Louisiana

Louisiana Tech vs. Army: Predictions, latest odds for Independence Bowl

Published

2 years ago

December 28, 2024

Louisiana Tech vs. Army: Predictions, latest odds for Independence Bowl

The college football bowl action continues with the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl featuring the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs facing off against the Army Black Knights.

Stepping in to replace Marshall after it pulled out due to outside factors, Louisiana Tech has shown remarkable resilience. Despite a tough season, finishing 5-7 and fifth in Conference USA, the Bulldogs have not backed down. They are led by freshman quarterback Evan Bullock, who boasted a 67.4% completion rate for 1,938 yards, 14 touchdowns, and only two interceptions. Bullock has a strong target in wide receiver Tru Edwards, who led CUSA in receptions (77) and recorded 897 receiving yards with six touchdowns.

Louisiana Tech is set to face a challenging opponent in Army, which recently made history by winning its first AAC championship game. This marks a significant milestone in the program’s 134-year history after an impressive 11-2 season. The Black Knights are guided by senior quarterback Bryson Daily, who is a formidable presence both on the ground and through the air. Last season, Daily passed for 942 yards and nine touchdowns, while also throwing four interceptions. Additionally, he rushed for an impressive 1,532 yards, scoring a remarkable 29 touchdowns.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Independence Bowl.

Independence Bowl predictions: Louisiana Tech vs. Army

USA TODAY Sports: Army is unanimous pick

Scooby Axson: Army
Jordan Mendoza: Army
Paul Myerberg: Army
Erick Smith: Army
Eddie Timanus: Army
Dan Wolken: Army

ESPN: Army 23, Louisiana Tech 16

Adam Rittenberg writes: “The Independence Bowl has a new participant and a different/more local flavor, as Marshall opted out following its coaching change and portal exodus, and Louisiana Tech stepped in as the replacement, and will make the short drive from Ruston to Shreveport. The Bulldogs have half the number of wins as the Thundering Herd, but their defense can be very stingy at times, and will need to perform against Bryson Daily and the Black Knights. Although Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Cumbie said, “The band’s back together,” the Bulldogs will be without several defensive linemen who went into the transfer portal. Army is undoubtedly still smarting from the Navy loss, and top running back Kanye Udoh entered the portal. Louisiana Tech jumps ahead early behind quarterback Evan Bullock, but Army eventually takes control and grinds out a low-scoring win, its 12th on the season.”

College Football Network: Army 35, Louisiana Tech 13

James Fragoza writes: “The Black Knights’ 2024 campaign has been one for the books, highlighted by their physical dominance and a well-executed option attack. While a 49-14 rout at the hands of playoff-bound Notre Dame and a 31-13 upset loss to Navy stand out as blemishes, they’re hardly disqualifying. Navy, after all, is a nine-win squad with an efficient offense – a far cry from what Louisiana Tech brings to the table. The Black Knights, even after failing to cover as double-digit favorites in their last two outings, still present a clear mismatch for a Bulldogs team that managed just one win over an FBS opponent with a winning record this year. For Louisiana Tech, this matchup feels less like an opportunity and more like a buzzsaw, especially due to its transfer portal losses.”

Tickets to the Independence Bowl with StubHub

Independence Bowl odds, lines: Louisiana Tech vs. Army

The Army Black Knights are favorites to defeat the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, according to the BetMGM college football odds.

Odds as of Friday, Dec. 27.

Spread: Army (-14)
Moneylines: Army (-800); Louisiana Tech (+500)
Over/under: 44.5

How to watch Louisiana Tech vs. Army in the Independence Bowl

Date: Saturday, Dec. 28
Time: 9:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Stream: Fubo
Where: Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)

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Louisiana

Louisiana Purchase & Gardens Zoo holds “Red, White and Blue Day”

Published

3 hours ago

July 5, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana Purchase & Gardens Zoo holds “Red, White and Blue Day”

MONROE, La. (KNOE) – Families spent part of Independence Day weekend at Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo for the first-ever “Red, White and Blue Day,” a new event the zoo hopes will become an annual tradition.

The celebration featured children’s activities, food vendors and patriotic decorations throughout the grounds.

Organizers also added a pair of crowd-pleasers: a pizza-eating contest and a watermelon-eating contest, drawing spectators who gathered to watch contestants race the clock.

