The Georgia Southern Eagles (5-4, 2-3 Sun Belt) visit the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (4-5, 2-4) for a Thursday night conference battle in Lafayette. Kickoff at Cajun Field is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Georgia Southern vs. Louisiana odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
Georgia Southern has played in 3 consecutive 1-score games. The most recent of those was a 38-31 loss to South Alabama Saturday. The setback for the Eagles — a 3.5-point underdog — came after a bye week and wins of 28-23 over Old Dominion and 45-38 over James Madison. The Sun Belt’s top offense (480.2 total yards per game) was held to a season-low 366 yards in the loss to South Alabama.
The Ragin’ Cajuns are also coming off a 1-score setback. Louisiana was undone by 3.5-point favorite Troy 23-17 Saturday. UL coughed up a 17-point lead in losing its 2nd straight game.
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Georgia Southern at Louisiana odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 11:23 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Georgia Southern +140 (bet $100 to win $140) | Louisiana -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Georgia Southern +3.5 (-115) | Louisiana -3.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 61.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Georgia Southern at Louisiana picks and predictions
Prediction
Georgia Southern 38, Louisiana 34
Moneyline
Respecting the close-game angle to this contest and the spread in general. Going to PASS here, but will double back to see if a Georgia Southern +155 becomes available. The Eagles passing advantage makes them a solid side, just not 1 with leverage at current pricing.
Against the spread
AVOID. See above.
Over/Under
Louisiana likes to run the ball. Analytics call Georgia Southern’s defense against the run into question perhaps even more than its 224.6 yards per game allowed (127th FBS). And the Eagles allow a few too many big plays against the run.
Likewise, UL allows too many explosive plays through the air. Enter the Eagles passing game, which cranks out 331.4 yards per contest (4th).
On offense, the Eagles have been quite good in the red zone; the Cajuns have been solid overall and improving in that area in recent weeks. Louisiana’s red-zone defense has left much to be desired.
On a good-weather night in central Louisiana, expect some back-and-forth upward spiral in a scoring exchange.
BACK THE OVER 61.5 (-110).
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