2018 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Odds And Prediction

NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 17: The Southern Miss Golden Eagles celerbate after wining the New Orleans bowl against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 17, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Southern Miss Golden Eagles won 28-21. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

2018 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! The last game on our first bowl Saturday is the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl!

More from College Football Odds

The bowl season kicks off with six games today. 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 solid regular season, but I can make it look a whole lot better with a strong bowl season!

Just in case you missed any:
Autonation Cure Bowl
Progressive New Mexico Bowl
Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl

SYRACUSE, NY – SEPTEMBER 09: Brent Stockstill #12 of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders carries the ball during the first half against the Syracuse Orange on September 9, 2017 at The Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

Middle Tennessee State vs. Appalachian State(-6.5)(3):

Middle Tennessee State 8-5, 7-2 (2nd CUSA):

Wins: vs. Tennessee-Martin(61-37), vs. Florida Atlantic(25-24), at Marshall(34-24), vs. Charlotte(21-13), at Old Dominion(51,17),vs Western Kentucky(29-10), at UTEP(48-32), vs. UAB(27-3)

Losses: at Vanderbilt(7-35), at Georgia(7-49), at Florida International(21-24), at Kentucky(23-34), vs. UAB(25-27)

MTSU walloped UAB in the same stadium the very week before losing the Conference USA Championship there. This is going to be a test for Appalachian’s pass defense. Brent Stockstill is arguably the most accomplished player in school history and he has a lot of receivers to throw to. The Mountaineer defense will be tested by the passing game, but this isn’t much of a running team.

Record vs. bowl teams: 2-5

Appalachian State 8-1, 10-2(1st Sun Belt):

Wins: at Charlotte(45-9), vs. Gardner-Webb(72-7), vs. South Alabama(52-7), at Arkansas State(35-9), vs. Louisiana(27-17), at Coastal Carolina(23-7), at Texas State(38-7), vs. Georgia State(45-17), vs. Troy(21-10), vs. Louisiana(30-19)

Losses: at Penn State(38-45), at Georgia Southern(14-34)

Record vs. bowl teams: 4-2

The Mountaineers sent their message early by almost taking down a top ten Penn State team in Happy Valley in the opener. The common misconception about the Appalachian State offense is that they run an option. That isn’t entirely true. Yes, they do have a very mobile QB in Zac Thomas. They also have a handful of capable backs. However, Thomas threw for 1,862 yards and 18 touchdowns this year.

This is also a very tough defense. The only two teams to score more than 20 points on the Mountaineers were the two games they lost. If MTSU can score more than 20, that could be the secret to winning this game.

Prediction:

This is mainly pegged as offense vs. defense and I get it. MTSU is going to have a hard time attacking this defense as pretty much a one dimensional offense. I expect Appalachian to control the ball and keep this game slow. Pace is going to play a big part of this one. I just think the Mountaineers are disciplined enough to control this game.

Pick: Appalachian State

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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!