Houston vs Louisiana prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, Friday, December 23
Houston vs Louisiana How To Watch
- Date: Friday, December 23
- Game Time: 3:00 ET
- Venue: Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA
- Live Stream: fuboTV – (Start Your Free Trial)
Both teams are coming off underwhelming seasons, but there’s a chance finish on a high note
This weekend’s schedule of college football bowl games gets started Friday afternoon with the Independence Bowl, which pits Houston and Louisiana against each other in a matchup of regional opponents. Both programs have fallen off a bit this season after finishing among the top Group of Five teams a year ago, but a bowl game offers the chance for them to enter the offseason with momentum.
Houston’s 7-5 record under fourth-year coach Dana Holgorsen is an underwhelming mark after last year’s squad finished 12-2, but the Cougars have done well to bounce back from a 2-3 start with wins in five of their last seven games. With redshirt senior quarterback Clayton Tune leading the way, the Cougars’ offense remains a potent force.
Louisiana has won three straight bowl games and can match the program’s stretch of four straight bowl wins from 2011 to 2014 with a victory. First-year coach Michael Desormeaux faced the unenviable task of replacing Billy Napier, who left for Florida after four seasons at the helm of the Ragin’ Cajuns. But after six seasons on staff at Louisiana, he managed to steady the ship and get his alma mater back to a bowl.
Houston vs. Louisiana: Need to know
Tune up: Tune has a few records in sight as he prepares for his final college game. The veteran quarterback is already the AAC’s career leader in touchdown passes with 101, but can pass Tanner Mordecai’s record for most touchdown passes in a season with 39 if he throws two touchdowns against Louisiana. Tune also needs just one touchdown — rushing or passing — to set the league’s new scoring record as the Cougars prepare to depart for the Big 12 next season.
Turnovers are key: Louisiana is tied for 11th nationally with 15 interceptions and tied for 21st nationally in turnover margin. The Ragin’ Cajuns have forced 23 turnovers, which bodes well against a Houston team that ranks tied for 118th in turnover margin. The Cougars have committed 19 turnovers this season and forced just 11. A lack of turnovers have been just one of the issues with a UH defense that is 110th in total defense and tied for 117th in scoring defense.
Series history: This marks the first-ever appearance in the Independence Bowl for both teams, but it’s not their first time playing each other. Houston and Louisiana have met nine times previously, with the Cougars holding a 6-3 edge in the series. But the Ragin’ Cajuns won the last meeting back in 2006 by a score of 31-28.
Houston vs Louisiana Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl 5 Things To Know
– Houston wasn’t supposed to be here. It was supposed to be this year’s Cincinnati, ripping through a not-that-bad schedule on the way to pushing for a College Football Playoff spot. That all went bye-bye early with a 2-3 start in a season that wasn’t going anywhere.
Give the team credit for roaring back, winning five of its next six before stalling in a regular season loss to Tulsa. But that’s Houston. It has the talent to hang with just about anyone, but its defense and inconsistencies are just enough to make this a toss up.
– Louisiana wasn’t able to keep the fun going after head coach Billy Napier left for Florida, but the team managed to grind its way though the season and won its finale against Texas State to get bowl eligible. The offense is balanced and the defense opportunistic, but it’s going to need any aspect of the home crowd – and for Houston to be a little unfocused – to pull this off.
– Napier won two straight bowl games after losing his first to Tulane in the 2018 Cure, and Michael Desormeaux was able to fill in last year and lead the way to a New Orleans win over Marshall before getting the full-time gig. At the FBS level, the Ragin’ Cajuns have been great in bowls, going 5-2 since their first appearance in 2011.
– Let’s just say Houston has been a bit rocky in bowls. It shut out Navy 35-0 in the 1980 Garden State, and then it went on 5-14 run. It lost four straight after Tom Herman led the way to a New Year’s Six Peach Bowl win over Florida State, and that was it for the fun with four straight losses, including a 70-14 clunker to Army in the 2018 Armed Forces.
Just when it seemed like it was going to be business as usual last year, the Cougars came back late to beat Auburn 17-13 in the Birmingham. Head coach Dana Holgorsen could really use this as the program makes the move into the Big 12.
– At least among the early bowls, it’s one of the older games with the first back in 1976 – a 20-16 McNeese State win over Tulsa. Last year’s 31-28 UAB win over BYU broke a rough run with the 2020 game canceled and the previous four all ugly after Virginia Tech and Tulsa put on a 55-52 show in 2015. There’s hope for this – Houston games aren’t boring.
Why Houston Will Win The Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
When the offense is on, look out.
It was a massive win for the team when star WR Nathaniel Dell decided to play even though he declared he was leaving for the NFL Draft. With 103 catches and 15 scores, he’s one of the most dangerous playmakers in the country, and he’s not alone.
Getting back QB Clayton Tune – at least he’s expected to go – to along with Dell all but guarantees the offensive fireworks. Last year he closed out a huge season with his late comeback drive to beat Auburn. This season he’s been a yardage machine, but that’s partly because the defense couldn’t come up with enough stops.
Louisiana can run well, but it’s nothing like the Billy Napier teams – he took some of the parts with him. The Ragin’ Cajuns might have put 41 on the board in the regular season finale win over Texas State, but they’ll have to press to keep up.
Why Louisiana Will Win The Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
The Houston defense. It’s got issues.
It comes up with a ton of sacks and lots of big plays in the backfield, but they don’t translate. It gets ripped up through the air, allows 430 yards per game overall, and it can’t come up with a third down stop.
To be fair, the penalties slowed down in the second half of the season, but there are somewhere between 7-to-10 flags coming in this at some point.
Louisiana can stay in this by keeping the mistakes to a minimum – it’s good in turnover margin – and by just hanging around. Houston has a way of taking a nap here and there during games, especially against teams that can throw.
If Chandler Fields can find any sort of a groove, he’s hitting 250 on this bunch.
Bowl games often come down to motivation, and Louisiana should be the more motivated team in this case. The Ragin’ Cajuns are playing in their home state and trying to match a program record by winning their fourth straight bowl game under first-year coach Michael Desormeaux. Houston’s offense is an aerial force led by Clayton Tune, but the Cougars’ defense is a problem after allowing 37 points to Tulsa while closing the regular season in a loss. Look for Louisiana to keep this one close and potentially win outright. Prediction: Louisiana +7