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New Mexico Bowl Odds 2024 | The TCU Horned Frogs are back in the postseason for the first time since their odd march to the national championship appearance in 2022.
Far from the national spotlight this time around, though, the 8–4 Frogs will take on the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (10-3) as heavy favorites.
Both rosters face significant opt-outs ahead of the NFL Draft and thanks to the transfer portal, which makes sports betting on this game a little tricky.
There is also the fact that TCU head coach Sonny Dykes has coached in six bowl games at major universities and only has a 2-4 record in those games.
One of those wins came in the national semifinal against Michigan and was helped by the fact that TCU knew that Michigan’s staff was filming practices ahead of time, so they practiced plays and systems that they had no intentions of using in their showdown.
As a Big 12 team, TCU could also likely show up less than motivated to take on a Sun Belt opponent.
What will happen on Saturday afternoon? We have some thoughts that you’ll want to consider as you plan your wagering.
New Mexico Bowl Odds 2024: Louisiana vs TCU Preview
NCAAF Spread/Total: TCU -12 / O/U 58.5
NCAAF Moneylines: Louisiana +310 vs TCU -480
When: Saturday, December 28, 2024, 2:15 pm ET
Where: University Stadium, Albuquerque, NM
TV: ESPN
Radio: No National Broadcast
Live Stream: Hulu
Louisiana vs TCU Final Score and Prediction for New Mexico Bowl Odds 2024
Personally, I’m not betting heavy on this game. There are too many key opt-outs on both sides of the ball, and it’s really hard to see a Big 12 team getting up for a showdown with a Sun Belt team that has major injuries at quarterback.
I see Louisiana finding room to run the ball, but I also see TCU just having too much talent remaining on offense to lose.
I like the Ragin’ Cajuns to cover in a 24-16 TCU win.
Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns Analysis
TCU will not have top tailback Cam Cook this season due to his transfer to the transfer portal. Wide receivers Jack Bech and Savion Williams, both headed to the draft, will miss the New Mexico Bowl due to injuries. Both are expected to recover before the New Mexico Bowl.
Also, TCU’s defense had a hard time this season, even struggling to stop such unimpressive offenses as Arizona and Houston. Louisiana does have a decent running game – tailback Bud Davis led the team with 777 yards, and Zylan Perry kicked in 619.
If you’re thinking about taking Louisiana in this game, you’re likely looking at the point spread rather than the straight-up outcome of the game.
The argument for taking Louisiana to cover in this game is that TCU will take a lackadaisical approach on defense and won’t do enough on offense to pull away.
TCU Horned Frogs Analysis
Louisiana’s top two quarterbacks, starter Ben Wooldridge and backup Chandler Fields, will not be available for the game due to injury.
Wooldridge, the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, ended his season with an injury, while Fields was carted off the field in the Sun Belt Championship.
The Absences
Wide receivers Robert Williams (injury) and Harvey Broussard (transferring to Houston) will not appear. Tailback Dre’Lyn Washington and tight end Terrance Carter (Texas Tech) are both transferring out.
All in all, Louisiana’s skill positions are gutted going into this bowl game. With third-stringer Daniel Beale running the offense, Louisiana was crushed, 31-3, by Marshall in the Sun Belt Championship.
Louisiana’s defense ranked just 75th in the nation in points per drive permitted and 127th in points per drive permitted on drives that began inside their opponents’ own 20-yard line.
In red zone defense, Louisiana allowed either a field goal or a touchdown on a whopping 100 percent of opponent drives into their red zone. Even without their top two wide receivers, TCU should have no problem moving the ball.
🔒 MATCHUP LOCKED IN 🔒The Isleta New Mexico Bowl matchup between the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns and the TCU Horned Frogs is set! See you in Albuquerque 12/28!
⏰: 12:15 PM
📍: University Stadium, Albuquerque, NM
📺: ESPN#BowlSeason #GeauxCajuns #cULture #GoFrogs #BleedPurple pic.twitter.com/zCnnTbIwAZ— Isleta New Mexico Bowl (@NMBowl) December 8, 2024
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New Mexico Bowl Odds 2024: Louisiana vs TCU
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