Ohio Bobcats vs Troy Trojans Point Spread Picks

Once upon a time, Troy was a force in the Sun Belt Conference, but the program took a five year slide. The Trojans are back once again, finishing at 9-3 on the season. This is a team that held Clemson to 30 points at Clemson - their second-lowest home output of the season. Troy has a very good defense for a Sun Belt team, allowing just 22 points per game on the season. They will face an Ohio team that is right with them, as the Bobcats have allowed a stingy 22.2 ppg. They have not allowed an opponent to get to 30 points in their last 12 games, despite facing Tennessee, Western Michigan, and Toledo. Both of these teams can hold their ground defensively, and each is below average offensively. This game should be a game of field position, as neither team has much of a quick-strike offense, and sustaining drives will be tough because the defenses will be the best units on the field in both cases. Make the play on the UNDER in this one.

The Ohio University Bobcats will be a slight underdog when they open the Bowl season vs. Troy of the Sun Belt Conference. Troy lost a big weapon and a lot of leadership when QB Levi Brown completed his four years here last season. This is not the same caliber team we have seen from Troy in the recent past. This is a team that is here as a product of their schedule, not the quality of the team that will take the field. Troy has seven wins and those seven wins were all generated against .500 or worse teams. The combined record of those seven opponents was 24-60 or a winning percentage of .286. Ohio has gone 7-1 to complete their season and is a much better team here getting points. It is an offense that has gone for 30+ in seven of their last eight while allowing the opponent to score 30+ just one time in the same stretch. The Bobcats are also 7-1 ATS in their last eight posted as a dog, while Troy just 2-7 ATS in their last nine posted as a favorite. Under head coach Larry Blakeney, this Troy squad is just 4-12 ATS on teh road after back-to-back ATS wins. Over the past three seasons, Troy is just 2-5 straight-up in road games vs. good passing teams like Ohio (those completing 58%+). My computer matchup sees this game as a toss-up. Take the Bobcasts in this one.