Northwestern State Demons vs Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 9/2/2023 – This year’s college football season officially kicked off with an exhilarating battle between Northwestern State Demons and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns at Cajun Field. Both squads will look to make an impressionful statement and set themselves up for success in this early-season showdown. Let’s examine each side individually to gain insight into this matchup and anticipate any surprises or outcomes from it. The top college football betting sites are updated with the latest picks and predictions of this exciting game.
Northwestern State Demons vs Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 9/2/2023
| When: | Saturday, September 2, 2023 8:30 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Cajun Field |
| TV: | TV |
| Stream: | SofaScore |
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demons | TBD | TBD | TBD |  |
| Ragin’ Cajuns | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
| ||||
One more sleep 😈🏈#ForkEm pic.twitter.com/U2AkP3YOrH
— NSU Football (@NSUDemonsFB) September 1, 2023
Brad Laird vs Michael Desormeaux
Northwestern State Demons are determined to turn things around following a challenging 2022 campaign which resulted in a 4-7 overall record. They’ll face significant transition on offense as Zachary Clements transferred from Wyoming and Idaho State QB Tyler Vander Waal has joined as their quarterback of choice while Kareame Cotton Jr., Quaterius Hawkins, and JT Fayard could also contribute as players of note for Northwestern.
Kenneth Lacy leads the Demons in terms of running game production with 435 yards and four touchdowns during 2022, and Zach Patterson was their top receiver last season with 710 receiving yards and five TDs. On defense, Jared Pedraza led with 70 tackles total and 11.5 tackles for losses during that year – both impressive accomplishments.
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns look to bounce back after an underwhelming 2022 campaign that culminated in a 6-7 record. Under head coach Michael Desormeaux’s first full season as head coach, their fortunes fluctuated significantly; quarterback Ben Wooldridge started well until suffering an injury late in the season that necessitated Chandler Fields stepping in – together they accounted for 2,784 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions during that span of play.
Chris Smith‘s departure from the NFL left an opening on the ground, but Terrence Williams and Dre’lyn Washington proved their worth with 723 combined yards and three touchdowns last season. On the receiving corps, Michael Jefferson left behind challenges as no returning wideout had over 22 catches that season.
Defensively, the Ragin’ Cajuns boast depth and talent that make them formidable opponents. Sonny Hazard steps up after Zion Hill-Green left for other pursuits on defense while KC Ossai returned as the top tackler after notching 63 tackles last season. Unfortunately, secondary losses have left an opening that must be filled.
NCAA Betting Odds Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
Northwestern State Demons are eager to put a disappointing 2022 behind them as they kick off their 2023 season in Lafayette, Louisiana. Offense was their Achilles Heel last season averaging only 21.5 points per game; entering 2023 they have several questions regarding quarterback Kenneth Lacy as they head their rushing attack while Scooter Adams should contribute as a potential contributor.
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, coming off of a 7-7 campaign, plan to lean heavily on their ground game with several talented backs. Defensively, their depth and veteran leadership will enable them to excel. Louisiana is expected to dominate Northwestern State in week one and start off their season on a positive note.
Northwestern State Demons Betting Trends
Northwestern State are 5-10 ATS in their last 15 games.
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Northwestern State’s last 11 games.
Northwestern State are 0-8 SU in their last 8 games.
Demons are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games on the road.
Northwestern State are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games against an opponent in the Sun Belt conference.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Northwestern State’s last 7 games played in September.
Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns Betting Trends
Louisiana-Lafayette are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games.
Ragin’ Cajuns are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games.
Louisiana-Lafayette are 13-2 SU in their last 15 games at home.
Louisiana-Lafayette are 12-3 SU in their last 15 games played in September.
Ragin’ Cajuns are 10-5 ATS in their last 15 games played on a Saturday.
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Louisiana-Lafayette’s last 14 games played on a Saturday when at home.
Northwestern State Demons vs Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Betting Pick
At its core, this early season showdown between the Demons and Ragin’ Cajuns promises to deliver exciting football action while setting the pace for the 2023 college football season. Northwestern State Demons have struggled offensively over the last two seasons, averaging just 21.5 points per game on average and scoring only 33 touchdowns across 11 games. Heading into the 2023 season without having named their starting quarterback has added to this uncertainty in terms of offensive approach; Kenneth Lacy returned as the leader of their rushing attack while Scooter Adams is expected to share backfield duties.
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns enter this season determined to build on their 7-7 record from last season. Their ground game features multiple talented running backs while defensively they possess all of the tools to force turnovers and halt opposing offenses. Statistics reveal two teams facing unique obstacles and ambitions, setting the scene for an intriguing season opener.
Score Prediction: Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 28, Northwestern State Demons 17.
