Appalachian State 2018 Betting Preview: New-Look Mountaineers Still Among Sun Belt Elite

Appalachian State 2018 Betting Odds

• To win the National Title: +999999
• To win the Sun Belt: +260
• To win the Sun Belt East: N/A
• Win Total: 8.5 (over +115, under -145)

All lines taken on July 28. Always shop for the best line.

Appalachian State 2018 Schedule, Betting Odds

The Action Network Projected Wins: 8.2

Bet To Watch

Appalachian State Over 8.5 Wins (+115)

Appalachian State has been in cruise control in the Sun Belt over the past two seasons. The Mountaineers are a combined 14-2 in the conference since 2016 and were co-champions in each of the last two years. That kind of success will always lead to changes at a Group of 5 school, such as the Mountaineers losing a great defensive coordinator in Nate Woody to Georgia Tech.

The offense will have a new look on offense without quarterback Taylor Lamb and the Mountaineers rank 109th overall in returning production, but they have done a wonderful job recruiting, so they should still be a top dog in the #FunBelt. Their ground game — led by running back Jalin Moore — will carry the water until a new quarterback is ready to roll.

Appalachian State will be favored in 10 games, with road trips to Penn State and Arkansas State providing the two hurdles. There's a chance the Mountaineers will be favored by at least a touchdown in seven games. Troy, Georgia Southern and Arkansas State will provide tough tests, but there's still good value on Over 8.5 Wins at +115. The obvious hedge spot comes against Troy in the season finale.

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What else you need to know about Appalachian State

No longer in a round-robin format conference, App State will play in the newly created East Division (along with Troy). It's certainly the tougher division, but the Mountaineers host Troy in 2018, which should decide which team makes the first Sun Belt Championship game from the East.

There is value in Appalachian State +260 as the Sun Belt Champion, as its Game of the Year line at Arkansas State is just +4 on Oct. 9.  A projected +260 moneyline would be greater than any moneyline on the Mountaineers in the conference championship, giving an easy route to hedge if needed.

Also keep tabs on how App State handles Georgia Southern's option. Coastal Carolina is running a version of the triple option and gave the Mountaineers a scare in 2017, although that game prepared the App State defense for Georgia Southern.

In 2018, App State faces the triple option first with Georgia Southern (upset alert) before traveling to Coastal Carolina. I expect the Mountaineers to pound Coastal, as it will be the second week in a row they take on a triple option team.

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