Shreveport, La., December 30, 2025 — One of college football’s most intriguing non-playoff postseason games takes place Tuesday afternoon when the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (6-6) face the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (7-5) in the 2025 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, with ESPN televising the contest.
Not only does this bowl match pair two programs with contrasting trajectories at the end of the regular season, it also underscores broader themes playing out across a long drivable bowl calendar: coaching transitions, roster uncertainty, rising defensive identities, and the challenge of putting together a cohesive bowl performance after a grueling schedule.
Team Profiles: Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers: Resilience Amid Turmoil
Coastal Carolina enters this Independence Bowl with a 6-6 record and a three-game losing streak, including a lopsided 59-10 loss to James Madison to close the regular season.
The Chanticleers have been led by a run-oriented offense, but key injuries and roster turnover have complicated their attack. Quarterback Samari Collier’s status is unclear due to injury, and backups like Tad Hudson have shown flashes — but also inconsistencies, throwing four touchdowns with five interceptions this season.
Offensive struggles have been magnified by offensive line departures; two tackles with all-conference recognition are now in the transfer portal, affecting both protection and rushing lanes. Coastal’s defense has also struggled, ranking among the lower tiers nationally in nearly every metric, including total defense and run defense.
Despite these challenges, the Chanticleers are appearing in a bowl game for the sixth consecutive season, reflecting sustained success from previous recent years even amid the current rebuilding cycle.
Coaching Shake-Up: Longtime head coach Tim Beck was fired in late November, and Jeremiah Johnson — who previously served as Louisiana Tech’s defensive coordinator — has stepped in as interim head coach for this bowl. That unique twist adds narrative spice to the matchup, as Johnson faces his former program with intimate knowledge of its tendencies.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs: Gaining Momentum
Louisiana Tech’s season, by contrast, ended on a high note. The Bulldogs finished 7-5, winning their final two games. They also posted a winning record for the first time since 2019 — a solid achievement for a program with bowl history.
Coach Sonny Cumbie has guided the Bulldogs to their seventh Independence Bowl appearance, a record for this bowl game — and the team enters with solid motivation to prove itself as one of Conference USA’s stronger squads.
Defensively, Louisiana Tech is a notably strong group. The Bulldogs led the country in defensive touchdowns this season, scoring seven, and boast one of the most productive defensive units in the conference. Safety Jakari Foster — a first-team All-American — intercepted seven passes, bolstering a secondary that generates takeaways and flips field position.
Offensively, the Bulldogs have flexibility, with freshmen and sophomore contributors gaining experience. Injuries have affected signal-caller stability, but players like Trey Kukuk — who has shown effectiveness on the ground — and running backs Clay Thevenin and Andrew Burnette provide balance and power both in rushing and in short passing situations.
Louisiana Tech also has the advantage of playing close to home. Shreveport — though a neutral site — sits in Louisiana and tends to attract strong Bulldog support, especially with the school joining the Sun Belt conference next season alongside Coastal Carolina.
Odds, Lines, and Betting Trends
As of game week, bookmakers and projection models lean toward Louisiana Tech as a clear favorite:
- Spread: Louisiana Tech favored by ~10.5 to 9.5 points in most markets.
- Moneyline: Tech installed at heavy odds (~-400), while Coastal Carolina sits as a +300 to +315 underdog.
- Over/Under: Consensus totals range around 49 to 51.5 points, with mixed views from oddsmakers and models.
SportsLine Projection Model: Advanced simulations, run 10,000 times by SportsLine, project that the game is more likely to go over the posted total, with teams combining for an estimated 57 points in many model runs. The model also shows that one side of the spread hits nearly 70% of the time, underscoring strong confidence in a Louisiana Tech performance.
However, not all analysts agree. Some sources — using different algorithmic and analytic approaches — lean toward lower scoring, closer outcomes with Under the total — particularly given Coastal Carolina’s offensive challenges and Louisiana Tech’s historically defense-first scheme.
Key Matchups and Game Dynamics
In football, bowl games often come down to unit matchups and in-game adjustments rather than simple record comparison. Here are the critical duels and tactical edges shaping expectations:
Coastal Carolina’s Offense vs. Louisiana Tech’s Defense
Coastal’s offense enters the bowl with questions at quarterback and offensive line continuity, threatening its ability to sustain long drives. Tad Hudson — if he starts — could provide mobility and occasional big plays but also has shown inconsistency.
