Louisiana Tech vs Army prediction & betting tips - Dec. 28 - Independence Bowl

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are set to play the Army Black Knights on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 9:15 p.m. ET in the Independence Bowl. The game can be seen on ESPN.

Louisiana Tech replaced Marshall when the Thundering Herd pulled out of the game after losing more than 24 players to the portal.

Louisiana Tech (5-7) beat Kennesaw Staet 33-0 to end the year and will be the only five-win team to play a bowl game. Army (11-2) ended the year with a 31-13 upset loss to Navy.

Louisiana Tech vs Army: Preview

Louisiana Tech is a 17-point underdog, while the over/under is set at 44 points.

The Bulldogs thought their season was over and now get to play in a bowl game.

"We are excited to accept the opportunity to play in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl against a fantastic and storied program as Army," Louisiana Tech athletic director Ryan Ivey said in a statement via ESPN. "I believe our football program is moving toward positive structure, and the opportunity to play in this bowl adds to that momentum. We are looking forward to being in Shreveport for this matchup."

However, Louisiana Tech has several key players in the portal and won't play, as the complete list of Bulldogs not playing in the Bowl game is as follows:

• Jack Turner, QB (transer portal)
• Donerio Davenport, RB (transfer portal)
• Jalen McGaughy, WR (transfer portal)
• Hunter Tipton, TE (transfer portal)
• John Locke, TE (transfer portal)
• Adam Lamar, DL (transfer portal)
• Charlie Robinson, DL (transfer portal)
• David Blay, DL (transfer portal)
• J'Dan Burnett, DL (transfer portal)
• Jayden Gray, DL (transfer portal)
• Kells Bush, DL (transfer portal)
• Obinna Okeke, DL (transfer portal)
• Cedric Woods, CB (transfer portal)
• Jordon Myles, CB (transfer portal)
• BJ Blake, S (transfer portal)
• Jordyn Morgan, S (transfer portal)
• Luke Wisham, S (transfer portal)
• Pig Cage, S (transfer portal)
• Buck Buchanan, K (transfer portal)

Louisiana Tech will start Evan Bullock at quarterback, who threw for 1,938 yards, 14 touchdowns, and two interceptions. Omari Wiggins, the team's starting running back, will be a key part of the offense as he rushed for 487 yards and four touchdowns.

Army, meanwhile, was upset in the Army-Navy game and now looks to end the year with a bowl win. The Black Knights do have some key players in the portal:

• Kanye Udoh, RB (transfer portal)
• Zach Mundell, QB (injury)
• Jack Kayser, RB (transfer portal)
• Kody Harris-Miller, DL (injury)
• Kyle Lewis, DL (injury)
• Anderson Britton, K (injury)

Army is led by Bryson Daily, who threw for 942 yards, nine touchdowns, and four interceptions while rushing for 1,532 yards and 29 touchdowns. Losing starting running back Udoh is a tough blow to Army's offense.

However, Louisiana Tech has too many impact players not playing in the bowl game. The Bulldogs will also have a hard time stopping the triple option as Daily will rush for multiple touchdowns en route to a blowout win here.

Prediction: Army 31, Louisiana Tech 10

Louisiana Tech vs Army: Betting Tips

Tip 1: Army -17 (-108)

Tip 2: Under 44 points (-110)

Tip 3: Army first half -9.5 (-108)