jimmythegreek
The opening odds start here
Louisiana -27.5 over South Alabama (bought half):
The Rajun Cajuns (7-2 4-1) come off a nice layoff from last Thursday when they crushed Coastal Carolina 48-7 at Brooks Stadium, their third straight win. Levi Lewis (26/30 298 3 TD) had a near perfect performance throwing scores to 3 different receivers led by Jamarcus Bradley (7-71 1 TD). Lewis (4-13 3.3 1 TD) also ran for a TD in addition to two other backs, led by Chris Smith (8-99 12.4 1 TD) as Louisiana racked up 564 yards of total offense, 30 first downs, and didn’t commit a turnover. The Cajuns’ defense held CCU to just 236 total yards, recorded 3 sacks and forced 2 turnovers. Bryce Carpenter (9/20 71) did not get much going for the Chanticleers, and the only offense Coastal mustered was a late TD pass from Fred Payton (3/3 62 1 TD) to Sam Denmark (1-44 1 TD) to avoid getting shut out. Meanwhile, South Alabama (1-8 0-5) remained winless in the Sun Belt dropping their 7th straight overall last week to Texas St 30-28 at Bobcat Stadium. Joshua Rowland kicked 3 field goals, including the winning boot from 41 yards with 6:14 remaining after Tra Minter’s 6 yard TD run gave the Jaguars a 28-27 lead with 10:00 to go in the game. Tyler Vitt (23/33 373 3 TD 1 INT) played well in a nip and tuck back and forth battle and seemingly gave the Bobcats a game winning cushion at 27-21 thanks to a 17 yard scoring pass late in the third quarter to Trevis Graham (2-55 2 TD). Hutch White (10-165) was Vitt’s main target which helped set up the game winning score as the Bobcats were held to only 42 collective rushing yards. Desmond Trotter (13/17 164 2 TD) kept things close by hitting Davyn Flenord (1-22 1 TD) and Jalen Wade (2-22 1 TD) with scoring passes. Minter (21-87 4.1 1 TD) nearly sealed the game midway through the 4th, and USA forced 3 turnovers, but could not deliver the upset on their final possession.
Lewis (148/221 1771 14 TD 3 INT) is a highly efficient QB with plenty of arm strength and versatility under center who’s been an extremely solid game manager as well. Jamarcus Bradley (36-510 5 TD) has been the recipient of nearly 40% of Lewis’ TD passes and is the lone workhorse downfield. However, the bread and butter of this ULL Offense is primarily by far their running attack. Elijah Mitchell (126-757 6.0 12 TD) is among the leaders in the country in rushing scores, and has run for better than 100 yards 3 times despite held to just 52 last week. Trey Ragas (75-617 8.2 8 TD) also has 3 triple digit individual efforts this season and Raymond Calais (76-573 7.5 4 TD) completes a three headed monster that has combined for nearly 2,000 yards thus far. ULL boasts the 8th rated ground game in the nation averaging 281 yards per contest. Scoring nearly 39 points on average, their passing game is almost as respectable as their run arsenal, so the opposition is regularly challenged when it comes to controlling the Cajuns’ tempo. That’s no exception for USA’s defense, which allows 31 points per game overall, including 202 yards on the ground which is in the bottom 20. Nick Mobley leads the Jags with 75 tackles, but USA has only 13 sacks all season. Travis Reed has 3 INT’s but given the lack of depth against the run and pass, Lewis and the core RB’s should carve up the Jaguars early and often.
Trotter (16/26 207 2 TD) should get the nod once again after the Jaguars have now gone through a trio of starting QB’s. USA is among the futile productive squads in the country scoring just 16 points per contest and just a shade over 300 total yards. Their passing attack is 8th worse overall, and their ground game isn’t much better, although Minter (132-744 5.6 3 TD) could be the relative lone bright spot. Combined due to a lack of personnel and injuries, South Alabama is limited in both facets with Kawaan Baker (26-435 3 TD) probably their best deep threat. Playing right into the Cajuns’ hands, they allow the same amount of points USA scores, and are top 20 against the pass surrendering only 192 yards on average through the air. Joe Dillon is an intimidating presence in the pass rush with a team leading 6 sacks while Jacques Bordeaux has 62 tackles this season. A slow pace might keep the scoring down early, but there is a clear disparity in objective and urgency in comparison with both teams.
The Jaguars have one of the most lackluster offenses in the nation. ULL is 11th overall in scoring and has a scary, quick, and wearing down ground game along with a formidable QB having himself a better than expected campaign. Look for the Ragin Cajuns to completely dismantle the Jaguars as USA will remain hard pressed to amass a conference win this season.
