It’s the first of two trips to New Orleans for this bowl season, as Conference USA’s Arkansas State (9-3, 8-0 in league play) takes on the Sun Belt’s Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (8-4, 6-2 in conference).
Arkansas State vs. La. Tech, 2015 New Orleans Bowl: Time, TV schedule, live stream and 3 things to know
The bowl lineup makes its first trip to the Big Easy.
Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
This marks the fifth straight season that a Louisiana squad has made the New Orleans Bowl, although Skip Holtz's Bulldogs break a four-game streak from Louisiana-Lafayette. The Bulldogs won four out of their final five games on the season and ranked 20th nationally in scoring offense, averaging 36 points per game. The offense ranked 32nd in S&P+ on that side of the ball with graduate transfer Jeff Driskel at quarterback. Driskel, a former Florida Gator, came in 26th in the nation in passer rating, throwing for 3,575 yards and 24 touchdowns against eight interceptions. He added another 307 yards rushing and five scores on the ground.
The Red Wolves, meanwhile, closed the year out with eight straight wins, averaging 41 points under second-year head coach Blake Anderson. Arkansas State came in at 31 in rushing offense S&P+, with an attack that averages 235 yards per game and had three different backs rush for more than 500 yards on the season. On defense, the Red Wolves led the country in interceptions with 26, six of which were run back for touchdowns. The secondary checked in at seventh in passing effectiveness rate, but they were vulnerable to big plays at times, allowing 31 passes of 20 yards or more.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: Sat., 9 p.m. ET, ESPN
Radio: Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech
Online streaming: WatchESPN Link
Spread: Arkansas State is favored by 1 point.
Make friends: Underdog Dynasty is the place for fans of both teams to chat about this matchup.
Three big things to know
1. A rivalry renewed?
These two programs are only separated by about 300 miles or so, and met every year from about 1970 through 1998, but never since. Tech holds a 25-12 edge in the rivalry, and won nine of the last 10 meetings before the series broke off.
2. Big plays galore?
These two defenses allow 26 and 28 points per game and rank low in Bill Connelly’s IsoPPP metric (74th for Tech, 120th for Arkansas State). Likewise, both offenses had at least 65 plays of 20 yards or longer on the season. This could be a back and forth affair.
3. Thrown to the Wolves?
Driskel’s eight interceptions are a little less than a third of the Red Wolves’ season total, and something has to give. Arkansas State has also allowed just a 52 percent completion rate, as well. This season has been a nice redemption story for Driskel, a former big-time recruit who led Florida to the Sugar Bowl in 2012 but struggled with his consistency over four seasons in Gainesville. This will be a tough matchup, but a chance to put a bow on his career.
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