The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (4-3, 2-2 Sun Belt) and Southern Miss Golden Eagles (4-3, 2-1) will battle in a Thursday night affair at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg. Kickoff in the Sun Belt contest is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Louisiana vs. Southern Miss odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
Louisiana was favored by 5.5 points and won by 20 in a 38-18 conquest over Arkansas State Saturday. The Cajuns nearly doubled up the Red Wolves in yardage (522-271) in their 2nd straight win after losing 3 in a row. The 522 yards marked a season-high for a Cajuns squad that ranks 10th in the SBC, averaging 356.3 total yards per game.
The Golden Eagles have also won 2 straight games. They downed Arkansas State on Oct. 15 and beat Texas State 20-14 (as a 2.5-point favorite) on Saturday. The Southern Miss offense ranks 13th (of 14 teams) in total yardage (334.0 average), but it ranks 7th in total defense (349.9 YPG) in a league that has tilted toward that side of the ball this autumn.
UL and USM have not met on the gridiron since 2016.
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Louisiana at Southern Miss odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 9:12 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Louisiana +102 (bet $100 to win $102) | Southern Miss -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Louisiana +1.5 (-115) | Southern Miss -1.5 (-107)
- Over/Under (O/U): 43.5 (O: -112 | U: -112)
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Louisiana at Southern Miss picks and predictions
Prediction
Louisiana 20, Southern Miss 17
Moneyline
Southern Miss has been playing in some close games, and that includes a 27-24 win at current No. 24 Tulane on Sept. 24.
Peg the visitors in this game as being slightly overrated in a couple of surface-stat categories. But the Eagles would only be a solid play at -110 or better. Otherwise, PASS.
Against the spread
This game being played close to the vest with 1 side or the other sliding by on a field goal feels about right. The O/U betting here looks to have the most value. PASS.
Over/Under
The Under is 6-0 in USM’s last 6 conference games.
Both defenses can create some havoc, and neither offense boasts much consistency in the success rate department or much of an ability to create explosive plays.
The Golden Eagles should be able to keep this game close. They like to run the ball, and they have scuffled in the red zone. Peg this game as being played at a slower pace with perhaps a few drives fizzling into field-goal attempts.
BACK THE UNDER 43.5 (-112).
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