First Responder Bowl Betting Preview – Louisiana vs. UTSA

Billy Napier might be the best Group of Five coach in the country. Napier has led Louisiana to a division title in his first three seasons in charge of the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, and he has taken this program to another high point in 2020. Louisiana finished the season 9-1 with its only loss coming against unbeaten Coastal Carolina, and the Ragin’ Cajuns pulled off one of the most impressive upsets of the season when they beat Iowa State in their first game. That has led to oddsmakers establishing Louisiana as an almost two-touchdown favorite against the UTSA Roadrunners in the First Responder Bowl

The First Responder Bowl will take place in Dallas, Texas on Saturday, December 26, at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

College Football Betting Odds

Louisiana -13.5

UTSA +13.5

Total 56

Jeff Traylor won’t be on the sidelines for UTSA after testing positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. The first-year head coach will be replaced by offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr.

The under might be a popular pick in this game as the under is 8-3 in UTSA games and 7-3 in Louisiana games in 2020.

UTSA Offense vs. Louisiana Defense

It’s been a fantastic season for Sincere McCormick. The UTSA running back set the school’s single season rushing record with 1,345 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 6.0 YPC. That production led to McCormick being named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year earlier this week. McCormick nearly ran for 1,000 yards as a freshman last year, so he is likely to stamp his name all over the school record book before he leaves San Antonio.

This offense is more than just McCormick though. Frank Harris has done a nice job at quarterback, completing 63.8 percent of his passes for 1,422 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. Harris was somewhat shaky through the first month of the season, leading to Lowell Narcisse starting over him for a couple games. Narcisse played really well, but he suffered a season-ending injury to put Harris back in the spotlight. Harris is the second-leading rusher with 437 yards and eight touchdowns on 5.7 YPC.

The receiving corps is top heavy. Zakhari Franklin leads the way with 44 receptions for 579 yards and six touchdowns, while Joshua Cephus has 55 receptions for 521 yards and four scores this season. Brennon Dingle is the only other player on the roster with over 20 receptions.

The Ragin’ Cajuns have one of the better defenses in college football. Louisiana particularly shines in pass defense, surrendering just 166.9 YPG through the air. They rank fifth in that category, so the Ragin’ Cajuns are likely to make UTSA even more one-dimensional than usual with the reliance on McCormick.

Louisiana Offense vs. UTSA Defense

Napier has an old school SEC mindset. You see that in Louisiana’s offense philosophy, as the Ragin’ Cajuns love to lean on their ground game. This ground game keeps fresh legs on the field with Elijah Mitchell and Trey Ragas splitting time as the No. 1 running back, while Chris Smith and Levi Lewis are posting solid numbers too.

Mitchell leads the team with 751 yards and seven touchdowns on 6.2 YPC, while Ragas has 660 yards and nine touchdowns on 5.6 YPC. Smith and Lewis are running the ball effectively as well, showing that Louisiana can wear down opposing defenses very successfully.

Lewis’ quarterback play has been strong too. He is completing 60 percent of his passes for 2,128 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Lewis doesn’t have the frame that NFL scouts want in a quarterback, but he has the skillset to thrive in college football with his mobility and elusiveness.

Keep an eye on Rashad Wisdom’s status in this game for UTSA. Wisdom is the Roadrunners’ best defensive player, leading the team in tackles, interceptions, and forced fumbles from the safety position. He injured his arm in the last couple weeks, leading to him being declared questionable on Saturday.

Prediction

This is a statement game for Napier and Louisiana. The Ragin’ Cajuns are focused after last week’s Sun Belt Championship Game rematch with Coastal Carolina was cancelled, and they will take their frustration out on the Roadrunners.

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