Louisiana Lafayette Ragin Cajuns (3-2 SU, 2-3 ATS) vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (4-2 SU, 4-2 ATS)
College Football Week 8
Date and Time: Tuesday, October 15th, 2014, 8:00 pm EST
Where: L.T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kent.
TV: ESPN2/DirecTV 209
by Badger, Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: UL-Laf. +4.5/W.Kent. -4.5
Over/Under Total: OFF at time of print.
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The Sun Belt Conference gets the national spotlight Tuesday night on ESPN2
when a battle to stay in contention for the conference title is put on the
line between the Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette and
the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in L.T. Smith Stadium.
Lafayette is 1-0 in the Sun Belt and hoping to keep a three-game win streak rolling when they back on the road Tuesday night. The Cajuns beat a scrappy Akron team on their last road trip (35-30), and the offense led by QB Terrance Broadway was Ragin last week with 572 yards in a 48-24 tuneup against Texas State on October 5th.
Of course, the Hilltoppers made news this summer hiring Bobby Petrino and the move paid off instantly in the form of an opening season upset of Kentucky, 35-26. But the hangover from the big upset cost the Hilltoppers as they followed it with two straight losses, including a loss in their Sun Belt opener at South Alabama. The hangover looks over though, as the Hilltoppers took down conference favorite UL-Monroe last time out on the road in impressive fashion, 31-10.
The opening point spread for Tuesdays primetime telecast opened with West. Kentucky as -4.5 favorites (and has not moved) and there was no over/under at time of print.
Offensively this game could turn into a shootout.
Lafayette and the duel-threat Broadway have been clicking of late, with the former Houston transfer throwing 7 touchdowns and just one pick during the three game win streak. Running back Alonzo Harris (6.0 yards per carry, 3TD) is a dependable weapon alongside Broadway, and Darryl Surgent is shifty out of the slot in the Cajuns attack. It was Broadway who sliced the Hilltoppers last year, running for 145 yards and throwing for 258 in a 34-27 win, scoring the game winner from 14 yards out with only 30 seconds left on the click.
Of course with Petrino pulling the strings, you know Western Kentucky will bring some high-powered offense to the game on Tuesday. Their quarterback Brandon Doughty is solid, but he has struggled bad in the Hilltoppers two losses throwing eight interceptions, so the Hilltoppers cant afford to play from behind. The Hilltoppers best player is clearly running back Antonio Andrews, who is averaging 7.1 yards a carry with nine touchdowns already in 2013, who should have some good success against a Lafayette defense that allows over 167 yards a game on the ground.
Western Kentucky covered by the hook last year as 4.5-point underdogs on the road, with the game falling right on the closing number of 58 to push. The Hilltoppers have covered in four of their six, including three in a row and last week when they were over a touchdown favorite on the road (-7.5).
Badger’s Pick to Cover the Point Spread: While handicapping this game, I found something very interesting. UL Lafayette appears to be a very slow starting team. With this in mind, I’m betting the 1st half line on Western Kentucky.
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