The Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns take the field at the North Texas Mean Green.

Louisiana-Lafayette has been leaning on a solid offense and a bend but don't break defense to a great 4-1 start in 2012. The Ragin' Cajuns had a bye in week seven and faced a perfect team heading in to an off week in Tulane whom they waffled 41-13 in week six. This one was over early with Lafayette taking a 24-10 lead in to the break and never looking back. The numbers tell the story with the Ragin' Cajuns out gaining the Green Wave 444-226 with 26 first downs behind a bruising ground attack that approached 300 yards. Alonzo Harris rumbled for 123 yards on 23 totes and a touchdown while Effrem Reed added 85 yards. Terrance Broadway (9-22/150) did not have a good day through the air with too many misfires but did hit Javone Lawson with two scores. The defense held Tulane to eleven first downs and had a 38 yard pick six.

North Texas had a week seven bye and really needed it as I can sense their season slipping away a bit. The Mean Green haven't had the easiest schedule with with Kansas State and LSU and a 44-21 defeat at the hands of Houston told us this team is still lacking at the offensive side of the football where they are averaging less than 20 points. Ironically the offense moved the ball with 483 total yards but were forced to the air much too often where it is a struggle. Derek Thompson (20-38/252 missed to many receivers and two interceptions on top of that were a disaster. The ground game was productive with over 230 yards and 5.8 yard average with Brandin Byrd going for 96 yards with Jeremy Brown adding 80 yards more but the run was only effective when the game was close which wasn't the case with Houston racking up 623 yards.

I think Louisiana-Lafayette is on a bit of an upswing while North Texas might be on a bit of a down turn but not by much. I simply like the mobile Broadway and the Ragin' Cajuns offense but will be looking to lay no more than three here...