Mississippi State at UL-Lafayette 8/31/19 - College Football Betting Picks & Odds
Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns
CFB: 12:00 PM EST
Aug. 31, 2019
TV: ESPNU
Latest Odds : MSST -22.5 Total 57
The Mississippi State Bulldogs open their 2019 college football regular season with a visit to Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 31 to play the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns.
Mississippi State led the nation last year in yards allowed per play on defense but its offense must improve if they want to contend in the difficult SEC East. The Bulldogs will feature a new quarterback with Keytaon Thompson or Penn State transfer Tommy Stevens getting the nod. Stevens is a dual-threat under center and favored to start. Running back Kylin Hill will provide much of the offense early for the Bulldogs. The defense lost two starting tackles, but end Chauncey Rivers is expected to cause nightmares for opposing quarterbacks.
Louisiana-Lafayette must replace its quarterback and will rely on the running back tandem of Elijah Mitchell and Trey Ragas. The new quarterback will be Levi Lewis. Ja’Marcus Bradley will be Lewis’ favor target at wide receiver with Jarrod Jackson expected to have a breakout season. Top defensive linemen Chauncey Manac and Bennie Higgins return for the Cajuns while leading tackler linebacker Jacques Boudreaux is back as well.
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Keytaon Thompson is the only returning quarterback at Mississippi State with any experience. Thompson last season threw for 458 yards, six touchdowns and one interception, but transfer Tommy Stevens is expected to start for the Bulldogs. Top rusher Kylin Hill rushed for 734 yards and four touchdowns before an injury. Stephen Guidry is the top returning receiver. In 2018, Guidry caught 19 passes for 440 yards and three touchdowns.
Levi Lewis threw for 585 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions in 2018. The top running back returning for the Ragin’ Cajuns is Trey Ragas who in 2018 rushed for 1,181 yards and eight touchdowns, while Elijah Mitchell rushed for 977 yards and 13 TDs and will lineup with Ragas in the backfield. The top returning receiver is Ja’Marcus Bradley who last season caught 40 passes for 608 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Recent Betting Trends:
Mississippi State is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 non-SEC games
The UNDER has cashed in 19 of the Bulldogs last 26
UL-Lafayette is 8-3 ATS in its last 11
The OVER has cashed in 30 of the Ragin’s Cajuns last 42 non-conference games
Free Betting Pick: Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns +22.5
Mississippi State has a strong defense returning, but will have a new quarterback under center. Healthy running back Kylin Hill will provide the offensive spark the Bulldogs will need to overcome the two-headed running attack of Ragas and Mitchell for the Ragin’ Cajuns. The Bulldogs offense will produce enough to win, but the UL-Lafayette offense will keep it close. Take the home dogs to cover. Final Score Prediction, Mississippi State Bulldogs win but fail to cover ATS 38-21