Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana Odds, Picks, Opt-Out Tracker for the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana Odds, Picks, Opt-Out Tracker for the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana Start Time and Where to Watch - Myrtle Beach Bowl
- Date: Saturday, December 16, 2023
- Start Time: 2:15 pm ET
- Where to Watch: ESPN
Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana Odds
- Spread: Jacksonville State -3.5 (-110), Louisiana +3.5 (-110)
- Total Points: Over 59.5 (-110), Under 59.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Jacksonville State (-162), Louisiana (+134)
Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana Preview
The Jacksonville State Gamecocks will take on the Louisiana Rajin' Cajuns in this year's R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on the first Saturday of bowl season.
The Rajin' Cajun's have been a staple of the New Orleans Bowl over the last two decades, and are making their seventh appearance this weekend. They are sporting a successful 5-1 record in the event over the years, and wouldn't mind extending it in their own backyard.
Louisiana is led by Chandler Fields at quarterback, after the two previous starters went down with injuries earlier in the season. This team hasn't stopped fighting regardless of who was under center, and came away with a blowout win over their rival ULM to earn bowl eligibility.
They suffered two heartbreaking losses in the weeks before that in Fields' first and second games at the helm. The Cajuns fell in OT to Southern Miss and then went toe-to-toe eventual conference champion Troy before succumbing in the fourth quarter by a touchdown.
On the other side, Jacksonville State is in its first year in the FBS. They are thrilled to have become bowl eligible, after initially getting denied by the NCAA earlier in the season. Former Michigan and Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez leads this team, and has done a formidable job in this program's seamless arrival to the top division of college football.
No one from this Jacksonville State team is opting out of their first bowl game, giving this one a relatively legitimate feel. The best players from both teams will be out there on Saturday afternoon, as Louisiana has only one or two opt-outs of their own on the defensive side.
The matchup to watch in this one is Jacksonville State's vaunted rushing attack against Louisiana's iffy defense. But playing in a familiar environment, will the Rajin' Cajun's spoil Rich Rod's fun in his program's first FBS bowl game? Let's take a look at the latest odds for Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana and make a prediction for the New Orleans Bowl.
Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana Odds - New Orleans Bowl
| Team | Moneyline Odds | Point Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State | -162 | -3.5 (-110) | Over 59.5 (-105) |
| Louisiana | +134 | +3.5 (-110) | Under 59.5 (-115) |
Click here for Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana odds
The odds have been flying around in this matchup, which is now a commonality in bowl season amid the frequent opt-outs. However, there are hardly any notable roster changes that caused this. Jacksonville State is in their first year of playing in the FBS, and all players are suiting up for their inaugural bowl game.
On the other side, Louisiana only has two players opting out, including a backup safety and their fourth-leading tackler at linebacker. Neither of which are influential enough to steam this line.
The spread has moved from the -1.5 opener for Louisiana all the way to -3.5 for Jacksonville State. An incredible 74%+ of bets have been taken on the Gamecocks, and a heavy percentage of the handle has carried them all the way to field-goal favorites.
When you have a nearly five point move on the spread, it tends to be a major indicator of how bettors think the game will go, and they are confidently backing Jacksonville State to roll in their first bowl game. But sometimes, the line moves too far and over compensates for the extensive action coming in. There may have been strong value on Jacksonville State as a slight underdog or at even odds, but that same advantage no longer exists at -3.5.
Getting an extra 3.5 points on an initially favored team in an uncertain bowl environment is a major boost for the few Louisiana backers, and it may be worth a buy at this newly inflated price.
Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana Prediction
This matchup has nearly no opt-outs or injuries, so it can be looked at from a refreshingly straight-up lens. This line has swung a bit too far towards Jacksonville State in their first ever bowl appearance, which may add to their motivation.
The Rajin' Cajuns may have found something good at quarterback down the stretch, with Chandler Fields taking the reins and throwing seven touchdowns to just one interception in their final three games. He could be the difference maker in what figures to be a high-scoring game with the nearly 60 point total. ULL is 5-1 in the New Orleans Bowl, and the Cajuns are looking to make it 6-1 on Saturday afternoon.
- Pick: Louisiana +3.5 (-110) (Bet $110 to collect $100) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana Opt-Out Tracker
Jacksonville State Opt-Outs
- NA
Ohio Opt-Outs
- Cejae Ceasar, S (transfer portal)
- Kendre’ Gant, LB (transfer portal)
College Football Odds
Peter is a sports writer focused on coverage and analysis of college football and basketball, as well as the NFL and other major sports. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, he has been writing sports articles for over 8 years.
After working for ClutchPoints, Peter joined OddsChecker in 2023. He is a New York sports superfan and is fluent in the sports betting industry.