I’ll have a second play ready to go for week 12 on Saturday.
The Rajun Cajuns (7-2 4-1) come off a nice layoff from last Thursday when they crushed Coastal Carolina 48-7 at Brooks Stadium, their third straight win. Levi Lewis (26/30 298 3 TD) had a near perfect performance throwing scores to 3 different receivers led by Jamarcus Bradley (7-71 1 TD). Lewis (4-13 3.3 1 TD) also ran for a TD in addition to two other backs, led by Chris Smith (8-99 12.4 1 TD) as Louisiana racked up 564 yards of total offense, 30 first downs, and didn’t commit a turnover. The Cajuns’ defense held CCU to just 236 total yards, recorded 3 sacks and forced 2 turnovers. Bryce Carpenter (9/20 71) did not get much going for the Chanticleers, and the only offense Coastal mustered was a late TD pass from Fred Payton (3/3 62 1 TD) to Sam Denmark (1-44 1 TD) to avoid getting shut out. Meanwhile, South Alabama (1-8 0-5) remained winless in the Sun Belt dropping their 7th straight overall last week to Texas St 30-28 at Bobcat Stadium. Joshua Rowland kicked 3 field goals, including the winning boot from 41 yards with 6:14 remaining after Tra Minter’s 6 yard TD run gave the Jaguars a 28-27 lead with 10:00 to go in the game. Tyler Vitt (23/33 373 3 TD 1 INT) played well in a nip and tuck back and forth battle and seemingly gave the Bobcats a game winning cushion at 27-21 thanks to a 17 yard scoring pass late in the third quarter to Trevis Graham (2-55 2 TD). Hutch White (10-165) was Vitt’s main target which helped set up the game winning score as the Bobcats were held to only 42 collective rushing yards. Desmond Trotter (13/17 164 2 TD) kept things close by hitting Davyn Flenord (1-22 1 TD) and Jalen Wade (2-22 1 TD) with scoring passes. Minter (21-87 4.1 1 TD) nearly sealed the game midway through the 4th, and USA forced 3 turnovers, but could not deliver the upset on their final possession.
Lewis (148/221 1771 14 TD 3 INT) is a highly efficient QB with plenty of arm strength and versatility under center who’s been an extremely solid game manager as well. Jamarcus Bradley (36-510 5 TD) has been the recipient of nearly 40% of Lewis’ TD passes and is the lone workhorse downfield. However, the bread and butter of this ULL Offense is primarily by far their running attack. Elijah Mitchell (126-757 6.0 12 TD) is among the leaders in the country in rushing scores, and has run for better than 100 yards 3 times despite held to just 52 last week. Trey Ragas (75-617 8.2 8 TD) also has 3 triple digit individual efforts this season and Raymond Calais (76-573 7.5 4 TD) completes a three headed monster that has combined for nearly 2,000 yards thus far. ULL boasts the 8th rated ground game in the nation averaging 281 yards per contest. Scoring nearly 39 points on average, their passing game is almost as respectable as their run arsenal, so the opposition is regularly challenged when it comes to controlling the Cajuns’ tempo. That’s no exception for USA’s defense, which allows 31 points per game overall, including 202 yards on the ground which is in the bottom 20. Nick Mobley leads the Jags with 75 tackles, but USA has only 13 sacks all season. Travis Reed has 3 INT’s but given the lack of depth against the run and pass, Lewis and the core RB’s should carve up the Jaguars early and often.
Trotter (16/26 207 2 TD) should get the nod once again after the Jaguars have now gone through a trio of starting QB’s. USA is among the futile productive squads in the country scoring just 16 points per contest and just a shade over 300 total yards. Their passing attack is 8th worse overall, and their ground game isn’t much better, although Minter (132-744 5.6 3 TD) could be the relative lone bright spot. Combined due to a lack of personnel and injuries, South Alabama is limited in both facets with Kawaan Baker (26-435 3 TD) probably their best deep threat. Playing right into the Cajuns’ hands, they allow the same amount of points USA scores, and are top 20 against the pass surrendering only 192 yards on average through the air. Joe Dillon is an intimidating presence in the pass rush with a team leading 6 sacks while Jacques Bordeaux has 62 tackles this season. A slow pace might keep the scoring down early, but there is a clear disparity in objective and urgency in comparison with both teams.
The Jaguars have one of the most lackluster offenses in the nation. ULL is 11th overall in scoring and has a scary, quick, and wearing down ground game along with a formidable QB having himself a better than expected campaign. Look for the Ragin Cajuns to completely dismantle the Jaguars as USA will remain hard pressed to amass a conference win this season.
I’ll have a second play ready to go for week 12 on Saturday.