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Thursday night is the Poinsettia Bowl with the Louisiana Tech vs. TCU spread coming in at -9.5. This one opened at -11. The total was 56. You can place your bets at Sportsbook.com, offering up to $250 in FREE CASH when you join here today. Your promo code is CARRIE STROUP.
Two teams riding seven-game win streaks collide in Wednesday’s Poinsettia Bowl between Louisiana Tech and No. 15 TCU.
The Bulldogs have covered the spread in all seven wins (five on road), thanks in part to 22 takeaways. TCU has averaged 41.6 PPG during its win streak, but only went 4-3 ATS. The Bulldogs Louisiana Tech has a strong run defense (122 YPG, 25th in FBS), but the Horned Frogs average 210 rush YPG (20th in FBS) with three players tallying 600+ yards each. TCU also has the edge at QB with Casey Pachall (24 TD, 6 INT) more accomplished than Tech’s Colby Cameron (11 TD, 2 INT). Since joining the Mountain West Conference, the Frogs are 5-1 in bowl games, including 2-0 in the Poinsettia Bowl.
The WAC Champion Bulldogs are making their first bowl appearance since 2008 when they knocked off Northern Illinois by a 17-10 score in the Independence Bowl. This year, they are 10-2 ATS, including a 7-0 ATS (5-2 SU) on the road and 7-0 ATS as an underdog or pick ‘em. Tech’s offense has been much better under Cameron than it ever was before freshman QB Nick Isham got injured. In five games with Cameron, the team is scoring 34.8 PPG and gaining 446 total YPG. He has worked very well with WRs Taulib Ikharo and Quinton Patton, an all-WAC selection. Ikharo has 19 catches for 229 yards and 3 TD in the past three weeks, and Patton has 24 catches for 462 yards and 5 TD over the past five games. Cameron expects to exploit TCU’s 56th-ranked passing defense (220 YPG), but he’ll try to avoid throwing in the direction of Tank Carder. The two-time MWC Defensive Player of the Year has 66 tackles and two interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns. DE Stansly Maponga (9 sacks, 5 forced fumbles) is also a force for TCU.
The Horned Frogs will first establish the run, but they can also throw the football with Pachall, who has eight multi-touchdown games, including a 5-TD effort (with 473 yards) at Boise State. The Bulldogs are third in the nation with 20 defensive interceptions, but they have also allowed 253 passing YPG (95th in FBS). Pachall will not be working with his main co-offensive coordinator, Justin Fuente, who is now coaching at Memphis, but Pachall will be well aware of Tech’s top two defenders. WAC Defensive Player of the Year LB Adrien Cole has 121 tackles and 13 TFL, while Christian Lacey has 8½ sacks including 5½ sacks in his past four games. In addition to TCU’s big advantage in rushing the football (210 rush YPG to 122 rush YPG), the Frogs also have the edge in kick returns, as senior Greg McCoy is averaging a whopping 31.6 yards per return (4th in nation).
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
