It’ll be a formidable North Texas offence facing off against Troy’s vaunted defence as the Mean Green and Trojans do battle at the New Orleans Bowl Saturday afternoon at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
| Pointspread | -6 -110 |
| Moneyline | -200 |
| Over / Under | o +61.5 |
27%
73%
| Pointspread | +6 -110 |
| Moneyline | +170 |
| Over / Under | u +61.5 |
27%
73%
North Texas finished atop the Conference USA West Division standings on the strength of an offensive attack that averaged 467 yards per game, 18th-most in Division I. But it’ll be in tough against a Troy defence that held foes to 17.5 points per game.
Mean Green vs Trojans Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 9 Dec 7:26pm | TROY | -7 +105 | O +62 -110 |
| Closing 16 Dec 5:49pm | TROY | -6 -110 | O +61.5 -110 |
The Trojans are giving up a touchdown in this one – and with good reason, as they finished just outside the top 10 nationally in scoring defence. No team was stingier in its own red zone than Troy, which limited opponents to a 59-percent scoring rate inside the 20. But the Trojans have covered just one in their last six non-conference games, while the Mean Green are an unreal 7-1 ATS in their previous eight games against non-conference opponents.
The overwhelming majority of Sports Interaction bettors are leaning toward defence in this one, with 83 percent taking Troy. And yet, three-quarters of participants believe this one will go over the 62-point total. The Trojans have played to the under in 12 of their previous 16 games overall, and are 1-4 O/U in their last five vs. teams with winning records. The Mean Green, on the other hand, are 5-1 O/U in their previous six non-conference games.
North Texas Mean Green
The Mean Green will need to rely on the kind of third-down success they had during the season, when they converted 44.6 percent of their opportunities – good for 26th among FBS teams. They’ll also need a stronger showing from a secondary that produced just seven interceptions, ranking outside the top 100 in the country. North Texas is led by standout quarterback Mason Fine, who finished ninth in the nation in passing yards (3,749) and 12th in TDs (28).
Troy Trojans
Teams couldn’t do much of anything against the Trojans, who held foes to 114.8 rushing yards per game – 14th-best among FBS schools – and only seven touchdowns on the ground. The Sun Belt Conference champions are led by senior QB Brandon Silvers, who fell just short of the 3,000-yard passing plateau but threw six touchdowns over his final two games. Troy threw just six interceptions as a team; only 12 teams had fewer INTs.
Injuries
Jordan Chunn (RB)
Kris Weatherspoon (S)
Blace Brown (CB)
Tray Eafford (WR)
Kirk Kelley (OL)
Clark Quisenberry (WR)
Emanuel Thompson (WR)
Jamarius Henderson (RB)
Zo Bridges (LB)
Sam Lebbie (LB)
Jalen Guyton (WR)
Jeffery Wilson (RB)
Joshua Wheeler (LB)
Sid Moore (DL)
Bryce English (DT)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Chunn (RB) | Ques Sat | Leg - 16 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Chunn is dealing with a leg injury and his status is uncertain for the R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against North Texas. |
|||||
| Kris Weatherspoon (S) | Out Sat | Undisclosed - 15 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Weatherspoon sustained an injury to an unlisted location and will be inactive for R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against North Texas. |
|||||
| Blace Brown (CB) | Out Sat | Undisclosed - 14 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Brown will not be available for the R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against North Texas for unknown reasons. |
|||||
| Tray Eafford (WR) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 14 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Eafford is dealing with an undisclosed issue and his status is unknown for the R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against North Texas. |
|||||
| Kirk Kelley (OL) | Ques Sat | Shoulder - 14 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Kelley is dealing with a shoulder injury and his status for the R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against North Texas is unclear. |
|||||
| Clark Quisenberry (WR) | out for season | Stomach - 14 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Quisenberry will not be available for the R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against North Texas due to a stomach issue. |
|||||
| Emanuel Thompson (WR) | out for season | Arm - 14 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Thompson will not be available for the R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against North Texas due to an arm injury. |
|||||
| Jamarius Henderson (RB) | Ques Sat | Foot - 26 / 11 / 17 | 2-0 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Henderson has a foot injury and it is undetermined if he will suit up Saturday against Arkansas State. |
|||||
| Zo Bridges (LB) | Ques Sat | Ankle - 13 / 11 / 17 | 3-0 | 2-1 | + - |
|
Bridges missed the last game due to an ankle injury and it is unclear if he will be available against Arkansas State on Saturday. |
|||||
| Sam Lebbie (LB) | Ques Fri | Undisclosed - 13 / 11 / 17 | 3-0 | 2-1 | + - |
|
Lebbie is dealing with an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will play Friday against Texas State. |
