Out go the Marshall Thundering Herd, and in come the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. The Independence Bowl pivoted after Marshall withdrew, tabbing 5-7 Louisiana Tech from nearby Ruston to take on the Army Black Knights.
With just two weeks to prepare, the Bulldogs face an uphill battle, which is reflected in the spread. Can they at least cover? Our Louisiana Tech vs. Army prediction breaks down everything you need to know — from the latest betting odds to what’s at stake for both teams as they battle in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.
Louisiana Tech vs. Army Independence Bowl Betting Preview
All Louisiana Tech vs. Army odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Army -13.5 - Spread
Army -17 - Moneyline
Army -800, Louisiana Tech +550 - Over/Under
44 points - Game Time
9:15 p.m. ET, Saturday, Dec. 28 - Location
Independence Stadium | Shreveport, La. - Predicted Weather at Kick
TBD - How To Watch
ESPN
Don’t look now, but Louisiana Tech is 5-0 against the spread in its last five games. Army, meanwhile, is just 1-5 ATS in its past six.
MORE: CFN Betting Parlay Calculator
Trends-wise, the under seems like the play for the total. It has cashed in four of the Bulldogs’ previous six games, and the Black Knights haven’t had back-to-back overs since the beginning of October.
Louisiana Tech’s Winning Probability
The Bulldogs have been anything but impressive under Sonny Cumbie, going 3-9, 3-9, and 5-7 over the last three years. Nevertheless, they find themselves in a bowl game for the first time since 2020, albeit one the FPM expects them to lose by a wide margin (and I tend to agree).
- at Army: 15.5%
Army’s Winning Probability
The 2024 season was Army’s first in the AAC, but they completely dominated. Not only did the Black Knights go 10-1 in the regular season, but they proceeded to smack the Tulane Green Wave 35-14 in the championship.
The loss to the Navy Midshipmen in their standalone December contest certainly stings, but Army’s 11-2 record is its best since 2018 and saw them finish in the CFP’s final rankings for the first time ever (No. 22).
- vs. Louisiana Tech: 84.5%
Prediction for Louisiana Tech vs. Army
Originally slated to face Marshall, Army saw the Independence Bowl scramble for a replacement after the Thundering Herd lost over 25 players to the transfer portal. Enter Louisiana Tech, stepping in with a 5-7 record and one of the nation’s most anemic offenses.
Playing just an hour from their Ruston campus offers a semblance of home-state advantage, but it’s unlikely to matter against a disciplined 11-2 Army team that’s had weeks to prepare its punishing option attack.
The Black Knights’ 2024 campaign has been one for the books, highlighted by their physical dominance and a well-executed option attack. While a 49-14 rout at the hands of playoff-bound Notre Dame and a 31-13 upset loss to Navy stand out as blemishes, they’re hardly disqualifying.
MORE: 2024 College Football Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker
Navy, after all, is a nine-win squad with an efficient offense — a far cry from what Louisiana Tech brings to the table. The Black Knights, even after failing to cover as double-digit favorites in their last two outings, still present a clear mismatch for a Bulldogs team that managed just one win over an FBS opponent with a winning record this year.
For Louisiana Tech, this matchup feels less like an opportunity and more like a buzzsaw, especially due to its transfer portal losses.
Prediction: Army 35, Louisiana Tech 13
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