RUSTON, La. (Interstat) — Army will look to build on its most recent win when it visits Louisiana Tech on Saturday in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game at Joe Aillet Stadium. The Black Knights enter at 2-1. The Bulldogs are 1-2.

Army most recently defeated Temple 21-17. Quarterback Cale Hellums powered the offense, completing 3 of 6 passes for 36 yards while rushing 22 times for 104 yards and three touchdowns. Samari Howard added 69 rushing yards on eight carries, and Carson Smith ran 12 times for 63 yards. Hellums also starred in a 59-3 win over Bryant, completing 4 of 9 passes for 59 yards and rushing seven times for 87 yards and two scores. Army’s other result this season was a 28-24 home loss to South Florida.

Louisiana Tech most recently fell 36-19 at Baylor. Quarterback Trey Kukuk threw for 223 yards on 25-of-44 passing and rushed 11 times for 75 yards and a touchdown. Jaden Miller ran 11 times for 34 yards and caught one pass for 6 yards. Andrew Burnette had six carries for 18 yards and one reception for minus-4 yards and a touchdown. Kukuk also passed for 45 yards and rushed for 50 yards with two touchdowns in an 80-6 win over Northwestern State. The Bulldogs lost 45-14 at LSU in their other game.

Army will rely on its ground game and Hellums’ ability to make plays with his legs. The Black Knights have shown balance between Hellums and running backs Howard and Smith. Louisiana Tech will counter with Kukuk, who has produced through the air and on the ground. The Bulldogs will need to protect the ball and finish drives against an Army defense that helped secure the Temple win. The matchup could hinge on whether Army can control possession and limit Louisiana Tech’s chances to create explosive plays. Army’s offense has leaned on Hellums in key moments, while Howard and Smith provide complementary rushing threats. Louisiana Tech’s Kukuk has shown he can hurt defenses with both his arm and his legs, and the Bulldogs have scored in bunches at times. Turnovers and third-down conversions could decide the game.

After this game, Army is scheduled to host Tulane and then Florida Atlantic. Louisiana Tech is set to host Louisiana before visiting Louisiana-Monroe. Both teams will look to gain momentum before their schedules intensify.

Interstat’s game simulator is projecting a final score of Louisiana Tech 32, Army 27. Louisiana Tech has been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The over/under for this game is 47.5.