WHAT: Troy (2-7, 1-5 Sun Belt) at Georgia Southern (6-3, 5-1)

WHEN: 3 p.m., Saturday

WHERE: Paulson Stadium, Statesboro, Ga.

SERIES: Troy leads 14-7

TV: None (ESPN+)

LINE: Georgia Southern by 7.5

THIS GAME WILL DETERMINE IF: Troy can win back-to-back games for the first time this season. Georgia Southern looks to maintain at least a tie atop the Sun Belt East Division.

RELATED: Troy looking to sustain momentum heading into season’s home stretch

THREE THINGS TO LOOK FOR

1. Will Troy’s offensive surge continue?

The Trojans have scored 31 and 38 points in their last two games, by far their best offensive performances of the season. Wide receiver Devonte Ross continues to enjoy an outstanding season, while Matthew Caldwell appears to be settling in at quarterback. The running game also took off vs. Coastal Carolina, with both Damien Taylor and Gerald Green surpassing the 100-yard mark. There’s also been stability on the offensive line, which hasn’t allowed a sack in either of the last two games. For Troy to have a chance at the upset, its offense will have to continue operating at a high level.

2. Can Trojans’ ‘Statesboro Bunch’ shine upon return?

Green spent four seasons at Georgia Southern, rushing for 1,456 yards and 13 touchdowns before transferring to East Carolina and then Troy. He’s settled in as part of a two-back rotation for the Trojans with Taylor, totaling 566 yards rushing and receiving with four touchdowns. Linebacker Brendan Jackson, a Statesboro native, has arguably been Troy’s best defensive player this season after transferring in from Gardner-Webb, totaling 59 tackles with 12 tackles for loss. Both will likely need big games if the Trojans are able to beat the Eagles. Reserve running back Jordan Lovett, who has played in only two games this season, also grew up in Statesboro.

3. Will the Eagles need another miracle comeback?

Georgia Southern has stayed in first place in the Sun Belt East on the strength of winning a pair of games in which it trailed by double-digits in the fourth quarter. The Eagles rallied from down 23-3 with eight minutes to beat Marshall 24-23 on Oct. 12, then came back from behind 30-16 after three quarters to win 34-30 vs. South Alabama on Nov. 2. Troy is playing its best football of the season of late, so it wouldn’t be a shocker if the Trojans took an early lead in this one.

KEY MATCHUP

Troy WR Devonte Ross vs. Georgia Southern secondary

Ross leads the Sun Belt in touchdown catches (9), while ranking second in yards (783) and tied for third in receptions (53). The Eagles, on the other hand, have the worst pass defense in the Sun Belt, allowing more than 272 yards per game through the air.

BY THE NUMBERS

28 — Troy players on offense and defense who have made their first career FBS start this season, second-most in the country behind Air Force (41).