The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (-5.5) will clash with their conference nemesis Arkansas State Red Wolves at Centennial Bank Stadium. Kickoff for this importantshowdown is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET and interested parties can view the action live on ESPNU.
Betting Preview: Arkansas State Red Wolves vs. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
In this Thursday Sun Belt matchup, Louisiana is labeled as the favorite and is currently giving up 5.5 points. The Ragin’ Cajuns are also receiving -235 moneyline odds while the Red Wolves are +185. If one program finds paydirt early it’ll result in a worthwhile in-game betting opportunity. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 67.5 points.
The game’s total has moved much higher after initially being set at 65. The opening spread has not changed.
The Ragin’ Cajuns are 5-1 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 0.9 units so far in 2019. The team’s posted an O/U record of 4-2.
The Red Wolves have lost 0.7 units this season. The team is 2-4 ATS and also owns an O/U record of 4-2.
The Ragin’ Cajuns are 4-2 straight up (SU), including 1-1 SU against conference opponents. The Red Wolves are 3-3 SU overall and are also 1-1 SU in conference play.
The Ragin’ Cajuns came up short to Appalachian State 17-7 in a matchup where Levi Lewis completed just 13-of-24 passes for 131 yards and one touchdown. Elijah Mitchell (68 yards on 13 rushes) spearheaded the ground attack in the loss while Jarrod Jackson (five receptions, 68 yards) and Mitchell (two catches, 10 yards) handled the receiving duties.
Two weeks ago, Georgia State knocked off this Arkansas State crew by a score of 52-38. The Red Wolves defense allowed the Panthers to pass for 382 yards while rushing for 340 yards and six scores. Tra Barnett had a good showing in the win, posting 139 rushing yards and a score on 14 attempts for Georgia State. For Arkansas State, Layne Hatcher completed 21-of-32 passes for 299 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. Hatcher (3 rushing yards on 10 attempts) and Marcel Murray (58 yards on six carries, one TD) spearheaded the ground game in the defeat while Kirk Merritt (nine receptions, 84 yards, one TD) and Omar Bayless (eight catches, 154 yards, three TDs) led all Arkansas State pass-catchers.
Louisiana has run the ball on 59.8 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Arkansas State has a rush percentage of 43.6 percent. The Ragin’ Cajuns have produced 282.2 rush yards per game (including 199 per game against Sun Belt opponents) and have 22 scores via handoffs this year. The Red Wolves are totaling 113.7 rush yards per game (109 in conference) and have five total rushing TDs.
It appears that the Ragin’ Cajuns might own the advantage in all aspects of the ground game. Their backfield has generated 6.9 yards per carry while the defense is allowing a YPC of 4.3 to opponents. The Red Wolves have recorded 3.8 yards per carry and allowed a YPC of 5.1 to opponents.
The Ragin’ Cajuns offensive scheme has tallied 210.2 yards/contest in the air overall (148 per game against conference opposition) and has 10 passing TDs so far. The Red Wolves have recorded 317.2 pass yards per game (381 against SBC competition) and have 18 total pass scores.
Defensively, Louisiana appears to have the upper hand in both facets. The team has allowed opponents to run for an average of 164.8 yards and throw for 180 yards per game. The Arkansas State defense has allowed 317.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 219.3 yards per game to opposing runners. The Ragin’ Cajuns are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.65 to opposing QBs, while the Red Wolves have given up a 7.33 ANY/A.
Offensively, Lewis has put up 946 passing yards this year, and has connected on 63 percent of his 128 attempts with eight passing scores and only two interceptions. Lewis has a 7.04 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.98 over the last two games.
In the home locker room, Layne Hatcher has completed 24-of-37 passes for 352 yards, four TDs and three INTs. Hatcher’s ANY/A sits at 6.76 for the year and 9.45 over his past two outings.
These two teams faced off a year ago with the final outcome being a 47-43 win for Louisiana.
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves Betting Pick
SU Winner: Louisiana, ATS Winner: Louisiana, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- The Over/Under for Louisiana’s previous game was 69. The under cashed in the team’s 17-7 defeat to Appalachian State.
- As a team, Louisiana has produced 5.6 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.3 over its last two.
- Arkansas State has averaged 4.0 yards per carry over its last three matchups and only 3.9 over its past two.
- The Arkansas State offense has lost four fumbles this season while Louisiana has lost seven.
- In its last three contests, Louisiana is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Arkansas State’s last match was set at 69. The over cashed in the team’s 52-38 loss to Georgia State.
- In its last three games, Arkansas State is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- The Ragin’ Cajuns offense has recorded three pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Red Wolves have put up 12 such plays.
- The Louisiana defense has allowed two pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Arkansas State has given up eight such plays.
- The Louisiana offense has created 20 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Arkansas State has created six such runs.
- The Ragin’ Cajuns defense has allowed eight rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Red Wolves have given up nine such runs.
- The Louisiana defense has 13 sacks on the year while Arkansas State has 12.
