The Troy University Trojans, co-winners of the Sun Belt Conference football championship, will play the Ohio University Bobcats (8-5) of the Mid American Conference at the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at the New Orleans Superdome on Saturday (9:00 PM ET).
College football oddsmakers at Bodog.com and most offshore sports gaming sites, list the Trojans as 2-chalk favorites with a 58 total. Moneyline odds are currently OFF the Bodog.com board.
The Sun Belt Champion automatically get the bid to play in the game, usually against a team from Conference-USA. This year however, C-USA didn't have enough teams become bowl eligible so the slot went to Ohio of the MAC.
Troy, who went 7-5 this season had one victory over a team from the MAC this season, a 30-27 result versus Bowling Green. The Trojans also had wins over Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee, Louisiana Lafayette, North Texas, Western Kentucky and Florida Atlantic. Of their five losses, two came at the hands of BCS teams, Oklahoma State and South Carolina.
The Bobcats went 8-4 overall and 6-2 in the MAC this season. Ohio racked up seven-straight wins in 2010, largely due to a rushing attack that piled up 25 touchdowns on the ground, a total that ranked second in the league. The Bobcats also feature a quarterback-wide receiver tandem that has rewritten several of the school's records. Senior wideout Terrence McCrae's TD catches against Buffalo were the 18th and 19th of his career, the most in school history. McCrae also has nine touchdown catches this season to tie the school's single-season mark. Senior quarterback Boo Jackson now has 35 career touchdown passes.
The quartet of Shawn Southward, DuJuan Harris, Chris Anderson and Jerrel Jernigan have combined for 1,730 of Troy's 1,816 rushing yards and 17 of its 19 rushing scores. Redshirt freshman quarterback Corey Robinson has completed 289 passes in 464 attempts for 3,339 yards with 24 touchdown tosses and 15 interceptions. He has a pass efficiency rating of 133.6. Jonathan Massaquoi and senio Mario Addison,who lead Troy defensively, have combined for 31.5 tackles for loss and 20 sacks.
College Football Predictions : I predict Ohio pulls off a slight upset versus the Trojans and covers as a +2 underdog.
