Appalachian State vs Idaho:

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Outlook

Appalachian State was battle tested last Saturday against a very game New Mexico State squad, pulling out a 45-31 victory. Appalachian State rolled out 28 unanswered in the 4th to ride the wave to a 2-0 start in Sun Belt play and will now look for 3-0 as they travel to take on the Idaho Vandals inside the Kibbie Dome. Idaho is coming off a 21-16 loss to ULL at home a week ago.

Idaho has been one of those Jekyll & Hyde teams here in 2017. The Vandals seem to play much better on the road than they do inside the confines of the Kibbie Dome. In three home games this season Idaho has looked lethargic on the offensive side of the football. Idaho has managed just 60 total points in three home games in 2017 while they have given up 71 total points at home this year. The Vandals average around 23 points per game while the App State D only allows 20 points per game.

The QB and RB battles will be interesting to watch as both teams boast known commodities at each position. Taylor Lamb is coming off his worst game of the season against NMSU, as he threw two picks and had just 48 yards passing. However, App nation finally saw the emergence of Jalin Moore who exploded for 241 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Matt Linehan is coming off 149 yard passing performance against a less than stellar ULL defense. Idaho running back Aaron Duckworth managed only 62 yards on 14 carries.


Possible Outcome


Appalachian State was awoken after sleepwalking through three quarters of the game against NMSU a week ago and I see this team riding Jalin Moore to victory. Clifton Duck and Tae Hayes combined for all six interceptions a week ago and will look to do the same type of damage to what?s been an inconsistent Vandal passing offense.

 

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VANDALS LOOKING FOR A BOUNCE BACK



With Appalachian State, one of the top teams in the Sun Belt Conference, coming to Moscow on Saturday, the Idaho Vandals are trying to flush the bad and build on the good from last week?s 21-16 loss at home to Louisiana-Lafayette.

?I feel like we?re still confident,? Idaho wide receiver Jacob Sannon said. ?Even though we didn?t pull out the win, we are getting better. I think we just defeated ourselves, honestly. We needed to convert third downs.?

?We?re encouraged,? linebacker Ed Hall said. ?We didn?t think we played a bad game, and we have to build off of that.?

Appalachian State (3-2, 2-0 Sun Belt) produced last week?s conference offensive and defensive players of the week. Running back Jalin Moore ran for 241 yards and two touchdowns in last week?s 45-31 victory over New Mexico State, and defensive back Clifton Duck had three of the Mountaineers? six interceptions.

Hall, who continues to play with his left hand in a cast, said Appalachian State likes to ?take it downhill and cut it back? on the ground.

Of Moore, Hall said ?he?s physical; he doesn?t want to take it outside.?