Previewing Thursday’s Independence Bowl between the Miami Hurricanes and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, with betting odds, picks, tips and bets.
The Miami Hurricanes (6-6) and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (9-3) lock horns in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl Thursday. Kickoff at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, La. is set for 4 p.m. ET. We analyze the Miami-Louisiana Tech odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.
Miami vs. Louisiana Tech: Three things you need to know
1. The Hurricanes were once one of the most feared teams in all of college football, but seeing them in a bowl game lately is good news for the opponent. ‘The U’ has won just one of its past nine bowl game appearances, a 31-14 win over West Virginia in the Russell Athletic Bowl Dec. 28, 2016. Miami lost its only previous Independence Bowl appearance to South Carolina by a 24-21 count on Dec. 27, 2014.
2. Louisiana Tech, coming on hour west down Interstate 20 from Ruston, has won five straight bowl appearances. The Bulldogs have appeared in the Independence Bowl four times, but not since Dec. 28, 2008, when they topped Northern Illinois 17-10. They’re 2-1-1 all-time in Shreveport.
3. Louisiana Tech is 6-1 against the spread in the past seven bowl games, and 4-1 ATS in the past five neutral-site affairs. Miami is 2-9 ATS in the past 11 on a neutral site, and 1-7 ATS in the past eight bowl appearances.
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Miami vs. Louisiana Tech: Odds, betting lines and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Louisiana Tech 24, Miami 20
Miami (-213) is moderately favored in this one, and it’ll draw the eye of the public. However, LOUISIANA TECH (+175) is a tremendous bargain playing just an hour from campus. The Bulldogs will be excited to be in this game with something to prove against a Power 5 team. The Hurricanes aren’t tickled about being in Shreveport for the holidays, a game they feel is beneath their standards. It will show in their play on the field, as it usually does come bowl season.
LOUISIANA TECH (+5.5, -106) is a good play if you just can’t get on board with a straight-up win by the Bulldogs. La. Tech has a strong offense, ranking 30th in total yards per game (445.2) and 31st in passing yards (277.3), while ranking 28th in points scored per game (34.0). The defense is so-so, but that’s fine because so is Miami’s offense. The Hurricanes were 88th in total yards, and 120th in rushing offense while ranking just 73rd in points scored. The key here will be if Miami’s defense shows up. It was 13th in the nation in total yards allowed, but this is also a team which lost to Florida International and Duke down the stretch.
UNDER 49.5 (-106) is worth a small-unit bet, but I wouldn’t go crazy. The Under is 15-7 in La. Tech’s past 22 overall, and 5-2 in the past seven bowls. The Under is 7-2 in the past nine neutral-site battles, too. For Miami, the Under is 5-1 in the past six bowls, and 9-3 in the past 12 vs. winning teams.
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