Well, I'm on an incredibly horrible run since Saturday. After a couple great years, I'm already damn near guaranteed a losing bowl season. Especially because I'm dropping my bets until I turn this around.
Military
VT is missing their TE (and 3rd-leading receiver) to the portal and both starting safeties due to injury. Tulane is missing... oh, just their QB, 3 of top 5 receivers, LG, and 5 starters on defense. And maybe one more top receiver. I can't determine if Lawrence Keys (2nd-leading receiver, and he averages 18.2 yards/catch) is playing. He hasn't played since 11/11 due to a foot injury. I think he's out again today. But there was a GoFundMe to raise money to send his family to this game. Not sure why they'd attend this bowl game if he isn't playing. Unless they were just looking for a free vacation. Anyway, yes, this is how deep Smitty goes to bring you critical info!
Generally speaking, a non-Power 5 team like Tulane isn't going to have the depth to adequately replace all these guys. Expect a big drop-off.
VT has lost 4 straight bowl games. Last year, Tulane played in a NY6 game. Gotta believe VT has the motivation edge.
With so many players missing, I don't know how vital these stats are, but I'll do a quick rundown.
VT doesn't have much of a run game. They have 3 guys with more than 17 carries this year (including QB Drones). None average more than 4.7 yards/carry. Tulane was excellent against the run, allowing 3.08 yards/carry. Their top 3 tackers are still playing. In fact, all 3 interior guys of their front 7 are playing. However, the key to Tulane's defense is pressure from the edges. And they're missing a DE and both OLBs. Overall, they're missing nearly half of their 34 sacks. Drones was ok throwing the ball. He only completed 58% of his passes, but he threw 15 TDs and only 3 INTs, and averaged 7.5 yards/att. Luckily for him, Da'Quan Felton is playing, who averaged 17.6 yards/catch. He could have a big day against a Tulane secondary that wasn't great, and is missing 2 starters.
Offensively, Tulane needs to run the ball. Even more so today, with Kai Horton at QB. Hughes has 205 more carries than the next RB, so he is the guy. He averaged 5.3 yards/carry. VT is meh against the run, allowing 4.2 yards/carry. However, they've been very good against the pass, only allowing 6.48 yards/att, 20th in the country. Horton was ok in his limited time, completing 50% with 3 TDs and 2 INTs. He did average a respectable 7.8 yards/att. He did take a lot of sacks though. In his 2 games against FBS competition, he was sacked 7 times in 56 dropbacks. So one of every 8. VT is 8th in the country, averaging 3.17 sacks/game.
VT (-11) 2 units
Tulane TT under (14.5) 2 units
Military
VT is missing their TE (and 3rd-leading receiver) to the portal and both starting safeties due to injury. Tulane is missing... oh, just their QB, 3 of top 5 receivers, LG, and 5 starters on defense. And maybe one more top receiver. I can't determine if Lawrence Keys (2nd-leading receiver, and he averages 18.2 yards/catch) is playing. He hasn't played since 11/11 due to a foot injury. I think he's out again today. But there was a GoFundMe to raise money to send his family to this game. Not sure why they'd attend this bowl game if he isn't playing. Unless they were just looking for a free vacation. Anyway, yes, this is how deep Smitty goes to bring you critical info!
Generally speaking, a non-Power 5 team like Tulane isn't going to have the depth to adequately replace all these guys. Expect a big drop-off.
VT has lost 4 straight bowl games. Last year, Tulane played in a NY6 game. Gotta believe VT has the motivation edge.
With so many players missing, I don't know how vital these stats are, but I'll do a quick rundown.
VT doesn't have much of a run game. They have 3 guys with more than 17 carries this year (including QB Drones). None average more than 4.7 yards/carry. Tulane was excellent against the run, allowing 3.08 yards/carry. Their top 3 tackers are still playing. In fact, all 3 interior guys of their front 7 are playing. However, the key to Tulane's defense is pressure from the edges. And they're missing a DE and both OLBs. Overall, they're missing nearly half of their 34 sacks. Drones was ok throwing the ball. He only completed 58% of his passes, but he threw 15 TDs and only 3 INTs, and averaged 7.5 yards/att. Luckily for him, Da'Quan Felton is playing, who averaged 17.6 yards/catch. He could have a big day against a Tulane secondary that wasn't great, and is missing 2 starters.
Offensively, Tulane needs to run the ball. Even more so today, with Kai Horton at QB. Hughes has 205 more carries than the next RB, so he is the guy. He averaged 5.3 yards/carry. VT is meh against the run, allowing 4.2 yards/carry. However, they've been very good against the pass, only allowing 6.48 yards/att, 20th in the country. Horton was ok in his limited time, completing 50% with 3 TDs and 2 INTs. He did average a respectable 7.8 yards/att. He did take a lot of sacks though. In his 2 games against FBS competition, he was sacked 7 times in 56 dropbacks. So one of every 8. VT is 8th in the country, averaging 3.17 sacks/game.
VT (-11) 2 units
Tulane TT under (14.5) 2 units
