The Marshall Thundering Herd and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns have faced off just twice before, with Louisiana coming out on top in both encounters—36-21 in 2021 and 23-13 in 2022. Now, with the Sun Belt Championship on the line, can Marshall finally break through?
Our Sun Belt Championship Game prediction breaks down this intriguing showdown, providing key betting insights to help shape your picks.
Sun Belt Championship Game Betting Preview
All Sun Belt Championship Game odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Louisiana -3 - Spread
Louisiana -5 - Moneyline
Louisiana -205, Marshall +170 - Over/Under
57.5 points - Game Time
7:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Dec. 7 - Location
Cajun Field | Lafayette, La. - Predicted Weather at Kick
57 degrees, 7 mph winds, cloudy - How To Watch
ESPN
Marshall has been a hot betting pick this season, going 5-1 against the spread to end the year while cashing the over in four of those games.
MORE: CFN Betting Parlay Calculator
Louisiana has posted the same exact stat line in that timeframe, owning a 5-1 ATS record with the over hitting in four of its final six contests.
Marshall’s Winning Probability
The Thundering Herd haven’t posted a losing season since 2016 and are one win away from their first 10-win campaign since 2015. However, Louisiana won’t make it easy, with the FPM giving Marshall a sub-45% chance of donning the Sun Belt crown.
- at Louisiana: 42.6%
Louisiana’s Winning Probability
Louisiana clinched its seventh consecutive bowl berth this season, a testament to its sustained success. Even more notable is the Cajuns’ return to the Sun Belt title game after dominating the conference from 2018 to 2021, capped by a championship victory over Appalachian State in their final appearance of that run.
- vs. Marshall: 57.4%
Prediction for Sun Belt Championship Game
Marshall has put up 28+ points in six straight games, while Louisiana has hit the 30-point mark in nine of their 12 contests this season. So, yeah, the 56.5-point total feels like it’s set too low.
This matchup promises plenty of scoring, but the real question is—who comes out on top? Neither defense has been particularly dominant, but that may not matter given how explosive Louisiana’s offense has been this year:
- Yards per game: Louisiana 445.7, 18th; Marshall 380.5, 75th
- Points per game: Louisiana 35.6, 15th; Marshall 31.9, 39th
- Third-down conversion rate: Louisiana 46.4%, 18th; Marshall 39.1%, 81st
- Red-zone conversion rate: Louisiana 94.7%, 2nd; Marshall 80.4%, 99th
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season With CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
Louisiana’s offense clearly holds the upper hand, and much of that comes down to QB Ben Woolridge. He’s been incredibly efficient, completing 68.3% of his passes for 2,392 yards, 17 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. Woolridge not only protects the football but also stays calm under pressure, rarely allowing sacks and consistently delivering throws on time.
On the other side, Marshall’s Braylon Braxton has been solid but relies on some favorable turnover luck and lacks Woolridge’s accuracy, particularly across all levels of the field. And we haven’t even mentioned Louisiana’s electric three-headed backfield of Bill Davis, Zylan Perry, and Dre’lyn Washington, who are collectively averaging 6.3 yards per carry.
Expect Woolridge and the Cajuns to outpace Marshall, keeping their foot on the gas and pushing the total over. Take Louisiana to win and light up the scoreboard in the process.
Prediction: Louisiana 34, Marshall 27
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