Last week’s seven-hour road trip to ULM was the epitome of Troy’s season.
On the way to the game, two team buses broke down. Instead of the moaning and groaning that could have taken place, head coach Gerad Parker proudly exclaimed that the entire program banded together and did whatever needed to be done to get everything situated to continue on. Troy went on to pick up a 37-14 victory.
The Trojans have had to overcome those same types of hurdles most of the season already. Not on the interstate, but on the field.
Two of the Trojans’ five wins have come with them scoring the go-ahead points in the final minutes. Two other victories have come in overtime.
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Against Nicholls in Week 1, the Trojans trailed 17-10 entering the fourth quarter before scoring four touchdowns in the final frame. In the 21-17 Week 3 win over Buffalo, all 21 of Troy’s points came in the final 15 minutes. In the wins over Texas State and South Alabama, the defense buckled down in OT. Not to mention, the Trojans trailed by two possessions in the second half against Texas State.
Troy was also an underdog in three of these four games.
Some teams roll over in these situations. Troy seems to find an extra gear.
“These guys don’t flinch,” Parker said in his postgame interview following the ULM win.
Now at 5-2 overall and 3-0 in Sun Belt play, the Trojans have already eclipsed last year’s four-win total. Things were looking much more bleak entering last November.
The Trojans were 1-7 in Parker’s first year and hadn’t earned a conference victory. Things shifted, however, and the Trojans went on to win three of their final four games. It seems like some of that momentum has carried into this fall.
It’s been a similar sequence to that of Troy’s first two seasons under Neal Brown a decade ago. In 2015, the Trojans finished 4-8 in Brown’s first season before going 10-3 the following year. Just as the Trojans did this year, they also played Clemson close that season.
I’m not saying Troy will get back to double-digit victories, but it’s not out of the question. The Trojans still have Old Dominion and Southern Miss on the schedule, and those should be tough games. They’re also both on the road.
Typically relying on the defense has been the blueprint for the Trojans’ program, and that’s continued this year. However, the offense has taken strides and has done so despite losing its starting quarterback and having a depleted offensive line. They have had nine different O-linemen start this season including three new starters against ULM.
Quarterback Goose Crowder had shoulder surgery after suffering an injury in Week 3 against Memphis. Tucker Kilcrease stepped into the starting spot and has the offense playing well. Kilcrease has 1,054 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions on the year.
One of the surprises of not just the offense but in the Sun Belt has been the emergence of running back Tae Meadows. The junior and former walk-on earned a scholarship in the spring and is now the fifth-leading rusher in the league with 498 yards.
Meadows isn’t the only former walk-on that is contributing in a big way. Wide receiver DJ Epps was also awarded a scholarship in the spring and leads the Trojans with 20 receptions. He has 255 yards and three TDs this year including a 10-catch, 148-yard outing against Texas State.
Epps is part of a deep wideout room that will continue to keep secondaries on their heels. Wideouts Tray Taylor, RaRa Thomas, Roman Mothershed, and Peyton Higgins are also all consistent contributors.
Like it was when the buses broke down, it’s been a full-team effort so far this year for the Trojans. Even the special teams groups are playing at a high level.
Troy ranks in the top three in the league in kickoff and punt return coverage and, behind the leg of Evan Crenshaw, Troy boasts the best punting average in the league. Crenshaw has also pinned a league-best 17 punts inside the 20-yard line — six more than the second-most.
At +1500, the Trojans had the seventh-longest odds to win the Sun Belt in August. Now, they have the third-shortest odds at +700, only behind James Madison and Southern Miss. Their projected win total was at 5.5 games, a number I’m thinking they’ll go over, possibly even this week.
Troy has found unexpected ways to win, is having unexpected players play big roles, and is unexpectedly in position to make a run to the Sun Belt title game.
Troy vs. Louisiana Football Prediction
I predict Troy wins and covers the spread. As of this writing, the Trojans are 8.5-point college football betting favorites.
The Ragin’ Cajuns have struggled offensively this season, and I don’t think going against Troy’s defense will fix things. I also think the Trojans are clicking on all levels right now, are playing with a lot of energy, and are eager to play in front of their home crowd after a two-game road swing.
