[sportsfan2006]

Who: Rice (7-5) vs. Troy (7-5)
Where: New Orleans
When: 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
WagerWeb.com line: Rice -4.5

Matchup: Which bad defense will rise to the occasion? Troy ranks 70th in the nation against the pass, and Rice ranks 113th in total defense, giving up 417.7 yards per game.

Why Rice Wins: Being in their first bowl game since 1961, the Owls will be pumped. Rice will exploit Troyʼs bad pass defense with WR Jarett Dillard, who caught 82 balls for 1,176 yards and 20 TDs this season. The Owls have a pretty good combination on the ground with mobile quarterback Chase Clement and speedy back Quinton Smith. Also, Rice has also been red hot lately. The Owls have been underdogs in each of the last six games, and they have won them all SU.


Why Troy State Wins: Troy will be able to establish a run game and control the clock, something it hasn't done too much this season. Troy ended the season with a 26-13 victory over Florida International, in which it racked up 245 yards rushing. Troy played a tight game against Florida State, losing 24-17, while Rice was beaten 55-7 by the Seminoles. The Trojan defense is tough against the run, so the key to the game will be stopping the Clement-to-Dillard combination.

Prediction: Rice, 28-17

WagerWeb College Football