The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and the South Alabama Jaguars meet Saturday in college football action from Hancock Whitney Stadium. Louisiana is fresh off a matchup versus Georgia State this past weekend. In that game the Cajuns took a tough three-point loss to drop to 4-3 on the season. As for South Alabama, they moved to 4-3 overall this year following a blowout win versus Southern Miss last Tuesday. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.

Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 

Louisiana managed a pretty decent 4-2 start over their first six games this year. The two losses came to Old Dominion 38-31 and Minnesota 35-24. Otherwise the Cajuns were able to topple Northwestern State 38-13, UAB 41-21, Buffalo 45-38 and Texas State 34-30. In the win over the Bobcats, Louisiana QB Zeon Chriss threw for 205 yards and three scores while rushing for 67 yards and another TD. 

On Saturday versus Georgia State, Louisiana gave up 20 points in the second quarter and spent the rest of the game trying to come back in a 20-17 loss. Chriss had just 106 yards this time with one TD and one pick, but also led the rush on 119 yards. Jacob Bernard added 30 yards on three catches as well. 

Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Team Facts

• Louisiana has won 12 of its last 13 matches when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• Louisiana has covered the spread in each of its last five October games as an underdog against non-AP-ranked teams.
• Louisiana has won the first quarter in five of its last six road games against conference opponents.
• Seven of Louisiana’s last eight October games as an underdog against non-AP-ranked teams have gone UNDER the total points line.

South Alabama Jaguars 

Over on the Jaguars’ side, they’ve been a mixed bag this year but have also posted consecutive wins a couple of times already. South Alabama’s losses have come to Tulane 37-17, Central Michigan 34-30 and James Madison 31-23. The wins otherwise have been over Southeastern Louisiana 35-17, Oklahoma State 33-7, LA-Monroe 55-7 and Southern Miss 55-3. 

In the Southern Miss game last Tuesday, South Alabama posted double-digit points in each of the first three quarters on the way to the blowout win. The Jaguars got 319 yards on 21-of-27 passing from QB Carter Bradley, but La’Damian Webb did most of the scoring with 102 yards and four TDs off 20 carries. Jamaal Pritchett added 122 yards off five catches as well. 

South Alabama Jaguars Team Facts

• South Alabama has won seven of its last eight games against conference opponents.
• The home team has covered the spread in each of the last four games between Louisiana and South Alabama.
• South Alabama has won the first quarter in six of its last eight home games against conference opponents.
• Each of South Alabama’s last four games against non-AP-ranked teams have gone OVER the total points line.

Matchup/League Facts

• South Alabama rank T21st among FBS teams for points per game this season (35.4).
• South Alabama rank T29th among FBS teams for points allowed per game this season (19.4).
• Louisiana rank T36th among FBS teams for points per game this season (32.9).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’m going to try South Alabama in this one. The Jaguars have played a pretty competent season so far, and they’ve come up with some really nice victories. South Alabama posted 647 yards total (360 passing), 8.6 yards per play and 34 first downs in the blowout win over Southern Miss, holding the Golden Eagles to just 149 yards (46 passing), 12 first downs and 1-of-13 on third-down conversions on the other side. The Jaguars have outscored opponents by a lopsided 110-10 across their last two games. 

As for Louisiana, they had just the one bad quarter versus a good Georgia State team in their last outing. The Cajuns offense was pretty tepid on 289 yards (124 passing) and 4.3 yards per play, though. It was the first time all season that Louisiana has scored fewer than 24 points. I like a fairly high total in this one as the Cajuns rebound, but I think South Alabama can keep pace.