The nation’s fourth-leading rusher, Kenneth Dixon (524 yards, 5 TDs), and fifth-leading receiver, Trent Taylor (413 yards, 3 TDs), will be on display when the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs meet the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns. The Bulldogs currently hold a 2-2 record, and the Ragin’ Cajuns have gone 1-2. The game will begin Saturday, Oct 3 at 7:00 p.m. ET and can be seen on AMSN.
Louisiana Tech beat FIU 27-17 last week. Kenneth Dixon had an outstanding performance on the ground in the win, gaining 169 yards and two TDs on 25 carries. Jeff Driskel had a big game as well, totaling 226 yards and a TD through the air. Louisiana-Lafayette didn’t have the same success as Louisiana Tech, getting dominated by Akron 35-14 in its matchup. Gabe Fuselier had a solid outing for the Ragin’ Cajuns, totaling five receptions for 50 yards and one TD. Elijah McGuire also had a big game with 83 rushing yards and a TD on 16 attempts.
Oddsmakers have deemed the Louisiana Tech and Louisiana-Lafayette game as an even matchup and the Over/Under (O/U) is unavailable at the moment.
The Bulldogs enter the game with a record of 2-2 Straight Up (SU) and Against The Spread (ATS) this season. The Louisiana Tech offenses features a strong pass attack, currently ranking 20th in the nation with 319.2 passing yards per game. Transitioning to the Louisiana Tech defense, there are a few things to keep in mind when it is on the field. A vital part of the game will be whether the Bulldogs can attack Louisiana-Lafayette’s ball security, which currently is one of the worst in the nation with 1.3 fumbles lost per game. The Bulldogs make it hard on their opponents in the second quarter. Louisiana Tech averages 16.2 points during that period, one of the best in the country. Mistakes could completely alter the game in favor of the Bulldogs this week, as Louisiana-Lafayette is among the most penalized teams in Division I. This season, the Ragin’ Cajuns have recorded 77 penalty yards per game.
On the other side, the Ragin’ Cajuns are a good bet so far, with a respectable record of 2-1 ATS. Their SU record, 1-2, hasn’t been quite as good. The Ragin’ Cajuns pass defense makes opponents earn every catch, allowing a completion percentage of only 48.1%. The Ragin’ Cajuns generally save their best for last, averaging 11 points in the fourth quarter.
Predictions: SU Winner – Louisiana Tech, ATS Winner – Louisiana Tech
Notes
Louisiana Tech is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games.
Louisiana Tech is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home.
Louisiana Tech is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Louisiana-Lafayette.
Louisiana-Lafayette is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Louisiana Tech.
Louisiana-Lafayette is 1-0 SU when leading at the half this season. Louisiana Tech is 2-1 SU when taking a lead into halftime.
Among all FBS teams, the Louisiana Tech offensive passing game is ranked 20th in the country, while the Louisiana-Lafayette pass defense is only ranked 60th. The Ragin’ Cajuns passing attack is ranked 96th, compared to the 103rd-ranked pass defense of the Bulldogs.
Louisiana-Lafayette has given up 30.7 points per game this year, which is ranked only 97th in the country. Louisiana Tech has put up 40.0 points per contest this year and is ranked 18th in FBS.
