In a battle of two schools that like to keep the ball on the ground, Mountaineers (-25) are gearing up to welcome their SBC counterpart Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns to Appalachian State. ESPN+ will broadcast the action and this key afternoon game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns vs. Appalachian State Mountaineers
Appalachian State has been tabbed as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 25 points to Louisiana. If the Mountaineers fall behind early on it will result in a decent in-game betting opportunity. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 66 points.
Each of these teams has been profitable this year as the Ragin’ Cajuns have gained 1.4 units and the Mountaineers are up 2.0 units.
The Ragin’ Cajuns have gone 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 coming off a resounding 66-38 victory over New Mexico State last week. 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 ground attack in the win while Jarrod Jackson (four receptions, 63 yards, two TDs) and Ryheem Malone (three catches, 52 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties.
Appalachian State enters this one following a 35-9 win over Arkansas State. The team’s defense allowed the Red Wolves to run for 117 yards on 37 rush attempts. Kirk Merritt had a productive showing in the loss, recording 73 yards on nine catches for Arkansas State. For Appalachian State, Zac Thomas completed 12-of-27 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Darrynton Evans (115 yards on 16 rush attempts, one TD) mounted the ground game in the win while Jalen Virgil (two receptions, 47 yards) and Malik Williams (two catches, 19 yards) led the receiving attack.
Breaking down the offensive play-calling, each of these squads sports a remarkably similar (61-39) run-pass ratio on the season. The Ragin’ Cajuns have run for 248.2 yards/game (including 282.5 per game against Sun Belt opponents) and have 14 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Mountaineers are totaling 264.8 rushing yards per game (297.0 in conference) and have 16 total rush TDs.
If 2018 numbers are any indication, then it’s looking like the Mountaineers could hold an advantage in terms of RB effectiveness. Their backfield has generated 6.5 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 2.9 to opponents. The Ragin’ Cajuns have tallied 6.1 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 5.5 to opponents.
The Ragin’ Cajuns offensive scheme has logged 227.0 yards per contest through the air overall (186.5 per game against conference opposition) and has 15 passing TDs so far. The Mountaineers have recorded 232.0 pass yards per contest (157 against SBC foes) and have 12 total pass scores.
Defensively, Louisiana has let opponents run for an average of 217.2 yards and pass for 257.7 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 just 3.20 to opposing QBs, while the Ragin’ Cajuns have given up a whopping 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. He’s got an 8.04 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 11.73 over the past two games.
In the other locker room, 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 over his past two games.
When these two programs faced one another a year ago, Appalachian State knocked off Louisiana by a landslide 63-14.
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns at Appalachian State Mountaineers Free NCAA Betting Tip
SU Winner: Appalachian State, ATS Winner: Louisiana, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- The O/U for Louisiana’s previous game was 66. The over cashed in the team’s 66-38 win over New Mexico State.
- Louisiana, as a team, has rushed for 6.1 yards per attempt across its past three outings and 6.4 over its last two.
- Appalachian State has averaged 7.8 yards per carry over its last three games and 7.1 over its past two.
- Appalachian State has lost two fumbles this season while Louisiana has let one get away.
- Over its last three contests, Louisiana is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- The O/U for Appalachian State’s last game was 58.5. The under cashed in the 35-9 triumph over Arkansas State.
- In its last three matchups, Appalachian State is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- Each team has produced four pass plays of 40 or more yards. The Ragin’ Cajuns have have made 10 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Mountaineers have created 11 such plays.
- The Louisiana defense has allowed five pass plays of 40+ yards, while Appalachian State has given up two such plays.
- The Louisiana offense has created 16 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, 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 D has 15 sacks on the year while Appalachian State has just eight.
