Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (5-5-7) vs. Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (2-4)
October 18, 2025 5:00 pm EDT
The Line: Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns 3 / Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles -3; Over/Under: 53.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles and Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns meet Saturday in college football action at Cajun Field. Here’s a Louisiana vs Southern Miss Prediction. This article will include a Louisiana vs Southern Miss Pick.
Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles Betting Preview
The Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles beat Jacksonville State and Georgia Southern and will play UL Monroe next. Southern Mississippi has won 4 of its last 5 games. Braylon Braxton is completing 65.3 percent of his passes for 1,473 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Carl Chester and Tychaun Chapman have combined for 490 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns, while Elijah Metcalf has 18 receptions.
The Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles ground game is averaging 147 yards per contest, and Jeffery Pittman leads the way with 346 yards and 6 touchdowns. Defensively, Southern Mississippi is allowing 27.7 points and 396.8 yards per game. Chris Jones leads the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles with 64 tackles, J’Mond Tapp has 4 sacks and Ian Foster has 2 interceptions.
Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns Betting Preview
The Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns beat Marshall, lost to James Madison, and they play Troy next. The Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns have lost 4 of their last 6 games. Daniel Beale is completing 50 percent of his passes for 395 yards, 1 touchdown, and 4 interceptions. Shelton Sampson Jr. and Robert Williams have combined for 373 receiving yards on 22 catches, while Dale Martin has 4 receptions.
The Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns ground game is averaging 184.3 yards per contest, and Zylan Perry leads the way with 411 yards and 5 touchdowns. Defensively, Louisiana-Lafayette is allowing 30.8 points and 414 yards per game. Jaden Dugger leads the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns with 52 tackles, Jaelen Crider has 1.5 sacks and Cameron Whitfield has 1 interception.
Why the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns will win
- Southern Miss has lost eight of its last nine road games.
- The home team has won each of Louisiana’s last five games.
- Louisiana has covered the spread in each of its last eight October games as an underdog.
- Southern Miss has failed to cover the spread in seven of its last eight completed road games.
- Southern Miss has lost the first half in nine of its last 11 games against conference opponents.
Why the Southern Miss Golden Eagles will win
- The favorite has won 19 of Southern Miss’ last 20 games.
- Louisiana has lost six of its last eight games.
- Southern Miss has covered the spread in each of its last five games as a favorite against teams from Louisiana.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Louisiana’s last six October games as an underdog have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Eight of Southern Miss’ last nine road games against conference opponents have gone OVER the total points line.
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Player Prop Facts
- Heading into Week 8, Tony Sterner leads the Sun Belt Conference for field goals made (8) this season.
Southern Miss Golden Eagles Player Prop Facts
- Heading into Week 8, J’Mond Tapp leads the Sun Belt Conference for sacks (4.0) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- Louisiana has recorded the equal-most home wins by a margin of three points or less of any FBS team this season (1).
- Three of Louisiana’s six games this season have been decided by a margin of three points or less – equal-most amongst FBS teams.
- Southern Miss ranks T2nd among FBS teams for interceptions this season (11).
- Southern Miss ranks T127th among FBS teams for H2 opponent points per game this season (16.0).
Louisiana vs Southern Miss Prediction
Louisiana has played its best ball at home this season, but it’s still a team that struggles offensively and is ridiculously bad defensively. It’s hard to give Louisiana serious consideration against decent teams. Southern Miss has issues defensively as well, but it has won 4 of its last 5 games and is 7-2-1 ATS in its last 10 games as a favorite. Southern Miss wins games it’s supposed to win, and it cashes tickets in these spots. We’re not asked to lay much. I’m going to lay the small number with Southern Miss on the road.
