The stage is set for a lively college football showdown as the Troy Trojans travel to Norfolk, Virginia, to face the Old Dominion Monarchs. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Old Dominion comes in favored by 11 points, with a moneyline of -425. The total is set at 52.5 points.
Game Overview: Troy Trojans vs. Old Dominion Monarchs
Both teams are gearing up for a pivotal Sun Belt Conference matchup. The Troy Trojans are 6-3 and looking to lock in a bowl spot.
Old Dominion, also sitting at 6-3, wants to keep their momentum rolling and finish strong. It’s going to be a test of grit and game-planning for both squads.
Troy Trojans: A Closer Look
Troy’s season has been a real rollercoaster. Even with a 6-3 record, cracks are showing on both sides of the ball.
The Trojans are 3-0 in one-score games, including 2-0 in overtime, but they’re being outgained by more than 57 yards per game. Most of their wins? They’ve come against teams with a combined 17-29 record.
The offense hasn’t found a spark since losing backs like Damien Taylor or Kimani Vidal. Their run-first approach just isn’t clicking.
- Quarterback Woes: Tucker Kilcrease has been up and down, tossing as many interceptions as touchdowns (four each). He rarely tops 250 passing yards.
- Offensive Line Issues: The O-line struggles to win at the line of scrimmage, even against average defenses. Injuries, like the one to guard Elijah Prather, haven’t helped.
- Defensive Shortcomings: Troy’s defense has padded stats against weak offenses. Tackling is especially shaky at the second level—safety David Daniel-Sisavanh has nearly a 40% miss rate on tackles, which is wild.
Old Dominion Monarchs: Strengths and Weaknesses
Old Dominion kicked off the year with a 4-1 start, then hit a couple of bumps against Marshall and James Madison. They’ve bounced back with two wins since then.
The Monarchs’ offense runs through Colton Joseph, who leads in both passing and rushing. He’s their engine, plain and simple.
- Dynamic Offense: Joseph has almost 700 rushing yards and nine scores, with a big chunk coming on runs of 15 yards or more. He’s also thrown 19 touchdowns (to nine picks) and topped 2,200 passing yards.
- Strong Rushing Attack: Trequan Jones adds punch, averaging nearly eight yards per carry. That’s no small feat.
- Stout Defense: The Monarchs sit in the top 30 nationally for points allowed per drive. Their secondary, led by Brandon Crutchfield, has been a real bright spot.
Key Matchup Analysis
Looking at how both teams got to 6-3, it’s not hard to see why Old Dominion is favored. Troy’s five wins in their last six came against weaker teams, none ranked in the top 90.
Meanwhile, Old Dominion’s losses were to tougher opponents—Indiana, James Madison, and Marshall. Their strength of record is 55th, while Troy’s is 72nd, at least according to ESPN’s FPI.
Coaching and Preparation
Both teams had a bye to get ready, so coaching adjustments could be huge. Ricky Rahne, Old Dominion’s head coach, has been more reliable in close games than Troy’s Gerad Parker.
With equal prep time, Old Dominion’s more experienced staff might just have a slight edge.
Betting Insights and Predictions
The betting market’s moving in Old Dominion’s favor. The opening line of -9.5 has jumped to as high as -11.5, which says a lot about where the confidence is.
- First Half Bet: Old Dominion to cover the first-half spread of -6.5 looks tempting. They tend to start strong, while Troy can be slow out of the gate.
- Full Game Spread: For the full game, Old Dominion -10.5 makes sense. Their numbers are better across the board, and Troy’s weaknesses are hard to ignore.
Conclusion
This Thursday night, Troy faces off against Old Dominion. Should be a fun one—these two teams have been unpredictable lately.
Troy’s had some solid moments this season. Still, if you look closer at their recent games, there are cracks in the armor.
Old Dominion, on the other hand, feels more dynamic right now. Their coaching staff brings a bit more experience to the table, and the offense can switch things up when needed.
Honestly, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Monarchs not only win but manage to cover the spread too. Guess we’ll see if they live up to the hype.
Want to dig deeper? You can find a full breakdown and more betting tips over at the Action Network.
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