The Sun Belt Conference battles the MAC when Louisiana hosts Ohio for a national TV inter-conference bout Thursday night in Lafayette. Both these teams were expected to contend for their respective conference titles this season, but neither has performed anywhere close to expectations so far. In fact, they both had troubles with FCS programs last week.
The Cajuns are favored by three touchdowns for this game down in their bayou; which way are we going here with our free Week 3 pick ATS?
CFB Betting Odds
Week 3’s college football oddsboard opened Louisiana at -20 over Ohio, with an over/under of right around 54.5. Early betting action then goosed that total to 57.
Ohio-Louisiana College Football Betting Preview
The Bobcats are off to a very disappointing 0-2 start to this season after losing at home to FCS Duquesne last week 28-26. Ohio returned the opening kick-off of the game for a touchdown, then drove its first possession 75 yards to another score and a 13-3 lead. But the Bobcats then allowed the Dukes to score the game’s next 22 points to fall down 25-13 early in the fourth quarter. Ohio rallied to within two points on a touchdown with nine seconds left but came up empty on a 2-point conversion and took the outright loss as a 28-point favorite.
The Bobcats got out-gained by Duquesne 362-307 and lost time of possession by a huge 41:19 split.
Ohio opened its season two weeks ago with a 29-9 loss to Syracuse, as the Bobcats defense gave up 293 yards on the ground.
Ohio returned 17 starters this season, nine on offense and eight on defense, and was supposed to contend for the MAC’s East Division title. But so far, they’ve stunk.
More Picks: Alabama vs. Florida Prediciton
The Cajuns, meanwhile, are off to a 1-1 start after holding off FCS Nichols State last week 27-24. Louisiana drove its opening possession of the game 80 yards to a touchdown and led 17-10 at the half. The Cajuns then scored the first 10 points out of the locker room, let the Colonels get within three points with 30 seconds left but recovered an on-side kick to secure the victory.
However, Louisiana came nowhere close to covering the spread as a 26-point favorite.
The Cajuns actually got out-gained by Nicholls State 511-394, out-rushed 152-90, and lost time of possession 33:27. And that’s not how a 26-point favorite is supposed to perform.
Louisiana opened its season with a 38-18 loss to Texas, whiffing ATS as a nine-point underdog.
The Cajuns returned 20 starters this season, ten on both sides of the ball, from a team that played 10-1 last year. So Louisiana figured to be right in the running for that Group of 5 New Year’s Day bowl berth. But they certainly haven’t shown much so far this season.
Ohio-Louisiana History
The Bobcats are 2-1 all-time against the Cajuns, all meetings since 2007. Most recently, though, Louisiana beat Ohio in Athens two seasons ago 45-25, winning that game outright as a three-point underdog.
- Get more details: Ohio at Louisiana-Lafayette 9/16/21 Match-up Stats
College Football Betting Trends
Over the last five seasons, the Sun Belt Conference is 11-6 SU, 8-9 ATS against the MAC.
Totals Report
Ohio’s season opener against Syracuse played under a total of 55.5, while last week’s game against Duquesne played over a total of 48.5.
Unders are 2-0 in Louisiana games this season, which has averaged 54 total points against an average over/under of 61.
