Old Dominion is hosting Troy on Thursday night of Week 12. The game will take place at 7:30 p.m. ET in Norfolk, Virginia.
The Monarchs are 11.5-point home favorites in this game on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at 52.5 points. This is a preview, prediction and pick for this Sun Belt conference matchup.
Troy vs. Old Dominion prediction, preview
Old Dominion Preview
Old Dominion is having a solid season, but will miss out on its goal of playing for a Sun Belt title. In the last conference in college football with two divisions, ODU is stuck in the East with James Madison. The Dukes are clearly the class of the conference, with a real chance to make the College Football Playoff. That was evident when the Dukes beat down the Monarchs by a score of 63-27. However, outside of that game, this team has been sharp all season. Old Dominion quarterback Colton Joseph is a stud, leading the team in rushing as well as passing. The Monarchs are hard to stop because of Joseph’s serious dual-threat abilities. The defense is the bigger issue for ODU, getting demolished in its two losses to JMU and Marshall.
Troy Preview
Unlike ODU, Troy is still in the mix for a spot in the conference title game. The Sun Belt West is the weaker division, and Troy sits as the only one-loss team in the conference. It trails Southern Miss by one game, a team it faces in its season finale. Therefore, Troy controls its own path to the Sun Belt Championship Game. The Trojans need to find a way to pull off the upset as double-digit underdogs against ODU to get themselves into that position, however. If Troy is to pull off the upset, it will be on the back of the defense that has been so solid all season. Quarterback Tucker Kilcrease is not up to the task of outdueling Colton Joseph in a shootout, so a slugfest favors the Trojans.
Troy vs. Old Dominion pick, best bet
My best bet for this game is for Troy to cover as double-digit underdogs. The Trojans have more to play for with the Sun Belt title still in their path. ODU has had a nice season, but with bowl eligibility already secured and conference title hopes lost, the Monarchs are just playing for pride. The Troy defense ranks 39th in the nation in EPA/play and 44th in success rate. The Trojans rank second in the conference, behind only JMU, in yards allowed per game. This unit is up to the task of slowing down ODU’s great offense. ODU’s major weakness is the run defense, ranking 128th in the nation in defensive rushing success rate. If Tae Meadows can get rolling on the ground, Troy has a chance to win the game outright.
