2019 Independence Bowl Odds: Louisiana Tech vs. Miami Spread, Over/Under & Our Projections

Independence Bowl Odds: Louisiana Tech vs. Miami

• Odds: Miami -7.5
• Over/Under: 49.5
• Date: Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019
• Time: 4 p.m. ET
• TV channel: ESPN
• Location: Shreveport, La.

Odds as of Sunday afternoon. Get live college football odds here.

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Louisiana Tech Betting Stats & 2019 Season Profile

• Season Record: 9-3
• Against-the-Spread Record: 7-5
• Conference: Conference USA
• Offense Yards Per Play Rank: 41
• Defense Yards Per Play Rank: 42
• S&P+ Special Teams Rank: 70

Analysis: Louisiana Tech rolled through a very light schedule in the first two months of the season, then things fell apart when the schedule got tougher and the Bulldogs lost quarterback J'Mar Smith and wide receiver Adrian Hardy to suspension. Both players did return for the season finale against UTSA. La Tech was balanced and efficient on both sides of the ball, ranking top 40 in points per possession on offense and defense. But with a bottom-10 schedule in the country, and two star players missing in two of their biggest games, it’s tough to take much from that. Skip Holtz has been impressive in bowl games as a head coach, going 5-0 straight-up and 4-1 against the spread at Louisiana Tech. He’s 7-3 ATS overall in bowl games. — Steve Petrella

All stats are regular season only

Miami Betting Stats & 2019 Season Profile

• Season Record: 6-6
• Against-the-Spread Record: 6-6
• Conference: ACC
• Offense Yards Per Play Rank: 71
• Defense Yards Per Play Rank: 14
• S&P+ Special Teams Rank: 85

Analysis: Losses to Florida International and Duke is not how Miami fans pictured Manny Diaz closing out his first season as head coach. Five of the Hurricanes’ six wins came against bowl teams, utilizing a defense that is top 15 in success rate and havoc. One thing to monitor: Running back DeeJay Dallas, wide receiver Jeff Thomas, defensive end Jon Garvin, corner Trajan Bandy and safety Amari Carter are all considering a leap to the NFL and could sit out the bowl game. Expect Diaz to find motivation for this team to curtail any hot seat rumors heading into 2020. — Collin Wilson

All stats are regular season only

Independence Bowl Projections & Picks

• Our projected spread: Miami -12
• Our projected over/under: 54