The New Orleans Bowl is an NCAA-sanctioned post-season college football bowl game that has been played annually since 2001. It is normally held at the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans; when the Superdome and the rest of the city suffered damage due to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the game was temporarily moved to Cajun Field in Lafayette, LA and given the name New Orleans Bowl at Lafayette. Since 2006, the bowl has been sponsored by R+L Carriers and officially known as the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. The game was previously sponsored by Wyndham  Hotels & Resorts from 2002 to 2004 and was officially called the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl.

Teams:  Appalachian State (SBC) 12-1 / UAB (C-USA) 9-4

Bowl Location: New Orleans, LA

Day, Date & Time: Saturday, December, 21, 2019, 9:00 EST

Network: ESPN

Best Win(s): ASU: beat UNC (6-6) 34-31 & South Carolina (4-8), 20-15 ; UAB: beat Louisiana Tech (9-3), 20-14.

Worst Loss(es): Appalachian State lost only to Georgia Southern (7-5), 24-21; UAB lost to Southern Miss (5-7) 37-2! 

Common Opponents: South Alabama: App. State beat USA, 30-3;  UAB beat South Alabama, 35-3!

Vegas Hot$heets Favorite: Appalachian State -17.5 (All lines are opening lines & all recommend picks are based on opening lines)

Sully’s CFP Game Simulator is a statistical analysis / predictor of how these teams will preform, based solely on their numbers, when they face off on the gridiron! Keep in mind, these stats were established against different teams and conferences and these differences must be taken into account to get a complete picture when attempting to predetermine a winner. If you are interested in how the Simulator works … read this part … if not … skip it! The process used is, say Notre Dame is playing Wisconsin … we take ND’s total yards on offense, add it to the number the Badgers give up on defense, we get a total and then divide the total by 2 to get an average. We then invert the process, we now take Wisconsin’s total offense, add it to what the Irish give up on defense, get a 2nd total, and then divide that number by 2, to get the second average! The greater number (with the exception of Turnovers, lower # wins) is then determined to have the advantage ( please note …. statistical advantage). We repeat this process in each of the eight statistical categories assessed: 1) Total Yards, 2) Rushing, 3) Passing, 4) Scoring, 5) 3rd Down (Conversions /Stops), 6) Turnovers, 7) Red Zone Scores (TD’s & FG), & 8) Red Zone TD’s (only TD’s)!  That said… here are the results of the Head to Head Analysis:

Appalachian State WINS 

These teams have not played a game since 2009!

The Game Simulator see’s Appalachian State dominating this Game 8-1. In the 4 areas of emphasis, (Rushing, TO’s, 3rd Down & RZ), App State has an advantage to a significant advantage in each of these categories in the Head to Head comparison!

Sully’s says: Do not be deterred by the the 17.5 points the Mountaineers are giving the Blazers. In their last 3 outings, ASU beat Georgia State, 56-27, Texas State, 35-13, & Troy, 48-13! UAB lost 35-2 to Southern Miss on November 9th, a team that does not have the offensive fire power of App. State! Take the Mountaineers & give the Blazers the points!