Ourlads Football Network

College Football Bowl Previews

Jeff Shain, OFN CFB writer
12/15/2017 9:38PM ET

TROY (10-2) VS. NORTH TEXAS (9-4)

Site: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans.

Kickoff: 1 p.m. TV: ESPN.

Line: Troy by 7.

All-time series: Troy leads 8-2.

Last meeting: Troy 14, North Texas 7 (2012).

TROY

Coach: Neal Brown (3rd season, 24-13).

All-time postseason: 3-3.

Last postseason appearance: Beat Ohio 28-23 in 2016 Dollar General Bowl.

Draft spotlight: RB Jordan Chunn. Troy’s all-time leader in rushing TDs (47) might also have the yardage record if not for missing two October games with a laceration in his right leg. He’ll need a huge game to surpass DeWhitt Betterson for the yardage mark. Chunn has 774 yards and 10 TDs this season.

Other Trojans to watch: QB Brandon Silvers, LT Steven Rowzee, *CB Blace Brown.

Trojan Lore: Troy and Washington are the only two teams yet to give up a play of at least 50 yards this season. Just five teams this decade have done that. … The Trojans also are the only FBS team to hold every opponent to 25 points or less. … Troy is 16-0 under Brown when rushing for at least 150 yards in a game.

NORTH TEXAS

Coach: Seth Littrell (2nd season, 14-12).

All-time postseason: 2-6.

Last postseason appearance: Lost to Army 38-31 in 2016 Heart of Dallas Bowl.

Draft spotlight: S Kishawn McClain. Led the Mean Green in tackles in both 2015 and 2016, and is tied for No.2 this season with 88 stops. McClain’s 328 career tackles rank 7th in UNT history. Recorded at least eight tackles on five occasions in 2017, adding a fumble recovery in the C-USA title game.

Other Mean Green to watch: RB Jeffery Wilson, *WR Jalen Guyton, *LB E.J. Ejiya.

Mean Green Bits: With QB Mason Fine at the controls, North Texas rewrote the school record book for points, yardage, passing TDs and first downs. … UNT is one of just four teams nationwide to have four receivers with at least 500 yards. … A victory would give the Mean Green their first 10-win season since 1977.

* underclass draft prospect