The 2021 Sun Belt Championship Game on Saturday will feature No. 24 Louisiana and Appalachian State. The teams will face off at Cajun Field in Lafayette, La. The Ragin' Cajuns haven't lost since their season-opening loss to Texas, while the Mountaineers have rattled off six straight victories. Louisiana won the first matchup of the season between the teams 41-13 on Oct. 12. Head coach Billy Napier will remain on the Louisiana sideline for this one before turning his attention to new job at Florida.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. The Mountaineers are 2.5-point road favorites in the latest Appalachian State vs. Louisiana odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 52. Before finalizing any Louisiana vs. Appalachian State picks, be sure to see the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,700 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It also enters Championship Week 2021 on a 42-28 run on all top-rated college football side picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Appalachian State vs. Louisiana and locked in its picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the CFB odds and betting trends for Louisiana vs. Appalachian State:
- Appalachian State vs. Louisiana spread: Appalachian State -2.5
- Appalachian State vs. Louisiana over-under: 52 points
- Appalachian State vs. Louisiana money line: Mountaineers -135, Ragin' Cajuns +115
- APP: The total has gone under in five of the Mountaineers' previous six games against the Ragin' Cajuns
- UL: The Ragin' Cajuns are 5-0 straight up in their last five home games
Why Appalachian State can cover
The Mountaineers have been elite against the spread this year. They're 8-4 ATS overall and 4-1 ATS on the road. The Ragin' Cajuns are the only team that's stopped the Mountaineers from covering so far, and the favorites are a below-average team ATS. The visitors' well-rounded team has the offense and defense to bounce back.
The Mountaineers have given up fewer than 11 points in four games this year and excel against the pass and the run. The Mountaineers' run defense gives up 113.1 yards per game, and their pass defense allows 206.3 yards per contest. App. State's ability to get stops has contributed to five consecutive double-digit wins. The Mountaineers also average 35.8 points per game thanks to Chase Brice's prolific passing and a strong ground game.
Why Louisiana can cover
Louisiana is just 5-7 ATS overall but has been extremely impressive at home. The Ragin' Cajuns are a perfect 6-0 straight up at Cajun Field. All their home wins have been by at least three points, and three of them have been double-digit victories.
The Ragin' Cajuns give up 18.5 points per game, and their scoring defense is even better at home. Visiting teams average a mere 14 points per contest. Louisiana's pass defense allows 203.6 points per game and limited Brice to 135 passing yards with two picks and no interceptions in his only visit to Cajun Field. The Ragin Cajuns' reliable rushing attack generated 245 yards and five scores in their first meeting. They've amassed 29 rushing touchdowns in 2021 and could come away with a comfortable win by moving the chains consistently on the ground.
How to make Appalachian State vs. Louisiana picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the point total, projecting 47 combined points. It also has generated an against-the-spread pick that cashes in over 60 percent of simulations. You can only get the model's Sun Belt Championship Game picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Appalachian State vs. Louisiana? And which side of the spread hits over 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to back, all from the advanced model that has crushed its college football picks, and find out.
