PREMIUM
Rogers' Armed Forces Bowl ANNIHILATION >> PERFECT This Week in the Bowls!
(NCAAF) LA Tech vs. Navy,
Point Spread: -6.50 | -115.00 LA Tech (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: -6.50 | -115.00 LA Tech (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 8-4 La. Tech Bulldogs of C-USA will meet 9-4 Navy (of the AAC) in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 23 at Fort Worth, Texas. Both Navy and Louisiana Tech carry two-game losing streaks, including setbacks in their respective conference title games, into Friday's game. La. Tech is playing in the school's ninth bowl game all-time, including two straight with wins over Illinois and Arkansas St. in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Navy has been a bowl regular since 2003 under first Paul Johnson and now Ken Niumatalolo , missing only in 2011.
Louisiana Tech: While Navy ranks 125th of 128 FBS teams in passing, La. Tech ranks third at 359.8 YPG. QB Ryan Higgins was named MVP of C-USA after throwing for 4,208 yards and 37 TDs against just eight interceptions for the nation's fifth-ranked scoring offense (44.0 PPG). WR Trent Taylor is second in the country in receptions (124), third in yards (1,570) and among 31 players with at least 10 receiving TDs, although he has only two in his last eight games. Junior Carlos Henderson had 52 fewer grabs (72) but nearly the same number of yards (1,406 for an average of YPC) and ranks tied for second among FBS players with 17 receiving scores. Junior RB Jarred Craft had a total of 31 yards on the ground over the last two games but gained 1,011 rushing yards with nine TDs (added 41 catches with four scores, as well). The La. Tech defense allows 32.7 PPG to rank 96th.
Navy: The Midshipman have not been the same team since losing senior QB Will Worth, the nation's leader with 25 rushing TDs, early in the loss to Temple on Dec. 3. Sophomore Zach Abey has run for three scores since taking over but has thrown four interceptions in the two games in just 23 attempts. Navy ranks fourth with 310.9 YPG on the ground but I'm not sure that's relevant with Abey, not Worth, under center. Navy averaged 41.7 PPG heading into its AAC championship game against Temple but with Worth being lost early in that game (note: slotback Toneo Gulley were injured on the same play), Navy scored just 10 points. Navy then lost 21-17 to Army the following Saturday, ending a 14-game winning streak over its biggest rival.
The pick: A win in the Armed Forces Bowl would give the Navy back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in school history but it's hard to make a strong case for the Midshipmen at this time. The Bulldogs started the season 1-3 but then went on a seven-game winning streak before losing a shocker to Southern Mississippi 39-24 in the regular-season finale. A 58-44 loss to Western Kentucky 58-44 in the C-USA title game followed but as Memphis learned Tuesday night, the Hilltoppers are a 'scoring machine!' The Midshipmen will be playing their 14th game in 17 weeks since this season kicked off and exacerbating matters is just how to "get back up" after losing a chance at the school's first-ever conference championship (against Temple) and the usual all-out effort against Army, losing for the first time in 15 years. The bet here says that La. Tech's explosive passing game will riddle Navy's weary defense. La. Tech is an 8* play.
Louisiana Tech: While Navy ranks 125th of 128 FBS teams in passing, La. Tech ranks third at 359.8 YPG. QB Ryan Higgins was named MVP of C-USA after throwing for 4,208 yards and 37 TDs against just eight interceptions for the nation's fifth-ranked scoring offense (44.0 PPG). WR Trent Taylor is second in the country in receptions (124), third in yards (1,570) and among 31 players with at least 10 receiving TDs, although he has only two in his last eight games. Junior Carlos Henderson had 52 fewer grabs (72) but nearly the same number of yards (1,406 for an average of YPC) and ranks tied for second among FBS players with 17 receiving scores. Junior RB Jarred Craft had a total of 31 yards on the ground over the last two games but gained 1,011 rushing yards with nine TDs (added 41 catches with four scores, as well). The La. Tech defense allows 32.7 PPG to rank 96th.
Navy: The Midshipman have not been the same team since losing senior QB Will Worth, the nation's leader with 25 rushing TDs, early in the loss to Temple on Dec. 3. Sophomore Zach Abey has run for three scores since taking over but has thrown four interceptions in the two games in just 23 attempts. Navy ranks fourth with 310.9 YPG on the ground but I'm not sure that's relevant with Abey, not Worth, under center. Navy averaged 41.7 PPG heading into its AAC championship game against Temple but with Worth being lost early in that game (note: slotback Toneo Gulley were injured on the same play), Navy scored just 10 points. Navy then lost 21-17 to Army the following Saturday, ending a 14-game winning streak over its biggest rival.
The pick: A win in the Armed Forces Bowl would give the Navy back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in school history but it's hard to make a strong case for the Midshipmen at this time. The Bulldogs started the season 1-3 but then went on a seven-game winning streak before losing a shocker to Southern Mississippi 39-24 in the regular-season finale. A 58-44 loss to Western Kentucky 58-44 in the C-USA title game followed but as Memphis learned Tuesday night, the Hilltoppers are a 'scoring machine!' The Midshipmen will be playing their 14th game in 17 weeks since this season kicked off and exacerbating matters is just how to "get back up" after losing a chance at the school's first-ever conference championship (against Temple) and the usual all-out effort against Army, losing for the first time in 15 years. The bet here says that La. Tech's explosive passing game will riddle Navy's weary defense. La. Tech is an 8* play.
