Troy Favored Over Southern Miss in Tuesday Night Sun Belt Opener
The Trojans are 9.5-point favorites at home as Southern Miss faces significant challenges.
College football returns to Tuesday nights with a Sun Belt Conference matchup between Troy and Southern Miss. The Troy Trojans, favored by 9.5 points at home, will host the Golden Eagles in Southeastern Alabama.
Southern Miss is navigating a difficult season marked by recent coaching changes and roster turnover. Head coach Blake Anderson faces the challenge of rebuilding the program after its successful 2025 season under Charles Huff, who departed for Memphis and took key players with him. The Golden Eagles have struggled, holding an 0-3 record against FBS opponents and a 1-3 overall record. Analytics rank them among the lowest in FBS, with SP+ placing them 128th and Jeff Sagarin ranking them 140th.
Their struggles are evident on both sides of the ball. Southern Miss ranks 118th in points per game and 97th in yards per play. Defensively, the team is particularly weak against the run, allowing 5.8 yards per carry, which ranks 129th in the nation. This vulnerability could open opportunities for Troy's offense.
Troy, under head coach Gerad Parker, has a more established foundation from the previous season. A key player for the Trojans is senior quarterback Goose Crowder. This matchup presents an opportunity for Crowder to improve his performance against a Southern Miss defense that struggles to stop the run. While the Golden Eagles' pass defense is adequate, their inability to contain the run may allow Crowder and the Troy offense to find rhythm.
The betting play recommended is Troy -9.5 (-110) via DraftKings. The analysis suggests a mismatch, despite the unpredictability of Tuesday night games.
