The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (6-6) and Houston Cougars (7-5) meet in the Independence Bowl Friday at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, La. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Louisiana vs. Houston odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Ragin’ Cajuns whipped Texas State 41-13 in San Marcos as 5.5-point favorites to close out the regular season, attaining bowl eligibility in grand style. Still, Louisiana is just 2-3 SU/ATS in the final 5 games.
Louisiana averaged 27.0 PPG on offense this season, a transition year after coach Billy Napier departed for Florida, turning the keys over to Michael Desormeaux. The defense was strong, allowing just 22.8 PPG to rank 38th in the country.
Houston last played on Nov. 26, losing to Tulsa at home 37-30 as 13-point favorites. The offense did its part, scoring 30 or more points for the 7th consecutive game, and 11th time in 12 outings.
The Cougars defense has been the Achilles’ heel of the team, allowing 430.0 total yards per game (ranked 110th), 285.8 passing YPG (126th) and 33.5 PPG (118th).
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Louisiana vs. Houston odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 12:16 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Louisiana +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | Houston -270 (bet $270 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Louisiana +7 (-109) | Houston -7 (-111)
- Over/Under (O/U): 57 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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Louisiana vs. Houston picks and predictions
Prediction
Houston 34, Louisiana 31
Moneyline
Houston will cost you more than 2 1/2 times your potential return, and that’s way too risky for a team with such an awful defense. The Cougars have a solid offense with QB Clayton Tune, but no lead is ever safe with this D.
PASS.
Against the spread
LOUISIANA +7 (-109) is worth playing despite the fact QB Ben Wooldridge (lower body) is sidelined due to an injury. Still, backups Chandler Fields and Zeon Chriss proved to be more than capable, helping put up 41 on Texas State in the finale.
Houston -7 (-111) is 1-4 ATS in the last 5 games, while going just 2-5 ATS in the last 7 neutral-site battles.
Over/Under
OVER 57 (-108) is easily the best play on the board here.
There is concern, as Wooldridge is out. But even with a combination of Fields and Chriss, the Cajuns should be able to move the ball early and often on the struggling Cougars defense.
The Over is 3-1-1 in the last 5 neutral-site games for Louisiana, while going 6-0 in the last 6 games after a straight-up win.
The Over finished on a 6-1 run for Houston, while going 4-0 in the last 4 non-conference tilts, too.
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