Appalachian State vs Charlotte Prediction 8/29/2025 Today’s College Football Picks

The Appalachian State Mountaineers and the Charlotte 49ers meet in week 1 college football action from Bank of America Stadium on Friday. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s an Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Charlotte 49ers prediction.

Appalachian State Mountaineers Team Preview

The Appalachian State Mountaineers come into the 2025 season looking to bounce back after a frustrating 5-6 mark in 2024, marking the first losing season for App State since 2013, their first losing season at the FBS level as well. The Mountaineers are pretty much starting over, with Joey Aguilar gone to UCLA and now AJ Swann and JJ Kohl will battle for the starting QB gig. Kanye Roberts will be expected to be the #1 back in App State’s backfield, while Dalton Stroman is back for the Mountaineers’ receiving group after tying for the team lead with 5 touchdowns last season. On defense, Kyle Arnholt is back after finishing third on App State with 55 tackles while DJ Burks is back in the Mountaineer secondary after chipping in 58 total tackles to finish second on App State.

Why the Appalachian State Mountaineers will win

• Appalachian State has won eight of its last nine games in North Carolina.
• Charlotte has lost seven of its last eight games against opponents from the Sun Belt Conference.
• Charlotte has failed to cover the spread in each of its last three season openers.
• Appalachian State has covered the spread in each of its last three games against teams from North Carolina.

Charlotte 49ers Team Preview

The Charlotte 49ers could really use a step in the right direction in 2025 after finishing 2024 at 5-7 overall, including a 4-4 mark in AAC conference play. Tim Albin takes over Biff Poggi at the helm of the 49ers’ coaching staff, and the 49ers will have to do some soul searching to find the right combination. Conner Harrell and Grayson Loftis are the most nameworthy transfers at QB but the whole receiving corps is basically made up of transfers. Don Chaney will be the lead back for Charlotte as well this season. On defense, the DCs in Nate Faanes and Kurt Mattix come with Albin from Ohio and come as part of a top-10 scoring defense from last year. The issue is that like the offense, the defense is almost completely starting over. On the plus side though Reid Williford is back as the 49ers’ lead tackler with 77 total tackles last season.

Why the Charlotte 49ers will win

• The underdog has won three of Appalachian State’s last four games.
• Appalachian State has failed to cover the spread in each of its last five games as a favorite against non-AP-ranked teams.
• Charlotte has covered the spread in each of its last four games as an underdog against teams from North Carolina.

Total Points Facts

• Seven of Charlotte’s last eight season openers have gone UNDER the total points line.
• Each of Appalachian State’s last four games against non-AP-ranked teams have gone UNDER the total points line.

Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Charlotte 49ers Prediction

I’m on the 49ers here. Not a game I’m necessarily rushing to the window to bet, but I truly think that it’s going to be near impossible for me to back the Mountaineers much of this season as I essentially see this as a year zero in the rebuild of App State. The 49ers don’t have much going their way either in fairness, but I just think that the 49ers at least have a bit more upside in this game so I’m backing Charlotte in this one.