Who: East Carolina Pirates (8-4) vs Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (8-4)
Where: Superdome
When: Saturday, December 22nd, Noon EST
TV: ESPN
Line: Louisiana by 4.5
Jay (0-1 overall, 0-1 ATS): I'm a big fan of the job Mark Hudspeth has done at Lafayette, and I'm honestly surprised that it looks like he's going to make it through another spin of the coaching carousel without getting a bigger gig. After some struggles in the wake of losing QB Blaine Gautier in September, Hudspeth managed to hold the team together and had them playing their best ball at the end of the season behind the arm (and legs) of Terrence Broadway, even coming shockingly close to defeating the Florida Gators in the Swamp. Regardless of the injury to UF QB Jeff Driskel, ULL should never be that tough of an out for a Top 5 team. On the other hand, East Carolina is 8-4 mainly because they're a decent team that played an exceptionally weak schedule in the worst division of perhaps the worst conference in college football this season. The Pirates can pitch it around well enough, so they'll put up some points, but they can't play a lick of defense. Take Lafayette, big.
LOUISIANA 45 EAST CAROLINA 24
Ross (2-0 overall, 2-0 ATS): Lafayette's biggest claim to fame this year was almost beating Florida (they led in the fourth quarter before a late Florida flurry — including a blocked punt return for a TD! — helped the Gators pull out the win). East Carolina's biggest claim to fame was… beating Marshall in a wild 2OT game, 65-59? They got destroyed in their two games against BCS competition, 48-10 to South Carolina and 27-6 to North Carolina. Neither team plays much defense, so this is a good bet for a "last team win the the ball wins" shootout. Edge to Lafayette, I guess, since the game's in Louisiana.
For additional coverage of the New Orleans Bowl check out Cajun Red Zone. If you are thinking about betting on this game make sure you head over and read what our buddies at The Saturday Edge have to say before you plunk down any of your hard earned cash.
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