Week 1: Louisiana vs Southeastern Louisiana 9/3/22 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds
Southeastern Louisiana Lions (0-0) vs. Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (0-0)
September 3, 2022 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns -14 / Southeastern Louisiana Lions +14 ; Over/Under:
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The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and Southeastern Louisiana Lions square off Saturday in week 1 college football action from Cajun Field. SE Louisiana is coming off a 9-4 overall season in 2021, ultimately falling in the FCS Playoffs. As for the Cajuns, they went 13-1 overall as they bagged a conference championship and New Orleans Bowl victory. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.
SE Louisiana had their ups and downs last season but they were a solid team overall. The Lions would finish 9-4 overall and 6-2 in Southland Conference play. That left Southeast Louisiana in second place in the standings, behind Incarnate Word at 7-1.
The Lions were a very competitive team in 2021; their first three losses to LA Tech, Incarnate Word and Nicholls each came by just three points. Southeastern Louisiana took out Florida A&M in the FCS Playoffs, but fell in the second round to James Madison 59-20.
Over on the Louisiana side, they had a great team in 2021. The Cajuns rumbled through the season at 13-1 overall and 8-0 in Sun Belt play. Louisiana won the West Division by a whopping five games and took out Appalachian State 24-16 in the conference championship game.
Louisiana opened up the year with a loss 38-18 to Texas, but after that the team never looked back. The Cajuns rattled off 13 straight wins after that, scoring at least 20 points in each outing. The season ended with a nice 36-21 win over Marshall in the New Orleans Bowl.
PICK: I’m probably staying with Louisiana but not touching it. The Cajuns have been killing it over the last couple of seasons, and by most indications fans will have to readjust their expectations in 2022—there’s really nowhere else to go after a stellar 13-1 campaign. That said, there’s enough talent left here to make some noise in the Sun Belt, even with Levi Lewis and Montrell Johnson gone. RB Chris Smith should have another nice season, and receivers Michael Jefferson and Peter LeBlanc are potent weapons. There are of course plenty of question marks, but plenty of potential as well.
