In what will be the program’s third bowl game in as many years, Troy football looks to reach 10 wins for the third consecutive season with a win over Buffalo.
The Trojans made their first ever bowl game in the program’s inaugural year in the Sun Belt, eventually losing to Northern Illinois in the 2004 Silicon Valley Bowl. Troy proceeded to log four more bowl game appearances under head coach Larry Blakeney, posting a 2-3 postseason record over the course of his 14 year tenure.
Fast forward to today and head coach Neal Brown is on the brink of his third straight bowl game victory. As for Buffalo, this will be the program’s third ever postseason appearance since joining the FBS in 1962. In fact, this season marks the first time in program history that the Bulls will finish with over 10 wins.
This season has been an encouraging one for both programs, but each team will be looking for a postseason win to cap it off. Here’s how to watch these teams square off in what may be one of Saturday’s more competitive contests.
Date: Saturday, Dec. 22
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Mobile, AL
Venue: Ladd-Peebles Stadium
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN or FuboTV
Keys to Victory
While not the most glamorous of matchups, this game has the propensity for one of the tightest finishes of the day. Both programs boast respectable running games, but it’s the Bulls who take the cake with an average of nearly 200 rushing yards per game. Quarterback Tyree Jackson has had a good year, but Buffalo will have to lean on the run game if they want to wear down Troy.
Troy has taken a bit of a different approach since losing quarterback Kaleb Barker to a knee injury, relying primarily on a strong defense in the wake of backup Sawyer Smith’s struggles. With a strong running game, Troy can afford to lean on a defense that ranks 23rd in the nation in opponent points per game.
Betting Odds
Odds provided by OddsShark
Point Spread: Buffalo -1.5
Over/Under: 49.5
Prediction
Outside of their Week 1 trouncing at the hands of Boise State, Troy has looked pretty good at home this season. While Troy won’t be playing at their home stadium, they will take on the Bulls less than three hours from campus. If Troy experiences a home atmosphere in Mobile, their defense should have enough of an advantage to withstand Buffalo’s offensive onslaught.
Final Score: Buffalo 20, Troy 24