The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (+25) are heading northeast to battle their conference rival Appalachian State Mountaineers at Kidd Brewer Stadium. ESPN+ will televise the action and this critical daytime game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns at Appalachian State Mountaineers Betting Preview
Appalachian State has been tabbed as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 25 points to Louisiana. Vegas has determined the over/under (O/U) to be 66 points. There should be some decent in-game betting scenarios for this matchup.
Each of these teams has rewarded gamblers this season as the Ragin’ Cajuns have gained 1.4 units and the Mountaineers are ahead 2.0 units.
The Ragin’ Cajuns are 3-3 straight up (SU), including 1-1 SU against SBC opponents. The Mountaineers are 4-1 SU overall and 2-0 SU in conference play.
The Ragin’ Cajuns are looking to maintain momentum after a solid 66-38 win over New Mexico State last week. The Ragin’ Cajuns defense allowed the Aggies to rush for 122 yards on 25 attempts, including three rush TDs. Offensively, Andre Nunez completed 19-of-25 passes for 315 yards and five touchdowns. Trey Ragas (94 rushing yards on 18 attempts) and Elijah Mitchell (107 yards on 12 carries, three TDs) led the running attack while Jarrod Jackson (four receptions, 63 yards, two TDs) and Ryheem Malone (three catches, 52 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Appalachian State is coming off of a 35-9 win over Arkansas State. Zac Thomas completed 12-of-27 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Darrynton Evans (115 yards on 16 rush attempts, one TD) spearheaded the running game as Jalen Virgil (two receptions, 47 yards) and Malik Williams (two catches, 19 yards) led the receiving attack in the win.
Each squad sports a remarkably similar (61-39) run-pass ratio on the season. The Ragin’ Cajuns have run for 248 yards per game (including 283 per game against Sun Belt opponents) and have 14 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Mountaineers are totaling 265 rushing yards per game (297 in conference) and have 16 total rush TDs.
It appears that the Mountaineers may own an edge in all aspects of the ground game, since their running backs has logged 6.5 yards per carry while the defense has allowed a YPC of 2.9 to opponents. The Ragin’ Cajuns have rushed for 6.1 yards per carry while allowing 5.5 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Ragin’ Cajuns offensive scheme has averaged 227 yards through the air overall (187 per game versus conference opposition) and has 15 passing scores so far. The Mountaineers have recorded 232 pass yards per contest (156.5 in the SBC) and have 12 total pass TDs.
Louisiana has let opponents run for an average of 217 yards and pass for 258 yards per game. The Appalachian State defense has allowed 181.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 106.8 yards per game on the ground. The Mountaineers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 3.20 to opposing QBs, while the Ragin’ Cajuns have given up an ugly 8.77 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Nunez has put up 931 yards this year, and has connected on 71 percent of his 105 attempts with 10 scores through the air and only three interceptions. Nunez’s got an 8.04 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 11.73 over the last two games.
For the home team, Zac Thomas has completed 62-of-94 passes for 894 yards, eight TDs and one INT. Thomas’ ANY/A stands at 9.67 for the year and 6.00 across his past two outings.
These two squads faced off last year with the final result being a 63-14 victory for Appalachian State.
RELATED: Week 8 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Prediction: Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns vs. Appalachian State Mountaineers
SU Winner – Appalachian State, ATS Winner – Louisiana, O/U – Over
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The O/U for Louisiana’s last game was set at 66. The over cashed in the team’s 66-38 victory over New Mexico State.
As a team, Louisiana has averaged 6.1 yards per carry across its last three outings and 6.4 over its last two.
Appalachian State has averaged 7.8 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 7.1 over its past two.
The Appalachian State offense has lost two fumbles this season while Louisiana has let one get away.
In its last three matchups, Louisiana is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
The O/U for Appalachian State’s last game was set at 58.5. The under cashed in the 35-9 win over Arkansas State.
In its last three matches, Appalachian State is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Both teams have produced four pass plays of 40+ yards. The Ragin’ Cajuns have have made 10 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Mountaineers have accounted for 11 such plays.
The Louisiana defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Appalachian State has given up two such plays.
The Louisiana offense has created 16 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Appalachian State has created 12 such run.
The Ragin’ Cajuns defense has allowed 10 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Mountaineers have given up one such run.
The Louisiana defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks 15 times this season. Appalachian State has recorded just eight sacks.
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