowed exactly 52 points to its first two Sun Belt foes, Coastal Carolina and GSU, prompting some to wonder if basketball season has begun early.

Appalachian State is glad just to have a season to play after a spate of COVID-19 cases turned the schedule upside down. By the time this game kicks off, the Mountaineers will have gone 26 days without playing.

Early reviews have been mixed for new coach Shawn Clark, a longtime offensive line coach at the school before being promoted after Eli Drinkwitz moved to Missouri.

Decorated QB Zac Thomas has gotten off to a rather slow start, having tossed just two TD passes in three games after rifling 26 a year ago. It looks like a dicey proposition to back the Mountaineers, not only because of the schedule disruptions and long layoff but also because of a recent downturn as chalk. They’re just 2-7 in their last nine in that role, including an 0-3 spread mark — all as favorites — this season.

THE PLAY: Arkansas State, +13.5.