Louisiana vs Appalachian State Odds and Picks
By Chris Amberley in College Football
Published:
- #25 Louisiana is a 2.5-point road underdog versus Appalachian State on Friday, December 4th, (8:30 pm EST)
- The Mountaineers have defeated the Ragin’ Cajuns in back-to-back Sun Belt title games
- See below for analysis, odds and a betting prediction
Perennial Sun Belt powerhouses clash this weekend under the Friday night lights (Dec. 4, 8:30 pm EST). #25 Louisiana visits Appalachian State, looking to pad its lead atop the Sun Belt West standings. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 8-1 this season, and are fresh off a 50-point victory over UL Monroe.
The Mountaineers meanwhile, enter play with a 7-2 record, with their only two losses coming against undefeated Coastal Carolina and Marshall.
#25 Louisiana vs Appalachian State Week 14 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns | +2.5 (-114) | +104 | Over 53.5 (-109) |
| Appalachian State Mountaineers | -2.5 (-107) | -125 | Under 53.5 (-112) |
Odds taken Dec. 1st at DraftKings.
Appalachian State opened up as a 3-point favorite, but that number has moved slightly in Louisiana’s favor. The Mountaineers have defeated the Ragin’ Cajuns in back-to-back conference title games, and are 8-0 versus them since 2014.
Mountaineers Running Wild
Appalachian State is fresh off a lopsided victory of its own, crushing Troy 47-10 last week. The Mountaineers rushed for 275 yards, while QB Zac Thomas tossed four touchdown passes.
No shortage of highlights from today's big win at The Rock 😤#GoApp pic.twitter.com/0imtgOCKKQ
— App State Football (@AppState_FB) November 29, 2020
Despite Thomas’ performance through the air, this is a run first team. They’re averaging 256 rushing yards per game, and feature two outstanding running backs. Both Camerun Peoples and Daetrich Harrington are averaging over 5.5 yards per carry, and the duo have combined for 13 rushing scores.
Here's a second 👀 at the 63-yard TD run from @Cam_Peoples6, tying his career-long run from the 2018 bowl win against Middle Tennessee. #GoApp pic.twitter.com/nahFJnoJUc
— App State Football (@AppState_FB) November 28, 2020
In addition to the two-headed monster in the backfield, Thomas is also a threat with his legs. The Senior has carried the ball 67 times this season, and has hit pay dirt twice. He’s racked up 19 rushing touchdowns over the last three seasons, and a healthy 4.7 yards per carry.
Appalachian State’s elite ground game presents a big problem for a Louisiana program that struggles versus the run. The Ragin’ Cajuns are giving up 170 rushing yards per game and have already surrendered 16 rushing touchdowns. In their lone loss versus Coastal Carolina, they were gashed for 214 yards on the ground and two scores.
Don’t Let Levi Loose
The Louisiana offense meanwhile, revolves primarily around dual threat QB Levi Lewis. The Senior has thrown for 2,067 yards and 16 touchdowns, while rushing for 233 yards and five scores.
Levi Lewis is the most athletic QB in the Sun Belt.
That’s it. That’s the tweet.
— Seth Lewis (@SethLewisInc) November 28, 2020
Last time out versus UL Monroe, he threw three touchdowns and ran for two more, leading the Ragin’ Cajuns to 70 points. Unfortunately for Lewis however, it looks like he’ll be down his leading wide receiver for the second straight game. Peter LeBlanc missed last week’s contest, and is looking doubtful for Friday.
That could put more pressure on Lewis and lead running back Elijah Mitchell to produce on the ground, which will be no easy task versus the Mountaineers.
𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗔 dropped 𝗦𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗦 up north in Monroe!
⏪ Sunday Rewind ⏪ #cULture | #GeauxCajuns pic.twitter.com/safDQ6VkZ1
— Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns® Football (@RaginCajunsFB) November 29, 2020
Appalachian State ranks first in the conference in total yards allowed and are the Sun Belt’s second best scoring defense. They average 1.4 turnovers per game and have held six of their past seven opponents below 20 points.
Roll With the Mountaineers
These are two very evenly matched teams, but it’s hard to ignore the Mountaineers dominance in this matchup. They seem to have the Ragin’ Cajuns number, and Louisiana is likely to struggle against the powerful Appalachian State run game.
And that's an App State touchdown!@Cam_Peoples6 powers in from the 1, and App State leads 7-0 with 11:40 left in the first quarter. #GoApp pic.twitter.com/wWSdDbFbfV
— App State Football (@AppState_FB) November 21, 2020
The Mountaineers have played a tougher schedule, and have fared better against stronger competition. They’re 4-1 ATS in their last five home games versus teams with a winning record, while the Ragin’ Cajuns are 1-5 ATS over their last six contests against winning programs.
Pick: Appalachian State -2.5 (-107)
Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
