Georgia State Panthers vs. Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Nov. 4, 2021

Stuart Durst
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

A Sun Belt showdown on Thursday night sees the ranked Louisiana Ragin Cajuns host the Georgia State Panthers. Kick off is set for 7:30 p.m.ET and will air on ESPN from Cajun Field in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Score Prediction

Louisiana 31, Georgia State 23

Best Bets

Georgia State +12

Georgia State Panthers vs. Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Predictions

Who doesn't like a good ole fashioned rivalry game? The No. 24 Louisiana Ragin Cajuns are hosting the Georgia State Panthers in a very important game for both teams. The Ragin Cajuns are coming in with a lot to lose. Not only are they nationally ranked, but they also hold an impressive 7-1 record. Georgia State is currently 4-4 and fighting to stay in contention in the Sun Belt.

While this line was much better at +13/+13.5, then +12 is still worth a look. Last year, these two teams played a close game that resulted in Louisiana narrowly winning 34-31 in OT. Both of these teams are going to be playing incredibly hard, and I'm just not willing to lay the points despite Louisiana's impressive resume over the last couple of years.

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Georgia State Panthers vs. Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Betting Odds

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Georgia State Panthers vs. Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Betting Resources

• Matchup: Sun Belt
• Date: Thursday, November 4, 2021
• Venue: Cajun Field
• Location: Lafayette, Louisiana
• TV-Time: ESPN - 7:30 p.m. ET

• Weather Report
• College Football Playoff Betting

Georgia State Panthers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 4-4
• ATS: 5-3
• O/U: 5-3
• ATS - Home: 2-2
• ATS - Away: 3-1

Georgia State is currently 4-4, but that doesn't tell the whole story. They started the season with an unimpressive 1-4 record, but have since bounced back and won three straight games. Obviously facing Louisiana will be one of their toughest matchups of the season, but they do have some momentum on their side.

If I were the Georgia State coach, I wouldn't let this team forget about last season's result. Their roster is composed of a majority of returning starters and these guys will remember just how close they were to taking them down last year. If you can bring a team into overtime, it's essentially 50/50 and these guys need to remember that they can hang with the best of them.

If this spread was +7, I might not be as interested but I'm not willing to lay 12 points in this situation. College football is about understanding spots and these emotional rivalry games definitely play a part in the number. GA State has shown me over the last couple weeks that they can hang with the big dogs, and have covered on the road more times than not this season.

Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 7-1
• ATS: 3-5
• O/U: 1-7
• ATS - Home: 3-1
• ATS - Away: 0-4

Louisiana is in the middle of a seven-game win streak and are going strong this season. After a tough loss to a ranked Texas team in Week 1, this team hasn't looked back. If they keep winning, they could be in a position to play in a New Year's bowl game and need to continue to win these games to keep that dream alive.

Louisiana quarterback Levi Lewis is coming off a history-making performance, throwing for three touchdowns in a 45-0 shutout win against Texas State. Not only did this give them momentum, but Lewis also set the program record for most touchdowns thrown. Lewis has thrown for just over 1,600 yards this season and currently holds an 11:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. If the quarterback has continue to efficiently manage the game, this team will be in a good position to win on Thursday.

Another impressive thing about Louisiana is its defense. They currently rank 21st for points allowed in the nation, and that's including playing some tough teams like Texas and App State. They're currently holding opponents to just under 20 points per game and will need another impressive performance to win this game.

Georgia State has covered the spread in three of its last four road games. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Georgia State Panthers

• Record: 4-4
• VI Ranking: 89
• Points Scored: 191
• Points Allowed: 241
• PS/G: 23.9 (97th)
• PA/G: 30.1 (95th)

Inside the Stats - Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Chanticleers

• Record: 7-1
• VI Ranking: 18
• Points Scored: 256
• Points Allowed: 154
• PS/G: 32 (42nd)
• PA/G: 19.2 (21st)

Key Players to Watch

• GAST: Darren Grainger - QB (74/123, 924 yards, 11 TD 3 INT)
• GAST: Tucker Gregg - RB (96 carries, 552 yards, 5 TD)
• LA: Levi Lewis - QB (142/227, 1,655 yards, 11 TD, 3 INT)
• LA: Chris Smith - RB (98 carries, 621 yards, 8 TD)

Georgia State Panthers vs. Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Betting Conclusion

The total is something I stayed away from here. There is always a wide range of outcomes when you have teams in the Sun Belt, but Louisiana’s defense is definitely something to respect. I think not only will GA State cover this game, but I'm expecting a genuinely close football game.

Georgia State Panthers vs. Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Betting Trends

• Georgia State has covered the spread in three of its last four road games.
• Louisiana has gone UNDER in seven of its last eight games.
• Louisiana has covered the spread in the three of its last four home games.
• Louisiana has failed to cover the spread in six of its last nine games.

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