In the 2019 season opener, the Mississippi State Bulldogs will play the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. This afternoon matchup will get underway at 12:00 p.m. ET and ESPNU is scheduled to have the TV rights.
Betting Preview: Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Mississippi State is the heavy road favorite and is currently giving up 21 points to Louisiana. If the Ragin’ Cajuns seize control in the early stages it will create a solid live betting opportunity. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 57.5 points.
The early action has slanted toward the over, as the game’s total was originally placed at only 56.
Against the spread (ATS) last year, the Bulldogs finished 8-5. The under hit in nine of their matchups while the over cashed in three. The Ragin’ Cajuns assembled an ATS record of 9-5 with an O/U record of 7-6.
Overall, the Ragin’ Cajuns went 7-7 straight up (SU) last season while the Bulldogs went 8-5 in 2018. Against in-conference competition, the Bulldogs went 4-4 SU while the Ragin’ Cajuns were 5-3 SU against Sun Belt programs. The Bulldogs were 4-0 SU against non-conference teams and the Ragin’ Cajuns were 2-2 SU against non-conference teams.
When these two squads faced each other a year ago, Mississippi State knocked off Mississippi State easily 56-10.
The Bulldogs averaged 129.5 passing yards per game and 186.6 rushing yards per game against their eight SEC opponents last year. They managed to score 19.3 points per game against those opponents while giving up 14.4 per contest. When facing out-of-conference teams, those numbers all improved, as they averaged 48.8 points-for and 7.3 points-against, along with 267.8 pass yards per game and 306.0 rush yards per contest.
In matchups featuring non-conference foes in 2018, the Ragin’ Cajuns passed for 247.3 yards per game and rushed for 231.0 per game on their way to 34.8 points per outing. When playing only SBC opponents, the offense recorded 33.1 points per game by averaging 203.8 passing yards and 229.8 rushing yards. The Ragin’ Cajuns defense allowed 41.8 PPG to non-conference foes and 30.1 to teams in conference
Both of these teams were highly productive in the ground game last season. The Ragin’ Cajuns rushed for 5.5 yards per carry while the Bulldogs running scheme put up a YPC of 5.7.
Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Free NCAA Betting Tip
SU Winner: Louisiana, ATS Winner: Louisiana, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The Bulldogs created 26 rushing touchdowns last season.
- The Ragin’ Cajuns put up a whopping 31 rushing touchdowns last season.
- The Bulldogs recorded 22 passing touchdowns last season.
- The Ragin’ Cajuns put up 27 passing touchdowns last season.
