Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (6-6 SU, 6-6 ATS) vs. Southern Methodist Mustangs (7-5 SU, 6-6 ATS)
College Football Bowl Season DXL Frisco Bowl
Date and Time: Wednesday, December 20th, 2017 8:00 PM EST
Where: Toyota Stadium Frisco, TX
TV: ESPN
by Keith F., Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: LT +5/SMU -5
Over/Under Total: 70
Not to be confused with a name folks from San Francisco do not particularly appreciate, the DXL Frisco Bowl will bring together two potent offenses in an American Athletic Conference versus Conference-USA clash. The production is simply all-American and these two teams look poised for a shootout. The contest will be broadcasted live on ESPN for national audiences on Wednesday, December 20th, 2017 at 8:00 PM EST. The game will come live from the Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The two teams met four times over the span of the 2001 to 2004 season. Louisiana Tech swept the series of games and won all four against the Pony Express. LA Tech also went 3-1 ATS over this span.
Both teams won in route to their appearance to this contest. For Louisiana Tech it was essential as the Bulldogs had to win their last two overall to gain eligibility for this contest. For SMU it was highly encouraged as the Mustangs were sitting at 6-2 until the meat of the American Athletic Conference would get the best of them. The Mustangs would lose three in a row against the upper-echelon teams of their league, including UCF, Navy, and Memphis. Against UCF and Navy, the Mustangs lost by a combined ten points. A 41-38 victory over Tulane got the Ponies off the skid just in time for this bowl game. Thanks to SMUs success their coach Chad Morris will be moving on to Arkansas to fill a position left due to a firing of Brett Bielema. This narrative will likely have a huge influence on this contest as it will serve to be a distraction for the team as it prepares.
Louisiana Techs two-game winning streak came against teams from the state where this contest will take place. In back-to-back outings, the Bulldogs would go through the Texas-El Paso Miners to follow this up with a win against Frank Wilsons Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners. For the Road Runners in particular, the loss likely cost them their seat in this contest as LA Tech got the nod over UTSA who also finished at 6-6 on the season. The Bulldogs have taken a step back compared to recent years when we found this team competing for Conference USA titles. An exodus of talent and the voids left serve as rationale for the early-season struggles for the Dogs. Nevertheless, Louisiana Tech fell in overtime once this season and lost three additional contests by a point each in these fixtures. Had some bounces gone their way, Louisiana Tech could easily be a ten-win team.
Out of the gate, the public has jumped on the Mustangs and this is reflected in a half of a point move upward. 71% of the cash and 69% of the tickets have come in on Southern Methodist to complement this. In Over/Under markets, we have seen the market rise by two points to indicate steam rolling in on the Over. To further this, 60% of the cash and 76% of the tickets are with the Over.
In a game that is forecasted to be a shootout, it is a risky move to spot points with the favorite. Be that the number is getting closer to a touchdown being afforded to the underdog, it is nearly a must play on LA Tech. Normally, there could be some slack in this position. Since there are some changes administratively surrounding SMUs coaching staff, that position is less negotiable. This scenario makes SMU a very volatile play in this market. Louisiana Tech fought its way into this bowl and it is safe to assume that they came here to play and win. SMUs morale and focus remains a question mark. While the Mustangs will have the luxury of playing this one within the boundaries of their home state, it may be irrelevant given the notion that their mastermind is leaving town. Thus, the Bulldogs may not just cover here but win outright. Nevertheless, shootouts are quite unpredictable. That is why these points are of special importance as they are an asset in games of this nature. Thus, we will play it conservative and take the points.
Keiths Pick to Cover the Point Spread: LOUISIANA TECH +5 – Where are you betting this game? Wanna bet it for FREE? Simply deposit $100 to $1000 at MyBookie! and use promo codePRDCT14 and they will match your deposit with FREE PLAY loot!