Zoo Director Phillip Crawley said the event was designed as a family day focused on bringing the community together.

“We want a family day, you know, we want people to come together. We want the, all of America needs to come together,” Crawley said. “Everybody’s been so at each other lately that hey, let’s all just get back together… let’s come out here to the zoo let’s have a good time… and see that everybody’s happy.”

Crawley said the goal is to give families another reason to visit while creating a positive, shared experience in a relaxed setting.

Zoo officials said “Red, White and Blue Day” was the first of its kind at Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo, and they hope to make it a yearly event moving forward.

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Louisiana

Louisiana grand jury’s role in legal proceedings explained

Published

13 hours ago

July 4, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana grand jury’s role in legal proceedings explained

(KTAL/KMSS) – The ongoing saga of Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has many commentators on social media questioning what the grand jury process entails.

A grand jury is unlike a trial jury. A trial jury hears a case and decides a defendant’s guilt or innocence. The purpose of the grand jury is to determine if there is sufficient evidence against a defendant to bring them to trial.

The evidence viewed by a grand jury only represents what the state government considers just cause to bring charges in a case. They do not render verdicts; instead, they indict, which is a formal accusation or a decision that a person should be tried for their alleged crimes in a court of law.

In Louisiana, the grand jury is empanelled for a six-month service term. Occasionally, a special grand jury may be empanelled for eighteen months. Grand jurors are selected by lot from a pool of at least 300 prospective jurors. The number of grand jurors is specified by the court.

Once a grand jury is selected, the process becomes cloaked in privacy as names are sealed in envelopes and locked in sealed boxes. The clerk of court in the parish prepares subpoenas ordering pool members to appear on the date set forth by the court for grand jury selection.

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Louisiana

Louisiana Supreme Court recalls Liz Murrill’s arrest warrant in late-night emergency ruling

Published

23 hours ago

July 4, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana Supreme Court recalls Liz Murrill’s arrest warrant in late-night emergency ruling

The Louisiana Supreme Court in an emergency order late Friday night agreed to recall an arrest warrant for Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, after issuing a ruling earlier in the day to stay her indictment from an Orleans Parish grand jury.

The grand jury indicted Murrill on Thursday, charging her with 16 felony counts of malfeasance in office and intimidation. Orleans Criminal District Court Judge Leon Roche issued an alias capias arrest warrant and set Murrill’s bond at $400,000.

The attorney general quickly asked the state Supreme Court to intervene, who responded with an order Friday morning that stayed the indictment.

But by late Friday, Murrill went back to the high court alleging that the special prosecutor appointed to her case, former New Orleans judge Laurie White, had refused to recall the alias capias arrest warrant despite the stay.

“I object to the removal of the capias (warrant), as the accused should not get any more preferential treatment than any other criminally charged defendant,” White allegedly told Murrill’s legal team, according to their filing to the Supreme Court.

The Louisiana Supreme Court issued another order late Friday night, saying it was “in order to add clarity and specificity where none should have been required.” The order recalled Murrill’s arrest warrant, ordered White and law enforcement to remove the warrant from law enforcement databases, and ordered White and law enforcement to “take all necessary actions to comply with this Order.”

The court’s vote on recalling the warrant was 4-3, with Justices Billy Burris, Cade Cole, Jefferson Hughes and Jay McCallum voting in the majority. Chief Justice John Weimer and Justices Piper Griffin and John Michael Guidry each dissented. Weimer and Guidry had also dissented earlier Friday from the decision to stay Murrill’s indictment; Griffin had voted in favor of the stay.

“It is said that procedure is the handmaiden of substance, but in criminal cases procedural rules are indispensable to serve justice and ensure that all are treated equally,” Weimer wrote in his Friday night dissent over recalling the warrant. “Yet, ironically, on the eve of this July 4th when our nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this court is once again called upon to provide exceptions to the normal process pursuant to another feigned emergency by one party.”

Griffin wrote in a dissent that recalling the warrant goes to the merits of the case. Guidry wrote in his dissent that the majority had elevated “power and privilege over process.”

“This is yet another unprecedented preferential act by the majority bestowing a privilege that no other criminally charged defendant can reasonably expect to receive,” Guidry wrote.

This is a developing story, check back later for more.

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