The Troy Trojans and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns will square off on the turf at Cajun Field. Kickoff for this critical game is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET and ESPN+ will broadcast the action.
Betting Preview: Troy Trojans vs. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
In this Saturday Sun Belt game, Louisiana has been labeled as the big favorite and is currently giving up 15 points. The Trojans are also receiving +510 moneyline odds while the Ragin’ Cajuns are -750. It appears that there should be multiple good live betting possibilities while this match is underway, and Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 70 points.
Sharp bettors are siding with the Ragin’ Cajuns. The opening line was initially -13 while the over/under was originally set at 69.5.
The Trojans are 4-6 against the spread (ATS) and are down 2.6 units so far. The team’s posted an O/U mark of 7-3.
The surprising Ragin’ Cajuns have gained 3.0 units this season. They’re 8-2 ATS and own an even O/U record of 5-5.
The Trojans have gone 5-5 straight up (SU), including 3-3 SU against SBC opponents. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 8-2 SU overall and 5-1 SU in conference play.
The Trojans hope to keep things rolling after a 63-27 win over Texas State last week. The passing attack was on point as Kaleb Barker completed 30 passes for 363 yards and six touchdowns. DK Billingsley (only 40 rushing yards on 12 attempts) led the ground attack while Kaylon Geiger (eight receptions, 61 yards) and Luke Whittemore (four catches, 56 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Louisiana just earned a 37-27 win over South Alabama. Levi Lewis completed 16-of-28 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Elijah Mitchell (117 yards on 17 rush attempts, one TD) and Raymond Calais (77 yards on 13 carries) mounted the running game while Ja’Marcus Bradley (three receptions, 27 yards) and Jamal Bell (three catches, 51 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Troy has run the ball on 45.9 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Louisiana has a rush percentage of 60.4 percent. The Trojans have produced 152.6 rush yards per game (including 154.3 per game against Sun Belt opponents) and have 18 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Ragin’ Cajuns are totaling 278.4 rushing yards per game (248.2 in conference) and have 34 total rush TDs.
The Trojans offense has tallied 325.1 yards per contest through the air overall (350 per game against conference opposition) and has 30 passing scores so far. The Ragin’ Cajuns have recorded 210 pass yards per outing (189 against SBC competition) and have 17 total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, Troy has allowed 144.6 rush yards and 264.4 pass yards per game. The Louisiana defense has allowed 183.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 167.2 yards per game to opposing runners. The Ragin’ Cajuns are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.98 to opposing QBs, while the Trojans have given up a 6.90 ANY/A.
Offensively, Barker has already amassed 2,839 passing yards on the year. The signal-caller has connected on 67 percent of his 346 attempts with 27 scores through the air and only six interceptions. Barker has a pristine 8.21 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 9.68 over the last two outings.
The Trojans will likely try to control tempo by feeding their running backs early and often. Along with Kaylon Geiger (692 yards, five TDs), DK Billingsley (656 rush yards, seven rush TDs, 98 receiving yards) and Jabir Daughtry-Frye (109 rush yards, two rush TDs, 67 receiving yards) have brought significant production to the Troy offensive scheme.
Levi Lewis has completed 138-of-219 passes for 1,611 yards, 13 TDs and three INTs for Louisiana. His ANY/A stands at 7.26 for the season and 8.88 across his past two games.
The Ragin’ Cajuns will also try to dictate the game’s pace by turning to their backfield. Elijah Mitchell (822 rush yards, 13 rush TDs, 38 receiving yards), Raymond Calais (624 rush yards, four rush TDs, one receiving TD) and Chris Smith (148 rush yards, two rush TDs) have seen quite a few touches recently.
When these two schools faced each other a year ago, Troy earned the win 26-16.
Troy Trojans vs. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Betting Prediction
SU Winner: Louisiana, ATS Winner: Louisiana, O/U: Under
Team Betting Trends
- The Trojans offense has recorded eight pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Ragin’ Cajuns have put up three such plays.
- The Troy defense has allowed 13 pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Louisiana has given up six such plays.
- The Troy offense has created 10 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Louisiana has created 29 such runs.
- The Trojans defense has allowed nine rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Ragin’ Cajuns have given up 12 such runs.
- The Troy defense has sacked opposing QBs 29 times this season. Louisiana has produced just 20 sacks.
- Troy has rushed for 5.1 yards per attempt over its past three contests and 5.9 over its last two.
- Louisiana has averaged 6.0 yards per carry over its last three games and 5.9 over its past two.
- In its last three contests, Louisiana is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Troy’s last game was 64.5. The over cashed in the team’s 63-27 win over Texas State.
- In its last three matches, Troy is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- The O/U for Louisiana’s last matchup was set at 53. The over cashed in the 37-27 win over South Alabama.
- Louisiana has won nine of its last 10 games SU, with a -10-point defeat to Appalachian State on October 9th representing its only loss over that span.
