Saturday's Peach State College Football Report, pregame
12 p.m.
Middle Tennessee (1-1) at Georgia (2-0)
Sanford Stadium
TV: ESPN News
Web: www.georgiadogs.com
Radio: Macon, WQBZ-FM, 106.3; Dublin, WEDB-FM, 98.1; Milledgeville, WKSR-FM 1-2.3; Sandersville, WSNT-FM, 99.9.
Line: Georgia by 31.
Central Georgians on MTSU’s roster: Two - Freshman cornerback Teldrick Ross of Jones County, sophomore wideout Jimmy Marshall of Tattnall. MTSU has nearly two dozen Georgians on the roster.
Scouting Report: The Bulldogs are getting healthier, which is obviously not good news for anybody, let alone a team on MTSU’s level.
The natural worry is that Georgia might be a little sluggish after whacking South Carolina last week, and it may take a little time to really get going, especially with the early start. And then the concern is likely to go away.
To read
Georgia Southern (2-0) at Clemson (2-0)
Tiger Stadium
TV: ESPN2.
Web: www.clemsontigers.com
Radio: Macon, WXKO, 99.5-FM/1150-AM; Dublin, WDBG-FM 102.1; FM
Line: Clemson by 33.
Central Georgians on Clemson’s roster: One. Taylor County’s Lyn-J Dixon is a freshman running back who has six carries and 89 yards in one game.
Scouting Report: Clemson will take this game fairly seriously, especially on defense where wisdom had the Tigers playing an option team the week before playing Georgia Tech.
The Eagles are no strangers to the big stage, but it’s still a little early in the transition to expect a headLine-making performance.
To read
12:30 p.m.
Georgia Tech (1-1) at Pitt (1-1)
Heinz Field
TV: Fox Sports South
Web: www.ramblingwreck.
Radio: Macon, WQMJ-FM 100.1; Dublin, WDBG 103.1-FM; Milledgeville, WMGG-AM 1450; Tennille, WJFL-FM 101.9; Thomaston , WTGA-AM 1590.
Line: Georgia Tech by 2.
Central Georgians on Pitt’s roster: None. No Georgians, either.
Scouting Report: There’s some heat on Georgia Tech, which could have had some momentum entering ACC play had the Jackets not blown a few leads last week and collapsed on special teams, then stumbled on offense down the stretch.
Head coach Paul Johnson has been grumpier than usual all week, promising changes and better performances. But the Jackets lost RB KirVonte Benson for the season, and there was inconsistency from QB TaQuan Marshall, who missed a chunk of time with an injury and watched Northside alum Tobias Oliver dazzles.
Which Tech shows up is the question.
To read
About those leads that go away
Both teams have some responding to do
3 p.m.
Mercer (1-1) at Samford (1-1)
Seibert Stadium
TV: None.
Web: ESPN Plus/www.samfordsports.com; www.sportsmic.com
Radio: WNEX-FM 100.9
Line: Samford by 12.
Central Georgians on Samford’s roster: Three. Macon native and Samford head coach Chris Hatcher has freshman kicker Mitchell Fineran of Peach County, freshman wideout D’Marcus Crawford of Putnam County, sophomore wideout Will Bazemore of Mary Persons on the team. Fineran has been the SoCon special teams player of the week twice already.
Scouting Report: The ninth-ranked Bulldogs are off an attention-getting loss at Florida State, a game most think Samford should have won. Those mistakes will likely harped on all week, thus Mercer won’t get a team necessarily flying high from a big game, but one that put a non-conference game in the rearview mirror.
Samford won 20-3 last year at Five Star Stadium, and will try to again pass its way past the Bears. Mercer is averaging 16.5 fewer points and 251.5 fewer yards a game. And the Bears are giving up 103.5 more yards.
Mercer is alternating quarterbacks, so the Bears have to avoid an early hole that might force a decision.
5 p.m.
Alabama State (1-1) at Kennesaw State
Fifth Third Stadium.
TV: None
Web: www.ksuowls.com; ESPN Plus
Radio: None.
Line: Kennesaw State by 28.
Central Georgians on Alabama State roster: None. There are about a dozen Georgians on the roster.
Scouting Report: The Owls hammered Tennessee Tech 49-10, turning in the best rushing game of the season in Division I, with 68 carries for 507 yards and seven touchdowns.
That, and KSU hasn’t lost at home since Oct. 15, 2016.
To read
https://ksuowls.com/news/2018/9/13/football-fb-owls-welcome-alabama-state-for-home-opener.aspx
6 p.m.
Fort Valley State (0-2) at Miles (0-2)
TV: None.
Web: www.flofootball.com
Radio: None.
Line: None.
Central Georgians on Miles roster: Two. Cameron Snead is a freshman linebacker from Jones County, and Antonio Evans is a freshman linebacker from Jones County. The Bears have 19 Georgians on the roster.
Scouting Report: The Wildcats sure are ready for this game, having been outscored 96-13 by Florida A&M and Valdosta State.
Miles lost 37-0 to Alabama A&M and 37-21 at West Alabama.
So both teams are looking to find out who they are, and that starts in earnest in this game.