Louisiana Tech is 6-1 ATS in its last seven bowl games, while facing a slumping Hurricanes team that is 1-7 ATS in its last eight bowl appearances. With the game essentially a home contest for the Bulldogs, they’re somehow 6-point underdogs — bettors should take advantage of that.
- Spread: Miami -6
- Total: 50
- Date/Time: December 26, 4 p.m. ET
- Location: Shreveport, Louisiana
- Stadium: Independence Stadium
- TV Coverage: ESPN
- LA Tech vs Miami-FL Matchup Report & Updated Odds
Independence Bowl Odds Analysis
Miami is slated as a 6-point favorite, entirely on name value — the Hurricanes are a historic football program, but they’ve lost eight of their past nine bowl games, while LA Tech is looking for its sixth straight bowl game victory and is playing what’s essentially a home game. The total opened at 50 points, which seems appropriate for two clubs that have seen the UNDER play a lot recently.
LA Tech News & Notes
Despite not making the Conference USA title game, the Bulldogs come into this game with a lot to play for. They finished the regular season 9-3, and a victory would give them their first 10-win season in 39 years of Division I-A competition. They’ve also played in and won a bowl game each of the last five seasons, so a victory would give them bowl wins in six straight years.
The Bulldogs boasted C-USA’s second-highest scoring offense, powered by quarterback J’Mar Smith and running back Justin Henderson, but the biggest star on the team is cornerback Amik Robertson. A First-Team All-American this year, Robertson was second in the nation with 21 passes defended and sixth with five interceptions.
The most important factor in this game, however, is that this is essentially a home game for LA Tech, whose campus is about an hour away from Independence Stadium. The Bulldogs are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog … and they’ll be even tougher with the crowd heavily supporting them.
Miami News & Notes
It’s been an incredibly disappointing first season at “The U” for head coach Manny Diaz. It’s not just that Miami finished the season at 6-6, but it’s the quality of the teams the Hurricanes lost to that has them shaking their heads.
The Hurricanes lost to last-place Georgia Tech, lost to Florida International — despite being 20-point favorites and never even trailing to FIU in three previous meetings — and finished the season with a loss to a Duke squad that had lost its five previous games.
With an offense that’s near the bottom of the ACC in scoring, Miami will have to rely on its defense for a win, specifically rookie sensation Gregory Rousseau. The ACC Rookie of the Year notched 14 sacks this season, leading the conference and finishing second in the nation to potential first overall pick Chase Young.
He’s a true game disruptor, and if the Hurricanes want to win just their second bowl game in their last 10 appearances, he’ll need to wreak havoc all game long.
Betting Pick: LA Tech +6
The Bulldogs have a lot to play for, while Miami has seemingly mailed it in to finish the season. In what’s basically a home game for them, I’m taking Louisiana Tech.
- Miami is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games as a playoff favorite.
- LA Tech is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 playoff games.
- The UNDER is 6-2 in LA Tech’s last 8 games as an underdog.
