The Miami RedHawks (8-5) and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (10-3) meet in Monday’s LendingTree Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff. We analyze the Louisiana-Miami betting odds and lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.
Louisiana vs. Miami: Three things you need to know
1. The RedHawks have their work cut out for them. With a margin ranked 10th in the nation, Louisiana has out-gained its opponents by 127.9 yards per game this season. Against the run, Miami has been hit-or-miss but mostly decent – especially in the season’s second half. The Mid-American Conference champions will be tested by a ULL ground game that has pounded out 3,449 yards at 6.4 yards per carry.
2. Miami has made strides under head coach Chuck Martin, but a very young 2019 team is perhaps too far over its skis in making a bowl appearance. Five of the team’s last six wins were by a one-score margin.
3. On paper, Miami was beaten soundly by Central Michigan in the MAC title game. The RedHawks got a big plus in specials teams when PK Sam Sloman connected on three field goals in excess of 40 yards (four total field goals). Two of those scores — and additionally one touchdown — were scored on drives of less than 10 yards. On special teams and in field position, Miami maintained titanic advantages CMU couldn’t overcome. MU had similar games over its second half, and those hidden-yard advantages regress more than efficiency-and-explosiveness yardage analytics.
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Louisiana vs. Miami: Odds, betting lines and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 5 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Louisiana 35, Miami 17
Moneyline (ML)
PASS on Louisiana (-527), as the point spread in this one is a far more profitable play.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on Louisiana to win outright returns a profit of $1.90.
Against the Spread (ATS)
The Ragin’ Cajuns are 6-1 ATS over their last seven games following a straight-up loss and 10-4 over their last 14 games as a favorite. Back LOUISIANA (-14.5 +105) to win by at least 15 points. Good things come to those who wait and who’ve managed their bowl funds well – I see this as perhaps the strongest play of this bowl season.
Over/Under (O/U)
Slow-paced Miami (61 plays per game) will want to win a game in the 20s. Faster-paced Louisiana (71) will be comfortable with the game getting into the 40s. Early game control and ULL’s strong run game could spell a high-scoring, one-sided Under here. That’s the lean, as we take the UNDER 55.5 (-115).
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