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2017 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Odds And Prediction

By Mike Marteny

BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 30: Members of the Troy Trojans react after an interception against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 30: Members of the Troy Trojans react after an interception against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Sep 26, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; A general view of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome prior to the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Odds And Prediction

Bowl season is finally upon us! With the Army-Navy game last weekend, we didn’t even have to go a whole week without a game! First up is the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl!

More from College Football Odds

The bowl season kicks off with six games on Saturday. It’s almost like a whole football Saturday! I will not make a pick for the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl. I wouldn’t be doing you any justice there. The only 1-AA teams I have watched are North Dakota State and Youngstown State. I wouldn’t be making an educated pick.

However, for the rest of the bowls, you will get my picks against the spread and point wagers just like I did all season long. I had a decent regular season, but I can make it look a whole lot better with a strong bowl season!

DraftKings
BATON ROUGE, LA – SEPTEMBER 30: Brandon Silvers #12 of the Troy Trojans throws a pass against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

Troy(-6.5) vs. North Texas at New Orleans, LA(5):

Troy 10-2; 8-1 Sun Belt(1st):

Wins: vs.Alcorn State(34-7), at New Mexico State(27-24), vs. Akron(22-17), at LSU(24-21), at Georgia State(34-10), vs. Georgia Southern(38-16), vs. Idaho(24-21), at Coastal Carolina(42-17), vs. Texas State(62-9), at Arkansas State(32-25)

Losses: at Boise State(13-24), vs. South Alabama(8-19)

Record vs. bowl teams: 5-1

Troy will go as that defense goes. And as far as QB Brandon Silvers takes them. The senior will top 3,000 yards on the season in the bowl game, and no receiver had more than 650 yards on the season. Jordan Chunn had his best game of the season on the national stage against LSU in late September. He hasn’t come close to 30 carries since.

North Texas 9-4, 7-2 CUSA(2nd):

Wins: vs. Lamar(59-14), vs. UAB(46-43), at Southern Mississippi(43-28), vs. UTSA(29-26), vs. Old Dominion(45-38), at Louisiana Tech(24-23), vs. UTEP(45-10), vs. Army(52-49), at Rice(30-14)

Losses: at SMU(32-54), at Iowa(14-31), at Florida Atlantic(31-69), at Florida Atlantic(17-41)

Record vs. bowl teams: 4-4

Mason Fine and Jeffery Wilson are a lethal 1-2 combo on offense, but this defense was lit up by good offensive teams. This was about as good of a bowl draw and the Mean Green could have hoped for. Troy doesn’t have an elite offense. They rely on defense.

Prediction:

This isn’t to say that Troy can’t score. Just look at what they did to Texas State. The Trojans were double digit favorites seven times this year, and only covered once. This spread here is still low enough to where I am comfortable taking Troy. Very comfortable. After all, just look at how Troy played in the state of Louisiana this year!

Pick: Troy

Next: 2017 Capital One Bowl Mania Picks

Stay tuned for the rest of the bowl picks against the spread, and our DFS picks for the NBA, NFL, and even some NHL action! We have something for everyone