The Ragin’ Cajuns of the Sun Belt Conference enter the season with a lot of respect, ranked No. 23 in The Associated Press Top 25. They won 10 of 11 games last season, including a 31-14 road win against Iowa State of the Big 12.
The Longhorns, who are ranked No. 21, won seven of 10 games a year ago, including a win over Colorado in the Alamo Bowl. Head coach Steve Sarkisian took over for the departed Tom Herman as a 7-3 record in 2020, and 32-18 in four seasons, which wasn’t good enough for the faithful of the burnt orange. Let’s take a look at the NCAAF odds for this matchup.
Saturday, September 04, 2021 – 04:30 PM EDT at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
The machine still has most of its parts. The Ragin’ Cajun offense that averaged 423 yards and 34 points per game – and beat Iowa State last year – gets back everyone but its two-star running backs Elijah Mitchell and Trey Regas.
However, QB Levi Lewis is a veteran going into his fifth year, the offensive line should be the best in the Sun Belt, and the style of play can take over games.
The Texas defense still has a long, long way to go to be elite.
The new coaching staff can only do so much in an offseason, and it needs to crank up a run D that should have a word of problems if Louisiana is able to do what it does so well. But it’s not just the offensive side that makes Billy Napier’s team so strong.
The Ragin’ Cajun defense gets back almost all of the top tacklers from a group that was brilliant at taking the ball away and was among the nation’s most efficient teams against the pass.
Texas has some big-time guys ready to go, and it starts with head coach Steve Sarkisian.
This isn’t going to be 2020 Alabama right away – if at all – on offense, but the former Tide offensive coordinator knows how to make an O move, new UT OC Kyle Flood is brilliant at coaching up offensive lines, and there isn’t a whole lot that has to be done for an attack that averaged 475 yards and 43 points per game.
Bijan Robinson has the upside to be among the nation’s top running backs, the line is loaded with veterans, and the passing game should be fine with – most likely – a good group of young receivers ready to shine.
No, the D might not be elite quite yet, but there’s size, a ton of experience, and a potentially great back eight around LB DeMarvion Overshown and a wonderful group of safeties.
Let’s do a little bit of roll slowing on Louisiana. It’s a dangerous, well-coached team with a great group of parts – it can absolutely win this game. However, it’s going to take a perfectly pitched game to do it.
Yeah, the Ragin’ Cajuns beat Iowa State to start 2020. They gained just 272 yards, were helped in a huge way by going +2 in turnover margin, and came up with both a kickoff and a punt return for a touchdown. It’s not like the offense worked.
Texas can’t make the same mistakes the Cyclones did. It can’t turn the ball over – that’s job #1 for new starting quarterback Hudson Card – there can’t be a slew of breakdowns, and it has to play a full 60 minutes – the Ragin’ Cajuns will keep on coming.
It’s going to be a fight for Louisiana, but the defense will rise up after giving up a few early scoring drives, and the offense will click in the third quarter after giving away a few turnovers early so I’m tipping them for my NCAAF pick here.
NCAAF Pick: Ragin’ Cajuns +8.5 (-112) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.