LendingTree Bowl Picks & Odds: Louisiana 8-3 ATS in Last 11 Games as Double-Digit Favorite Laying 14 to Miami-Ohio
- Louisiana is a 14-point favorite against Miami (Ohio) in the LendingTree Bowl
- The Ragin’ Cajuns recorded their first 10-win season in program history
- Read below for the odds and how to bet on Monday’s matchup
Louisiana (10-3, 7-2 Sun Belt) is currently a 14-point favorite over Miami-Ohio (8-5, 6-2 Mid-American) in the LendingTree Bowl on Monday, January 6th (7:30 PM EST).
The Ragin’ Cajuns have reached 10 wins for the first time in program history, while the RedHawks captured the MAC Championship and will be making their first bowl appearance since 2016.
Will Louisiana’s lethal offense be enough to cover the large spread or should you back the underdog in the Louisiana vs. Miami Ohio odds?
Louisiana vs Miami-Ohio Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Ohio | +14.0 (-112) | +380 | Over 54.5 (-110) |
| Louisiana-Lafayette | -14.0 (-108) | -500 | Under 54.5 (-110) |
Odds taken Jan. 2.
High-Powered Ragin’ Cajun Offense
The Ragin’ Cajuns are averaging 38.8 points and 501.3 yards per game – both of which rank top ten nationally. The team’s firepower on offense has led to them being 9-4 ATS this season, including covering three spreads larger than 14 points.
🤟 2019 was a good year for the #cULture. pic.twitter.com/Kb5nbiQCvv
— Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns® Football (@RaginCajunsFB) December 31, 2019
QB Levi Lewis has thrown for 2,804 yards and 24 TDs and thrown just four interceptions, while RB Elijah Mitchell is one of three running backs on the team with over 700 rushing yards.
Mitchell leads a talented stable of backs against a RedHawks team that has struggled against the run all season, ranking 80th in the country with 174.1 rushing yards allowed per game.
Can the RedHawks Keep Up?
Louisiana has better talent at almost every position, but will Miami-Ohio at least score enough to cover the spread?
The RedHawks may have won the MAC this year, but they did so with one of the easiest schedules in the country. They rank 92nd nationally when it comes to strength of schedule and were only able to cover the spread in six of its 13 games.
Freshman QB Brett Gabbert has thrown just 11 TD passes with eight interceptions this season, and the RedHawks only have two running backs with over 500 rushing yards – both of whom are under the 700-yard mark.
Considering Louisiana has a stellar pass defense allowing under 200 yards per game, I don’t see Miami-Ohio being able to score much in this game.
Ragin’ Cajuns Will Be Hungry
Louisiana only lost three times this season, including their conference championship game, and two of those losses were against the Sun Belt power App State. Billy Napier’s team has played well off a loss, as they are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games following a defeat.
They’ve covered the spread in eight of their last 11 games when favored by 10 points or more and are 4-0 ATS in their last four non-conference games.
Meanwhile, Miami-Ohio is just 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games against non-conference opponents.
Betting Advice
This may seem like a large spread for a bowl game, but there’s value in laying the points with the favorite when you consider Louisiana’s track record. Expect strong games from Lewis and Mitchell to propel the Ragin’ Cajuns to another convincing victory over a non-conference opponent.
Pick: Louisiana -14 (-108)
Brady is the lead NHL and College Football editor at Sports Betting Dime, where he specializes in betting odds and data-driven analysis. Brady has over 10 years experience working in sports media, with work published by outlets such as ESPN, CBS Sports, Yahoo! Sports and Fox Sports.
