Haugabook stars as Troy routs Rice in New Orleans Bowl

Recap: Omar Haugabook threw for four touchdowns and ran for another score, as Troy won a bowl game for the first time in school history with a 41-17 thrashing of Rice at the New Orleans Bowl.

Haugabook, who was named the game's MVP, completed 14-of-28 passes for 217 yards with one interception, and ran for 92 yards. The Trojans (8-5), who ended the season with three consecutive victories, lost in their only other bowl appearance, to Northern Illinois at the 2004 Silicon Valley Bowl...more

Preview: New Orleans will return as a site for college football's postseason when the Troy Trojans (7-5) face the Rice Owls (7-5) in the Superdome for the New Orleans Bowl.

The game was played last year in Lafayette because of Hurricane Katrina, but it's back in the Superdome for the sixth edition of the bowl game.

Both teams struggled early in the season and turned their seasons around with strong conference play. Rice finished second in the West division of C-USA while Troy edged Middle Tennessee for the Sun Belt Conference championship.

Rice pulled off one of the biggest turnarounds in the nation after going 1-10 last season, and few would have predicted the Owls would enter this bowl season on a six-game winning streak. Rice will be making its first bowl game since 1961...more

SMART CHART TROY       RICE 21.3   PTS FOR 25.8 22.7 PTS AGNST   32.6 -1.4 DIFF.   -6.8 188.3   PASS YDS 206.5 126.9   RUSH YDS 138.7 207.3 PASS D   226.5 137.1 RUSH D   191.2 0.8 TO DIFF   0.6 INJURIES TROY PLAYER POS DESCRIPTION Sherrod Martin S Doubtful For Bowl Game (shoulder) Justin Bray WR Questionable For Bowl Game (concussion) Sean Dawkins RB Questionable For Bowl Game (knee) James Gardner OL Questionable For Bowl Game (knee) Smokey Hampton WR Questionable For Bowl Game (shoulder) Derick Pendergrass FS Questionable For Bowl Game (ankle) RICE PLAYER POS DESCRIPTION Jonathan Arceneaux LB Out For Bowl Game (leg) Dietrich Davis LB Questionable For Bowl Game (neck) Chase Clement QB Questionable For Bowl Game (shoulder) Will Moss TE Questionable For Bowl Game (undisclosed) BETTING TRENDS TROY Troy is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games Troy is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games RICE Rice is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games Rice is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games Rice is 7-18 SU in its last 25 games The total has gone OVER in 8 of Rice's last 9 games RECENT TEAM SU ATS OU OFF DEF TROY 7-5 6-5 5-5-1 21.3 22.7 RICE 7-5 9-3 10-2 27.8 32.6