#46 Texas State

San Marcos, TX

Bobcat Stadium November 28, 2020 Coastal Carolina 49 – Texas St 14 (ESPN Recap)

Thanksgiving plans cancelled? Nothing like a quick jaunt over to Austin and drive down to San Marcos, TX to watch the 20th ranked 8-0 Coastal Carolina team you have been watching all season, dismantle a 2-9 Texas St team in the pouring rain. Credit card points for the United flight through Houston, Southwest points back. Lunch at Grins, dinner at Whattaburger (thanks to the NY fan who gave me his coupon he won at the game) though In N Out was tempting, and then spending the night at Casa de Cal. Saturday morning to Sunday morning to get #46 accomplished. Definitely the 2nd wettest game I have ever attended (after NC St/ND) with Bedlam still taking cake for worst weather.

Along with Des Ridder and the Cincy defense, I have been crushing (and betting) on this Chanticleers team all season. The three-pronged offensive attack of Grayson McCall, CJ Marable, and Isaiah Likely is formidable in the Sun belt. Coach Jamey has these guys playing great football.

On a day in college football that featured a female kicker playing for Vandy (Sarah Fuller) and a Buffalo RB (Jaret Patterson) going 35 for 405 and 8 TDs, I was dialed into to this well-coached team from Myrtle Beach. They executed and game-planned like they have all season, out first-downing TxSt 32-13 and outrushing them 406-116 (54 of the 116 came on one play in garbage time with less than 6 minutes left), and winning the turnover battle 1-0. CJ had 100 in Q1, Grayson threw wide open passes all game, and Isaiah led the team in catches and yards at 4 for 73.

It was fun to have an entire sideline to myself and walk back and forth like a HC. I embraced the role, screaming like a maniac while getting closer to the action on red zone possessions. My view was the 5th row, even with the line of scrimmage all game. At halftime and towards the end of the game, I made friends with Nick (pictured) from the Coastal fanbase. Good chance I show up in Myrtle next weekend for their showdown with one-loss Liberty.

Most of what I was yelling was cheering on the Coastal team. Occasionally, I sarcastically called out the failed 4th down attempts of Texas St right before they were about to fail. During the game there were only three Texas St students who were on the Coastal side of the stadium. They were clever engaging with CC players and making funny jokes. It was cool watching the players chatter back and forth to the three fans. We were laughing together most of the game, but when I was sweating the 2H U28.0 I was predicting some failed plays that they didn’t appreciate, which drew the comment “c’mon man, I know you probably have money on this game, but we have friends on the team.” I wasn’t over-the-top, but that still resonated and I stopped because it was a 42 point game at the time.

Betting wise it went well. Easy win on Coastal for full game -16.5. I also took their 1H TTO 20.5 which hit with 10 mins left in the half, the 2H U28.0 which won, pushed the 2H -7, forgot to bet the 2H ML, and did not hit the 1H +10 / -9.5 middle. Overall, an amazing afternoon seeing the squad up close in person.

There was a weird play very late where all the third stringers were in the game. The snap from backup center was very low and QB3 could not handle it. RB3 picked the ball up, made a guy miss, ran towards two defenders, did a spin move, and barreled into the endzone from about 6-yards out. That was something I have definitely never seen before.