|||||
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Guyton (WR) | Ques Sat | Concussion - 19 / 11 / 17 | 2-1 | 1-2 | + - |
|
Guyton missed the last two games of the season with concussion-like symptoms and it is unclear if he will be available to play in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against Troy. |
|||||
| Jeffery Wilson (RB) | Out indefinitely | Ankle - 19 / 11 / 17 | 2-1 | 1-2 | + - |
|
Wilson has an ankle injury and is expected to need an extended absence to recover. |
|||||
| Joshua Wheeler (LB) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 01 / 11 / 17 | 4-2 | 3-3 | + - |
|
Wheeler has missed the last two games for undisclosed reasons and his availability for Saturday's contest against Army is in question. |
|||||
| Sid Moore (DL) | Out indefinitely | Undisclosed - 15 / 10 / 17 | 5-3 | 4-4 | + - |
|
Moore has been sidelined for undisclosed reasons and it is unclear when he might return to the field. |
|||||
| Bryce English (DT) | Out indefinitely | Foot - 14 / 08 / 17 | - | - | + - |
|
English sustained a broken foot during the offseason and will miss several weeks as a result. |
|||||
New Orleans Bowl Prediction
-
TROY TROJANS
34 -
NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN
24
Score
Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 9 Dec 7:26pm TROY -7 +105 O +62 -110 Closing 16 Dec 5:49pm TROY -6 -110 O +61.5 -110 -
Injuries
Jordan Chunn (RB)
Ques Sat Leg - 16 / 12 / 17Kris Weatherspoon (S)
Out Sat Undisclosed - 15 / 12 / 17Blace Brown (CB)
Out Sat Undisclosed - 14 / 12 / 17Tray Eafford (WR)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 14 / 12 / 17Kirk Kelley (OL)
Ques Sat Shoulder - 14 / 12 / 17Clark Quisenberry (WR)
out for season Stomach - 14 / 12 / 17Emanuel Thompson (WR)
out for season Arm - 14 / 12 / 17Jamarius Henderson (RB)
Ques Sat Foot - 26 / 11 / 17Zo Bridges (LB)
Ques Sat Ankle - 13 / 11 / 17Sam Lebbie (LB)
Ques Fri Undisclosed - 13 / 11 / 17Jalen Guyton (WR)
Ques Sat Concussion - 19 / 11 / 17Jeffery Wilson (RB)
Out indefinitely Ankle - 19 / 11 / 17Joshua Wheeler (LB)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 01 / 11 / 17Sid Moore (DL)
Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 15 / 10 / 17Bryce English (DT)
Out indefinitely Foot - 14 / 08 / 17Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Jordan Chunn (RB) Ques Sat Leg - 16 / 12 / 17 1-0 0-1 + - Chunn is dealing with a leg injury and his status is uncertain for the R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against North Texas.
Kris Weatherspoon (S) Out Sat Undisclosed - 15 / 12 / 17 1-0 0-1 + - Weatherspoon sustained an injury to an unlisted location and will be inactive for R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against North Texas.
Blace Brown (CB) Out Sat Undisclosed - 14 / 12 / 17 1-0 0-1 + - Brown will not be available for the R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against North Texas for unknown reasons.
Tray Eafford (WR) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 14 / 12 / 17 1-0 0-1 + - Eafford is dealing with an undisclosed issue and his status is unknown for the R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against North Texas.
Kirk Kelley (OL) Ques Sat Shoulder - 14 / 12 / 17 1-0 0-1 + - Kelley is dealing with a shoulder injury and his status for the R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against North Texas is unclear.
Clark Quisenberry (WR) out for season Stomach - 14 / 12 / 17 1-0 0-1 + - Quisenberry will not be available for the R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against North Texas due to a stomach issue.
Emanuel Thompson (WR) out for season Arm - 14 / 12 / 17 1-0 0-1 + - Thompson will not be available for the R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against North Texas due to an arm injury.
Jamarius Henderson (RB) Ques Sat Foot - 26 / 11 / 17 2-0 1-1 + - Henderson has a foot injury and it is undetermined if he will suit up Saturday against Arkansas State.
Zo Bridges (LB) Ques Sat Ankle - 13 / 11 / 17 3-0 2-1 + - Bridges missed the last game due to an ankle injury and it is unclear if he will be available against Arkansas State on Saturday.
Sam Lebbie (LB) Ques Fri Undisclosed - 13 / 11 / 17 3-0 2-1 + - Lebbie is dealing with an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will play Friday against Texas State.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Jalen Guyton (WR) Ques Sat Concussion - 19 / 11 / 17 2-1 1-2 + - Guyton missed the last two games of the season with concussion-like symptoms and it is unclear if he will be available to play in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against Troy.
Jeffery Wilson (RB) Out indefinitely Ankle - 19 / 11 / 17 2-1 1-2 + - Wilson has an ankle injury and is expected to need an extended absence to recover.
Joshua Wheeler (LB) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 01 / 11 / 17 4-2 3-3 + - Wheeler has missed the last two games for undisclosed reasons and his availability for Saturday's contest against Army is in question.
Sid Moore (DL) Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 15 / 10 / 17 5-3 4-4 + - Moore has been sidelined for undisclosed reasons and it is unclear when he might return to the field.
Bryce English (DT) Out indefinitely Foot - 14 / 08 / 17 - - + - English sustained a broken foot during the offseason and will miss several weeks as a result.