Louisiana Tech @ Navy preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2010 ) Navy 37, Louisiana Tech 23

LOCKHEED MARTIN ARMED FORCES BOWL STORYLINES

1. Both Navy and Louisiana Tech carry two-game losing streaks - including setbacks in their respective conference title games - into the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 23 in Fort Worth, Texas. The Midshipmen, who fell to Temple in the American Athletic Conference championship before losing to Army for the first time in 15 years, have won three straight bowl games - including this one in 2013. The Bulldogs have won two bowl games in a row and are seeking their third consecutive nine-win season.

2. Navy has not been the same team since losing senior quarterback Will Worth - the nation's leader with 25 rushing touchdowns - early in the loss to Temple on Dec. 3. Sophomore Zach Abey has run for three scores since taking over but has thrown four interceptions in the two games. Abey and his crew will need to get some early points in order to prevent a situation where they need to play catch up through the air opposite Louisiana Tech's relentless passing attack.

3. Bulldogs quarterback Ryan Higgins was named Conference USA MVP after throwing for 4,208 yards and 37 TDs against eight interceptions for the nation's fifth-ranked scoring offense (44 points per game) and third-ranked passing unit (359.8 yards). Navy's rushing game is fourth in the country at 310.9 yards, making for an intriguing clash of styles. "It certainly has some interesting dynamics when you look at the two teams and where both of our strengths are and both of our weaknesses are," Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz - who is 4-3 in bowl games - told reporters.

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Louisiana Tech -5

ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (8-5, 6-2 C-USA): Higgins has one of the nation's top targets in senior Trent Taylor, who is second in the country in receptions (124), third in yards (1,570) and among 31 players with at least 10 receiving TDs, although he has only two in his last eight games. Junior Carlos Henderson had 52 fewer grabs but nearly the same number of yards (1,406) and ranks tied for second among FBS players with 17 receiving scores. Junior running back Jarred Craft had a total of 31 yards on the ground over the last two games but gained 1,350 total yards this season and 13 TDs, nine of which came on the ground.

ABOUT NAVY (9-4, 7-1 AAC): The Midshipmen will be challenged early and often by Higgins after allowing 25 TDs through the air and ranking 122nd in the country in passing efficiency defense. It'll be up to Abey and a fleet of backs - led by junior Chris High (500 rushing yards, five TDs) - to maintain possession and burn the clock. Senior fullback Shawn White had 310 of his 443 yards over the final five games, as well as four of his seven scores, while senior wideout Jamir Tillman has team highs of 38 catches and 615 receiving yards.



PREDICTION: Louisiana Tech 38, Navy 31