App State (3-1 ATS) Are Small Favorites vs Louisiana (5-0 ATS) in Week 7 – Picks & Odds
- The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns are 6-1 ATS and SU in their last seven where the spread is between +3 and -3.
- Appalachian State has covered seven straight after a bye week.
- Five of the last six meetings between the teams have gone under.
Appalachian State has started the year 4-0, which includes a win at North Carolina.
Even so, they find themselves as an underdog at Louisiana in Week 7. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 4-1 and are hosting this primetime Wednesday night matchup on ESPN.
Taking a look at the App State vs Louisiana odds, which side is the best bet for tonight’s crucial game in the Sun Belt Conference title race?
Appalachian State vs Louisiana Odds
| Team | Runline | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State | -1 (-110) | -115 | Over 69.5 (-115) |
| Louisiana Lafayette | +1 (-110) | -105 | Under 69.5 (-105) |
*Odds taken 10/09/19
App State Has Been Impressive
We weren’t exactly sure what to expect from Appalachian State under new head coach Eli Drinkwitz, but through four games, it’s been more of the same. This is a team that went 11-2 last year and 9-4 the year before, so even with the hiring of Drinkwitz, the winning culture has carried over.
Some might argue the team has taken the next step as the win at North Carolina was special. They had lost 11 straight to Power 5 programs and while North Carolina is an average ACC team, it’s still big for the Mountaineers to go on the road and earn that win.
How Good Is the Defense?
As the Mountaineers head into Wednesday’s affair, one concern has to be the defense. They’ve given up a lot of points to bad teams and that’s going to be a concern as they head into conference play.
The Mountaineers gave up 31 points to North Carolina, which is perfectly fine. However, they gave up 37 to Coastal Carolina last week, which is an eye-popping number. They also gave up 41 points to Charlotte earlier in the season. Their run-defense better show up this week or they’ll be handed their first loss.
Is Louisiana Legit?
We don’t exactly know a ton about the Ragin’ Cajuns as they lost 38-28 to Mississippi State to start the year, but have since collected four straight wins. They have a dynamic running game, which is led by running backs Trey Ragas and Elijah Mitchell. Paired with Levi Lewis, who is completing 65% of his passes, this is a quality offense.
The defense has also been decent as the Ragin’ Cajuns are giving up about 21 points per game. Of course, much of that has come against worse competition, though, as Mississippi State rang up 38 points, Ohio had 25 and Georgia Southern had 24.
What’s the Best Bet?
Both teams come into this game with extra rest as both return off of bye weeks. There’s really not much between these two sides but I’m rolling with the Mountaineers as a small favorite.
I think the difference in this game will be something minor, which is why bettors need to be aware of Louisiana’s kicking woes. Kicker Stevie Artigue has made just two of his six field goal attempts with a long of 27 yards.
App State has won give in a row in this series since joining the SunBelt (in 2014) and I expect them to extend that streak on Wednesday. While they’re not in the conversation of the College Football Championship odds, a win keeps their New Year’s Six bowl hopes alive.
For over 15 years, Dave has been working in mainstream media and sports betting. He hosted a station on Sirius Satellite Radio for four years, and is currently a senior writer for AskMen. He's interviewed hundreds of hundreds of high-profile sports stars like Shaquille O'Neal and Floyd Mayweather.
