by Chuck Sommers
Wednesday, Sep 22, 2021
Game time: 6 p.m. ET, September 25, 2021
Venue: Allen E. Paulson Stadium, Statesboro, GA
Where to watch: ESPN+
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Louisiana-Lafayette -14; O/U 53.5; ULL -590, GSO +425
BetMGM: Louisiana-Lafayette -13.5; O/U 53.5; ULL -556, GSO +425
Caesars: Louisiana-Lafayette -13.5; O/U 54; ULL 600, GSO +425
Season record
Louisiana-Lafayette: 2-1
Georgia Southern: 1-2
Team Del Genio was a PERFECT 4-0 in all-sports on Saturday to further a 9 of 11 (82%) HOT STREAK this week, WINNING their 25* NCAA-F Pac-12 Game of the Month with USC and their 25* NCAA-F Saturday TV Total of the Month with the ASU/BYU under! Catch Del Genio’s and other plays available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.
Louisiana-Lafayette - Georgia Southern preview and analysis
Recent form
UL-Lafayette: won 49-14 vs. Ohio on Sept. 16
Georgia Southern: lost 45-10 at No. 16 Arkansas on Sept. 18
This should be an easy week for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns on the road as two-score favorites against the Georgia Southern Eagles on Saturday.
Ultimately, this matchup comes down to which offense is the better unit and there’s no doubt that the Cajuns have the advantage in almost every category. ULL is coming off a 35-point home win over the Ohio Bobcats where quarterback Levi Lewis accounted for 283 total yards and one touchdown.
More importantly, the Cajuns’ run game dominated to the tune of 310 rush yards (averaging 95 ypg prior to Saturday) and five touchdowns. Four of them came from Montrell Johnson. Safe to say the offensive line can stand tall for this group.
It’s been a ho-hum start to the season for the Cajuns following the 20-point loss to the Texas Longhorns. The only other win was against FCS Nicholls, winning by three points. To respond the way they did in dominant fashion was a good sign heading into this weekend.
The Eagles have been manhandled outside of a disappoint five-point win over Gardner Webb in Week 1. GSO lost by 32 to Florida Atlantic the following week, and then got ran over by the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday. The good news is starting QB Justin Tomlin made his return after serving a two-game suspension for academic issues. He started against Arkansas and, the bad news, went 11-of-23 for 65 yards. He did run for a nice 69 yards and the only touchdown along with throwing no interceptions.
On top of being one-dimensional, the Eagles aren’t in position to stop a passing attack. Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson threw for 366 yards on 13 completions and three touchdowns. Lewis can either throw the ball or trust his group of backs -- that are still producing even with Elijah Mitchell in the NFL -- to get the job done.
Also keep in mind that Georgia Southern had 33 players inactive a couple weeks ago due to COVID-19. Even if some of those players are coming back, they’re not going to be in game shape with one quarter of the college football season now over with. Not an ideal matchup for the underdogs.
Prediction
This one shouldn’t take long to finish. This is one of those rare wide gaps in the Sun Belt Conference that will show by the end of the result. ULL by 27
Betting trends
Louisiana-Lafayette is 6-0 against the spread after outrushing teams by 125 yards or more in the previous game.
Georgia Southern is 7-7 ATS in its last 14 as an underdog, but 3-11 straight up in those instances.
Players to watch
Louisiana-Lafayette: While Montrell Johnson got the shine last week, Chris Smith is still the leader in that rushing group. Smith had 68 yards and a touchdown against Ohio.
Georgia Southern: Logan Wright has struggled since running for 177 yards in the opening game against Gardner Webb. In his last two games, he’s had only 13 carries for 66 yards and a touchdown.
Statistical leaders
Louisiana-Lafayette:
Passing: Levi Lewis -- 798 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Chris Smith -- 168 yards, 2 TD
Receiving: John Stephens Jr. -- 85 yards, 3 TD
Defense: Lorenzo McCaskill -- 23 tackles
Georgia Southern:
Passing: Cam Ransom -- 204 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Rushing: Logan Wright -- 243 yards, 2 TD
Receiving: Khaleb Hood -- 81 yards
Defense: Kevon Glenn -- 17 tackles
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
