The last bowl game for the Saturday slate of games is none other than the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. This matchup is between Louisiana Lafayette (12-1) and Marshall (7-5). A Sun Belt vs C-USA matchup that will be a great way to end the Bowl slate for Saturday. I am excited for this matchup on Saturday night, and this should be a game that should be watched by many college football fans. With that being said here is my preview for the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
Louisiana Lafayette
UL Lafayette is led by senior quarterback Levi Lewis, who will be a handful for this Marshall defense. Lewis is efficient through the air and doesn’t make many mistakes as he has four interceptions in his last 359 attempts. The Ragin Cajuns should also be in full force fan wise in this matchup. With the game being a played in New Orleans which is a short drive from Lafayette, the Ragin Cajuns will basically have a home game in this one. ULL was 7-0 at home this year if that doesn’t show how important the home field is for UL Lafayette.
The one worry that I have for the Ragin Cajuns is that they won the Sun Belt title, what else is there to play for? Their head coach is becoming the new coach of the university of Florida, so they won’t have him. Instead, they will have Michael Desormeaux a former player and assistant for the team will be calling the plays in the New Orleans Bowl for ULL. That is a scary thing to think about, but it doesn’t mean it is a bad thing for the Ragin Cajuns. We’ll see how Desormeaux does juggling the play calls, but I would be a little bit worried heading into this game.
Marshall
First year head coach Charles Huff had his work cut out for him at the beginning of the season. Marshall started off 2-3, but then rattled off the season by winning five out of their last seven. They looked great the last seven games of the season and this team can compete with the number 23rd ranked team in the country. Grant Wells took a big step forward this season by completing 67 percent of his passes and throwing for 3,436 passing yards this season.
This Louisiana Lafayette defense is very strong against the pass, but as of late has struggled against the run. Marshall might have to trust freshman running back Rasheen Ali to get the offense going early on. Ali has twenty rushing touchdowns this season for Marshall and averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2021. It is a lot to ask for from a freshman, but with the way Ali has been all season long you have to ride the hot hand in certain situations. Look for Marshall to have to switch up the play call to not only be not pass heavy, but to keep the Ragin Cajuns defense on their toes.
Prediction:
UL Lafayette is currently a four-point favorite in this matchup with the over/under being 55.5. For the total on this game, I think I would lean towards the over as both defenses will allow points. My play on this is Marshall +4. UL Lafayette has nothing to play for, a play caller that has never called plays in a game before. I don’t trust them, and I like Marshall to win this game outright as well. If UL Lafayette wins this game, it is by a field goal. I am going to take the money line on Saturday but trust me when I tell you to take the points here.
-Chris Jones (@cjoneswho1212)
Featured image (theemblemsource.com)
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