Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Picks, Predictions, Odds

Dec. 4, 2021
Dan Dobish
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Appalachian State Mountaineers (10-2) travel to meet the Louisiana Ragin' Cajun (11-1) for the Sun Belt Championship Game at Cajun Stadium in Lafayette, La. on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed ESPN.

Score Prediction

Louisiana 33, Appalachian State 27

Best Bets

Louisiana +120 ML

Louisiana +3 (-110)

Over 53.5 (-110)

Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Predictions

The Mountaineers worked hard to overtake Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt East, and took advantage of an injury to Chanticleers QB Grayson McCall down the stretch. Now, App State gets a chance for revenge after an embarrassing loss back in mid-October.

Appalachian State turned up the intensity after a 41-13 emasculation at Louisiana on Oct. 12, and the Mountaineers were actually favored by four in that game. Nothing went right, and it served as a wake-up call. App State has won six straight since then, and they had covered five in a row until failing to cover in the final against Georgia Southern by a 27-3 score on a 24.5-point number. A big reason for the success in the final three games was the defense, allowing a total of 17 points, allowing a Georgia-like 5.7 PPG across the past three.

Louisiana, ranked 24th in the CFP standings, has also gone streaking since its only loss of the season. In fact, they've won 11 in a row since falling 38-18 at Texas back on Sept. 4. Remember when the Ragin' Cajuns were nationally ranked, facing fellow preseason ranked Texas? Well, while the Longhorns won that day, things went off the rails for the latter. For the Ragin' Cajuns they could be well on their way to a postseason ranking in all the polls again if they can win Saturday, and follow it up with an impressive showing in a bowl.

More Free College Football Picks

Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Betting Resources

  • Matchup: Sun Belt Championship
  • Date: Saturday, December 4, 2021
  • Venue: Cajun Field
  • Location: Lafayette, Louisiana
  • TV-Time: ESPN, 3:30 p.m. ET

Appalachian State Mountaineers Betting Analysis

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

  • SU: 10-2
  • ATS: 8-4
  • O/U: 5-7

The mascot of the Mountaineers, you know, the guy with the beard, pipe and top hat is named Yosef. It's mountain talk for "yourself". If you were a bettor pounding the Mountaineers down the stretch, you were enjoying "yosef". App State was on a 5-0 ATS run from Oct. 20-Nov. 20, including a 30-27 upset of previously unbeaten Coastal at Kidd-Brewer on a chilly night on All Hallow's Eve.

Appalachian State meets Louisiana in the SBC title game trilogy. The Mountaineers won the first title game in 2018 against ULL by a 30-19 margin, while the Cajuns covered as the UNDER hit. In the most recent SBC title game, Appy won 45-38, narrowly covering a six-point number as the OVER cashed. Both of those games were played in Boone, but this trilogy game will be played in Lafayette.

The Mountaineers are 5-1 ATS across the past six games overall, while also going 5-1 ATS in the past six games on the road. They're also 4-1 ATS in the past five as a favorite, while going 4-1 ATS in the past five as a road fave. The non-cover in those past two? It was the Louisiana game in October, so there's that. And App State is 1-5 ATS in the past six road games against a team with a winning home record.

As far as the total, the UNDER has hit in five of the past seven for App State, while going 4-0 in the past four trips to Lafayette, and 5-1 in the past six meetings overall with the Cajuns.

Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Betting Analysis

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

  • SU: 11-1
  • ATS: 5-7
  • O/U: 3-9

The Ragin' Cajuns have rattled off 11 straight victories, although they're just 5-6 ATS during the win streak. While there was a lot of inconsistency against the number, total bettors had a lot more clarity. The UNDER is 9-3 in 12 games overall this season, including the first meeting with App State on Oct. 12.

Head coach Billy Napier, who has accepted the same job at the University of Florida, will coach the team in the SBC title game, and presumably its bowl game. Will that be a distraction, or will the team play hard to send him out on a high note. That's a big question.

Louisiana has covered four of the past five games as an underdog, while going 4-1 in the past five as a home 'dog, too. They're also 5-2 ATS in the past seven against teams with a winning overall mark, too. As far as the total, the UNDER is an impressive 14-2 in the past 16 meetings at Cajun Stadium, while going 11-3-1 in the past 15 games against teams with winning overall record. The UNDER is also 6-0-1 in the past seven at home against teams with a winning road mark.

ULL routed App State as a short 'dog in October, and it's unlikely they have that easy of a time again. But the good news for the Ragin' Cajuns, the underdog is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings in this series.


The Mountaineers have posted a 5-2 ATS mark in the past seven against winning teams. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Appalachian State Mountaineers

  • Record: 10-2
  • VI Ranking: 26
  • Points Scored: 429
  • Points Allowed: 227
  • PS/G: 35.8
  • PA/G: 18.9

Inside the Stats - Louisiana Ragin Cajuns

  • Record: 11-1
  • VI Ranking: 17
  • Points Scored: 375
  • Points Allowed: 222
  • PS/G: 31.3
  • PA/G: 18.5

Key Players to Watch

  • APP: Chase Brice - QB (215/338, 2,903 yards, 22 TD, 10 INT)
  • APP: Camerun Peoples - RB (145 rushes, 764 yards, 13 TD)
  • LA: Levi Lewis - QB (202/330, 2,437 yards, 22 total TDs, 4 INT)
  • LA: Montrell Johnson - RB (135 rushes, 776 yards, 11 TD)

Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Betting Conclusion

The Mountaineers head back to Louisiana looking to get it right after getting pounded in the regular-season meeting in Lafayette. Appalachian State looked awfully impressive in its final six games, but that's not terribly surprising considering the combined records of the final five opponents is just 19-41, and none are headed for a bowl games.

Louisiana is hoping the third time is the charm in the SBC title game, and they finally get the Mountaineers on their field after having to travel to the chilly mountains for the past two. They were supposed to play Coastal Carolina last season, but the game was wiped out due to COVID, and they were declared co-champs. But that's not good enough. The Ragin' Cajuns want an outright win and championship, on the field, in front of their fans, and they're going to get it. It won't be easy, but Louisiana has a solid defense which will keep the App State run game at bay, and limit the damage done by Brice and the pass game.

It's time for the Cajuns to rage as conference champs, and they'll likely be headed for the New Orleans Bowl.

Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Louisiana Ragin Cajuns Betting Trends

  • Appalachian State is 5-1 ATS in the past six games overall.
  • Appalachian State is 5-1 ATS in the past six road games.
  • Louisiana is 4-1 ATS in the past five games as an underdog.
  • The UNDER is 5-2 in the past seven games for App State.
  • The UNDER is 14-2 in the past 16 home games for Louisiana.
  • The road team is 7-3 ATS in the past 10 meetings in this series.
  • The UNDER is 5-1 in the past six meetings in this series.