The Troy Trojans find themselves in a position they have not exactly excelled in when they take on Ohio in the Dollar General Bowl. The Trojans have gone just 2-8 SU in their past 10 games against teams with winning records, which includes a 35-3 beating at the hands of Arkansas State in the final month of the regular season.
- Troy is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games after losing as a favorite.
- The total has gone OVER in Troy's last 5 bowl games.
- Ohio is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games against teams with winning records.
The Trojans accomplished something no Sun Belt team ever had when they broke into the Top 25 after starting the season 8-1. Since then, Troy has gone 1-2 with the win coming against a lowly Texas State team. Quarterback Brandon Silvers has been the best quarterback in the Sun Belt, as the junior leads the conference in passing yards, completion percentage and passing touchdowns. However, getting running back Jordan Chunn going is imperative; he has averaged 58 rushing yards in losses compared with 117.6 in wins.
Troy sits near the top in the nation in many defensive categories thanks to a combination of talent and playing some mediocre Sun Belt opponents. Either way, the Trojans rank inside the top 25 in rushing defense and points allowed. The secondary is the unit to watch as they have recorded 18 interceptions but rank just 77th in passing defense.
Ohio’s offense is the epitome of “OK,” ranking 79th in the nation in passing, 67th in rushing and 82nd in points. Quarterback Greg Windham is capable of putting up some pretty good performances, but inconsistency and injuries have hampered his season.
The Bobcats’ real strength lies in their defense, which has held opponents to 22.2 points per game. Much like their opponents in this game, Ohio is not very good at defending the pass but excels at stopping the running game. The Bobcats also like to pin their ears back and go after the quarterback, with the team sitting fifth in the nation in sacks. That includes MAC defensive player of the year Tarell Basham, who tallied 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for a loss this season.
Ohio Bobcats vs Troy Trojans Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Ohio Bobcats will look to cover ATS vs their hosts on Friday, as they are 7-6 ATS versus the spread this season, while the Troy Trojans are 6-6 ATS. Ohio is 2-10 against the over under total, while Troy is 5-6-1 versus the number. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Troy vs Ohio injuries news.
The OddsShark Power Rankings have the Troy Trojans at No. 29 and the Ohio Bobcats at No. 56 heading into this contest.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits Troy's No. 37-ranked offense, averaging 34.17 PPG, against a Ohio defense that ranks No. 26 this week at 22.23 PPG. The Troy aerial game is averaging 263.08 yards per game, more than the Ohio Bobcats secondary allows through the air, 257.77 YPG per game.
In comparing defenses, the Ohio Bobcats own the league's No. 5-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 93.83 yards per game when on the road. Troy, on the other hand, rates No. 61 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Bobcats suffered a Week 14 loss against Western Michigan in their last game, falling 29-23 at Ford Field.
- Ohio is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
- Ohio is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Ohio's last 9 games
- Troy is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
- Troy is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games