Louisiana Tech’s defense — particularly against the run — is well-positioned to disrupt Coastal’s ground game. The Bulldogs rank near the top of Conference USA in run defense, and limiting Coastal’s biggest offensive strength could force passing situations the Chants aren’t equipped to handle.
Louisiana Tech’s Offense vs. Coastal Carolina’s Defense
Louisiana Tech’s offense is likely to lean on its run game and pressure situations, especially with quarterback Trey Kukuk’s dual threat ability. Analysts suggest rushing props — like Thevenin’s rushing yards or Kukuk’s red-zone effectiveness — could be profitable angles.
Coastal’s defense, though struggling overall, is not without talent. Defensive back Xamarion Gordon leads the team in tackles and turnovers, and an opportunistic approach could generate short-fields or momentum-changing takeaways. But stopping a balanced ground attack remains a challenge.
Turnover Battle and Special Teams Impact
With both teams posting mixed offensive efficiency metrics, turnovers and special teams could swing the game. Louisiana Tech’s knack for creating turnovers — evidenced by its defensive touchdown production — could tilt short possessions into scoring opportunities.
Special teams — particularly field goal accuracy and return game execution — may also influence field position and close scoring margins. Bowl games often come down to a few critical plays, and these often aren’t captured fully by pregame analytics. — Analysts regularly highlight them as hidden value areas.
Coaching, Motivation, and Bowl Preparation
An oft-underrated factor in bowl performance is motivation and preparation time. Unlike regular season, teams have weeks to prepare, heal injuries, and refine game plans — but this can work both ways.
Coastal Carolina’s Interim Leadership
Interim coach Jeremiah Johnson faces the unique challenge of leading a team amid transition: a fired head coach, uncertain quarterback status, and roster flux with transfers departing. While Johnson’s familiarity with Louisiana Tech could help, the overarching theme for Coastal is stabilizing the team’s identity in a short window.
Louisiana Tech’s Momentum
Louisiana Tech has momentum from a strong finish, and Coach Sonny Cumbie’s continuity and familiarity with personnel could give his team an edge — particularly in strategic planning. With the Bulldogs heading into the Sun Belt next season, a bowl victory would provide a confident springboard.
Historical Context: Independence Bowl Tradition
The Independence Bowl, first played in 1976, has become a staple of late December football, often pairing teams from lesser-publicized conferences or on the cusp of breakout seasons. It’s known for competitive games and fan-friendly atmospheres in Shreveport — a venue that welcomes passionate supporters from both participating schools.
Louisiana Tech’s record in this bowl (3-2-1) showcases the Bulldogs’ historical comfort in this setting. For Coastal Carolina, this appearance continues a streak of bowl invitations that speak to the program’s stability and recent upward trajectory.
Fan Interest and Media Coverage
Though not a marquee New Year’s Six or CFP game, the Independence Bowl garners substantial regional interest, particularly with Louisiana Tech playing near home. Tickets and local fan engagement reflect enthusiasm for bowl festivities, travel tailgates, and postseason celebration.
Nationally, analysts and modelers alike are dissecting the matchup’s every angle — from spread implications to total points predictions — as bettors and college football followers weigh each team’s profile for late season evaluation.
Predictions, Best Bets, and Scenarios
While exact predictions vary, a number of models and experts align on broader themes:
Predicted Outcome:
- Louisiana Tech projected to win by a moderate margin — score predictions often fall in the mid-20s for Tech and lower-20s for Coastal Carolina.
Spread Bets:
- Most models suggest Tech covering or performing well on the spread at around minus nine, though some projections indicate closer outcomes in the single digits.
Total Points:
- Simulations frequently lean toward Over the posted totals (around 49–51), but other expert projections favor Under if both defenses outperform expectations.
Prop Focus:
- Running game production and turnovers appear as actionable prop targets, especially given Coastal Carolina’s turnover vulnerabilities and Louisiana Tech’s defensive opportunism.
Closing Thoughts
The 2025 Independence Bowl offers a fascinating canvas for college football fans: a historical bowl matchup, two programs with recent struggles and successes, coaching narratives, and strategic intrigue on both sides of the ball.
Louisiana Tech enters with advantages on paper — from defense to momentum and local support. Coastal Carolina, meanwhile, has the aura of a resilient program adapting to adversity, especially with interim leadership and roster transitions.
Regardless of score or spread, the matchup promises to deliver spirited competition, disciplined preparation, and memorable moments on the gridiron to close out a long college football season.
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