Coastal Carolina vs Louisiana: Sun Belt Championship prediction and game preview.
Coastal Carolina vs Louisiana: Sun Belt Championship Broadcast
Date: Saturday, December 19
Game Time: 3:30 PM EST
Venue: Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC
Network: ESPN
– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions
Coastal Carolina (11-0) vs Louisiana (9-1) Game Preview
For latest lines and to bet on the NFL, go to BetMGM
Three Reasons Why You Should Watch The Sun Belt Championship
– Can Coastal Carolina somehow move up into a New Year’s Six bowl game? It’s 12th in the latest College Football Playoff rankings despite having more wins and a better resumé than No. 9 Cincinnati. If the Bearcats struggle in the American Athletic Conference championship against Tulsa – or lose – and the Chanticleers rock the Ragin’ Cajuns, there could be a shot at one of the high-profile bowl games, likely against an SEC team.
– Can Louisiana finally get the respect it deserves? Totally lost in all the rankings is how the Ragin’ Cajuns beat Iowa State 31-14 in Ames to start the season – they should be ranked ahead of the sixth-ranked Cyclones, and they’re 19th. This is the chance not only to get revenge for the only loss of the year, but to finally get over the Sun Belt title hump after losing the last two years against Appalachian State.
– The first game was fantastic. Coastal Carolina came up with a walk-off 40-yard field goal in the 30-27 win. Neither team was ever up by more than a score, Coastal Carolina outgained Louisiana by one yard, and it was a wildly entertaining, even game that could’ve gone either way. This year, more than ever before, being the Sun Belt Champion means something.
Technically – after the Sun Belt went 3-0 against the Big 12 – the Sun Belt champion will have done more than the Big 12 champion.
Why Coastal Carolina, Louisiana Will Win
What’s Going to Happen, Prediction, History
NEXT: Why Coastal Carolina Will Win, Why Louisiana Will Win, Coastal Carolina vs Louisiana Prediction
Why Louisiana Will Win
– How can Louisiana pull this off after losing the first time around? The Ragin’ Cajuns might have sputtered a bit running the ball against Appalachian State, but they’ve been terrific all season long – including tearing off 236 against the Chanticleers. They’ve been able to come up with wins thanks to a quick tempo, the great ground game, and by coming up with the big scoring marches when they have to. But in this, they have to run for 200 yards just to be in the discussion.
– The secondary has been a rock. Iowa State was missing its great TE Charlie Kolar … yeah, yeah, yeah. Brock Purdy only hit 46% of his passes for 145 yards and no touchdowns with a pick against Louisiana. The Ragin’ Cajun secondary has picked off 15 passes – 12 in the last six games – and allowed use eight touchdown passes on the season. In the last six games since the loss to Coastal Carolina, four teams failed to hit 50% of their throws.
– Can Levi Lewis get passing? Coastal Carolina can be thrown on, giving up over 300 yards a few times, having problems last week against the Troy passing attack, and getting hit from time to time by big plays. Lewis only hit 8-of-23 passes against Appalachian State, and he was fine against Coastal Carolina – throwing for 177 yards and connecting on his mid-range passes – but he’s the veteran in his second Sun Belt Championship as the main man, and his third overall.
– Championship Week Schedule & Predictions
Why Coastal Carolina Will Win
– Yeah, the Louisiana secondary has been outstanding, it’s third in the nation in pass efficiency defense, and its fourth in the country in pass defense. It only allowed more than one touchdown pass once – to Coastal Carolina. It only had one game without an interception – against Coastal Carolina. Only two teams were able to complete more than 60% of their passes – Georgia Southern with 61%, and Coastal Carolina, with Grayson McCall connecting on 71% of his throws.
– Grayson McCall continues to be special. The redshirt freshman quarterback battled through a tough game against BYU and a big fight with Troy to hit 83% of his passes against the Trojans while leading the way to the game-winning drive. He was brilliant against Louisiana, hitting 71% of his throws for 202 yards and two scores – he was able to keep things moving when the running game occasionally stalled.
– Pace matters. Louisiana likes to go in a bit of a hurry, but it has the running game to gear down if it has to. However, in the first game, Coastal Carolina have the ball for over 38 minutes and was able to be in control until the end. Expect a repeat – the Chanticleers are more deliberate, leading the Sun Belt in time of possession. They’re going to have the ball for almost ten minutes longer – again.
NEXT: What’s Going To Happen, Coastal Carolina vs Louisiana Prediction, Sun Belt Championship History
What’s Going To Happen
It’ll be another terrific battle between the two, but Coastal Carolina will have a little bit easier of a time.
Don’t get too into a twist over the rough outing against Troy last week. That was a massive sandwich game, coming off the BYU win and with the Sun Belt championship against Louisiana to follow. The first game was in Lafayette, and being in Conway will matter – the energy will be there throughout for the team in teal.
The Coastal Carolina defensive front will hold up against the Louisiana ground game, Levi Lewis won’t be able to win the game through the air, and time of possession will matter. The Chanticleers will be great on third down after third down as they get an early lead and hold it throughout.
CFN Experts Picks College | NFL
Sun Belt Championship: Coastal Carolina vs Louisiana Prediction, Line
Coastal Carolina 27, Louisiana 20
Bet on Coastal Carolina vs Louisiana with BetMGM
Coastal Carolina -3.5, o/u: 55
ATS Confidence out of 5: 4
Must See Rating: 4.5
5: Mank
1: Saved By The Bell
Sun Belt Championship History
2019 Appalachian State 45, Louisiana 38
2018 Appalachian State 30, Louisiana 19
2017 (tie) Appalachian State, Troy
2016 (tie) Appalachian State, Arkansas State
2015 Arkansas State
2014 Georgia Southern
2013 (tie) Arkansas State, Louisiana
2012 Arkansas State
2011 Arkansas State
2010 (tie) FIU, Troy
2009 Troy
2008 Troy
2007 (tie) Florida Atlantic, Troy
2006 (tie) Middle Tennessee, Troy
2005 (tie) Arkansas State, Louisiana, ULM
2004 North Texas
2003 North Texas
2002 North Texas
