A couple of teams that like to focus on their running games, Coach Billy Napier and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (+3) are taking on their SBC counterpart Louisiana-monroe Warhawks (-3) at JPS Field at James L. Malone Stadium. This vital afternoon matchup is scheduled to kick off at 3:00 p.m. ET and ESPN+ will broadcast the action.
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns vs. Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks Betting Preview
The Ragin’ Cajuns approach this Saturday SBC game as the dog here and are currently getting 3 points. The Ragin’ Cajuns are also receiving +135 moneyline odds while the Warhawks are -155. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 68 points. There will likely be multiple good live betting scenarios while this game’s taking place.
Sharp bettors are siding with the Ragin’ Cajuns, as the line opened at -4. The total hasn’t changed after it was initially set at 68.
Both of these teams have been profitable this season as the Ragin’ Cajuns have recorded 3.8 units and the Warhawks are up 4.2 units.
The Ragin’ Cajuns have gone 6-5 straight up (SU), including 4-3 SU against SBC opponents. The Warhawks are 6-5 SU overall and 4-3 SU in conference play.
The Ragin’ Cajuns just got a 48-38 win over South Alabama last week. Andre Nunez completed 12-of-18 passes for only 153 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Elijah Mitchell (104 yards on 12 rushes, three TDs) and Trey Ragas (53 yards on 10 carries) led the running attack while Ja’Marcus Bradley (three receptions, 62 yards, three TDs) and Jalen Williams (three catches, 38 yards) manned the receiving duties in the win.
One week ago, Arkansas State knocked off this Louisiana-Monroe team by a score of 31-17. Caleb Evans completed 17-of-28 passes for 218 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Evans (34 rushing yards on 14 attempts, one TD) handled the running game while Marcus Green (five receptions, 69 yards) and Josh Pederson (five catches, 60 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Louisiana has run the ball on 60.6 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Louisiana-Monroe has an overall rush percentage of 51.1 percent. The Ragin’ Cajuns have produced 229 rush yards per game (including 228 per game against Sun Belt opponents) and have 28 scores on the ground this year. The Warhawks are totaling 170 rush yards per game (181 in conference) and have 21 total rushing TDs.
It appears that the Warhawks should hold an edge when it comes to applying pressure, since their offensive line has given up just 19 sacks while their D-line has logged 33 sacks. The Ragin’ Cajuns O-line has given up 20 sacks and their defense has created only 18 sacks.
The Ragin’ Cajuns offense has logged 219 yards/game in the air overall (202 per game versus conference opposition) and has 22 passing TDs so far. The Warhawks have recorded 252 pass yards per outing (243.7 in the SBC) and have 15 total pass scores.
Defensively, Louisiana has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 215 yards and pass for 238 yards per game. The Louisiana-Monroe defense has allowed 250.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 177.5 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to the opposition, as the Ragin’ Cajuns have given up an ANY/A of 8.41 to opposing QBs, while the Warhawks are allowing an ANY/A of 8.05.
Offensively, Nunez is up to 1,762 passing yards this year, and has connected on 139-of-215 attempts with 15 scores through the air and nine interceptions. He’s got a 6.74 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 8.35 over the last two outings.
We’re looking for Ragin’ Cajuns to control tempo by getting the ball into the hands of their running backs. Elijah Mitchell (669 rush yards, 11 rush TDs, 287 receiving yards, two receiving TDs), Raymond Calais (485 rush yards, three rush TDs), and Trey Ragas (893 rush yards, eight rush TDs, one receiving TD) have brought significant production to the offensive scheme for Louisiana.
Caleb Evans has completed 189-of-318 passes for 2,301 yards, 12 TDs and 11 INTs for Louisiana-Monroe. His ANY/A sits at 5.83 for the season and 7.31 over his past two outings.
The Warhawks will also try to dictate the game’s pace by turning to their backfield. In addition to D’Marius Gillespie (66 receiving yards), Marcus Green (111 rush yards, 757 receiving yards, seven receiving TDs) and Caleb Evans (554 rush yards, eight rush TDs) have seen a lot of action recently.
When these two teams met a year ago, Louisiana-Monroe won by a pair of field goals 56-50.
RELATED: Week 13 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Free Pick: Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns vs. Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks
SU Winner – Louisiana, ATS Winner – Louisiana, O/U – Over
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Louisiana-Monroe defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 33 times this season. Louisiana has recorded just 18 sacks.
Louisiana-Monroe has lost 10 fumbles this season while Louisiana has let three get away.
The Ragin’ Cajuns offense has created eight pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Warhawks have put up 10 such plays.
The Louisiana defense has allowed 11 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Louisiana-Monroe has given up seven such plays.
The Louisiana offense has created 27 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Louisiana-Monroe has created 14 such runs.
The Ragin’ Cajuns defense has allowed 14 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Warhawks have given up 21 such runs.
The O/U for Louisiana-Monroe’s last matchup was set at 68.5. The under cashed in that 31-17 defeat to Arkansas State.
In its last three games, Louisiana-Monroe is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Over its last three games, Louisiana is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Louisiana’s previous game was set at 67. The over cashed in the team’s 48-38 win over South Alabama.
Louisiana has averaged 6.2 yards per carry across its last three games and 8.0 over its last two.
Louisiana-Monroe has averaged 4.4 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.6 over its last two.
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