New Orleans Bowl Game Preview: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Georgia Southern Eagles
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
The New Orleans Bowl has developed a rich college football history since its beginning in 2001 pitting Sun Belt Conference foes against Mountain West, Mid-American, and Conference USA teams. Southern Miss, Troy, Louisiana-Lafayette, and most recently Appalachian State have ruled the now R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, but this year a new team in Georgia Southern (7-5, 4-3 SBC) can claim victory or Louisiana Tech (5-4, 4-2 CUSA) can win the trophy for a second time in program history.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Georgia Southern Eagles
Date: Wednesday, December 23, 3:00 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
TV: ESPN
Spread: Georgia Southern -6.5
New Orleans Bowl Overview
Louisiana Tech’s schedule was riddled with cancellations and postponements due to COVID-19 and have only played twice since Halloween yet once again have reached a bowl game. The Bulldogs started the season 2-0 but finished 5-4 overall and 4-2 in conference play at third place in the Conference USA West Division. Their most notable wins came at Southern Miss (31-30), against UAB (37-30), and at North Texas, 42-31.
Georgia Southern finished 7-5 overall, 4-4 in Sun Belt play, as they finished third in the East Division. The Eagles’ notable win came against Florida Atlantic (20-3), on Dec. 5. After starting the season 6-2, Georgia Southern comes into the bowl game by losing three of their final four games. Four of their five losses came against tough competition as they fell to Louisiana, Coastal Carolina, Army, and Appalachian State.
Louisiana Tech
Offense
The Bulldogs scored 29.33 points a game as they averaged 97.7 rushing yards and 227.4 passing yards per contest. The man under center for Louisiana Tech is senior quarterback Luke Anthony, who has thrown for 1,479 yards and 16 touchdowns. His two favorite targets are senior receiver Adrian Hardy, who has snagged 33 passes for 440 yards and four touchdowns, and sophomore wide receiver Smoke Harris, who leads the team with 35 receptions for 285 yards and also has four receiving scores.
The Bulldogs leading rusher is senior Israel Tucker who has 525 rushing yards on 129 carries and four touchdowns. Another playmaker on offense to watch is junior wide receiver Griffin Hebert. Hebert has caught 19 balls for 275 receiving yards and three scores.
Louisiana Tech DL Milton Williams
Defense
Louisiana Tech gives up 34.3 points a game while allowing 184.6 rushing yards and 240.4 yards through the air per matchup. The leading tackler on the team is freshman linebacker Tyler Grubbs. Grubbs dominated racking up 87 total tackles including 8.5 for a loss and one forced fumble. Sophomore defensive back BeeJay Williamson patrols the Bulldogs secondary with 52 total tackles including one for a loss, three interceptions, and one forced fumble.
Junior defensive lineman Milton Williams is the beast in the trenches as he has 41 total tackles including 10 for a loss, 4.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery. Another defensive player to watch is senior linebacker Trey Baldwin who has 74 total tackles including six for a loss, one sack, and one interception.
Georgia Southern
Offense
The Eagles score 26.3 points a game while gaining 262.5 yards on the ground and 102.3 yards through the air per matchup. This explosive offense is led by senior dual-threat quarterback Shai Werts. Werts has thrown for 936 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 649 yards and eight more scores on the ground. The leading rusher on the team is senior rushing back J.D. King who has 625 yards on 116 carries and five touchdowns.
Two weapons in the passing game include senior receiver Malik Murray, who leads the team with 20 receptions and 258 receiving yards and one touchdown, and senior running back Wesley Kennedy III, who has 163 receiving yards, 447 rushing yards, and six total touchdowns.
Defense
The Eagles give up just 22.25 while allowing 112.1 yards on the ground and 221.42 passing yards per contest. Georgia Southern’s leading tackler is senior linebacker Rashad Byrd. Byrd has 75 total tackles including 6.5 for a loss, two sacks, two interceptions, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble. Two playmakers in the secondary are freshman safety Anthony Wilson, who has 61 total tackles, and freshman cornerback Derrick Canteen, who has 45 total tackles, five interceptions, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Senior defensive end Raymond Johnson III is the monster on the defensive line as he has 37 total tackles including 14.5 for a loss, five sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Analysis
Georgia Southern has prepared for this bowl game by playing better competition throughout the season. The Eagles are looking for just their third bowl victory in their program’s history and have the talent and playmakers to silence the Bulldogs in New Orleans.
Louisiana Tech is putting their six-bowl game winning streak on the line on Wednesday and will have to step up defensively to stop Georgia Southern. Look for this to be close but for the Eagles to squeak out a victory.
Final Score: Georgia Southern 27, Louisiana Tech 21
Photo credit: LATechSports.com; Louisiana Tech DL Milton Williams
Photo credit: Savannah Morning News; Georgia Southern QB Shai Werts