2014-15 Football Previews – (Sun Belt) – Ragin’ Cajuns
The Sun Belt Conference is led by the Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns. They shared the Sun Belt Conference title a year ago, but they were well on their way to winning it outright when star quarterback Terrance Broadway went down with an injury.
The team lost two straight at the end of the regular season when he didn’t play.
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Sun Belt Conference 2014-2015 College Football Preview – Ragin’ Cajuns
Head Coach: Mark Hudspeth
2013 Record: 9-4
Louisiana Lafayette Gambling Odds to win the Sun Belt: -140
Season Win Total Gambling Odds: 9.5
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The Ragin’ Cajuns did bounce back and win their bowl game over Tulane in what was a road game. It was an impressive showing, and the team hopes that momentum will carry into this season. There’s no doubt that they have the most talented team in the Sun Belt.
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This team returns 17 starters from a year ago, and they appear to be in much better shape than they were in 2013. Let’s take a look at the favorites in the Sun Belt.
Team Strengths:
It starts with Broadway at the quarterback spot. Broadway is the best player in the Sun Belt when he is healthy, and he appears to be completely healthy coming into the season. He is a great dual-threat quarterback who has gotten much better at his decision making as he matures.
Louisiana’s running game is amazing. Alonzo Harris and Elijah McGuire give this team an elite running back tandem. Both of these guys are capable of very big things. Harris is the strong running who can fight for extra yards.
McGuire is the speedster who can break long runs. It isn’t just these two guys though, it’s also the offensive line. The Ragin’ Cajuns have the best offensive line in the Sun Belt.
This group is very big and there is plenty of depth as well.
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Only one guy is gone from the defensive line, and this Ragin’ Cajuns defensive front should be excellent in 2014. Jacoby Briscoe transferred in from Miami, and the 6’5 325 pound defensive end should be a game changer. He joins a group that was already solid.
I think he makes them the strength of the defense right away.
Team Weaknesses:
The Ragin’ Cajuns secondary is definitely susceptible to big plays, and that can really hurt them against a good passing team. There aren’t many elite passing teams in the Sun Belt, but when this team plays out of conference games they will come up against some teams that can beat them pretty badly in this area.
Look for this to be a problem against Ole Miss and Boise State early in the year in non-conference play.
Lafayette had a terrible special teams group last year. The Ragin’ Cajuns kicker has never made a field goal from longer than 40 yards. They also lost they top kick returner from last year’s team.
Don’t be surprised if they lose a couple close games this year because of their poor special teams play.
2014-2015 Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns Prediction: 10-3
I think Louisiana Lafayette gets to double digit wins in a conference like the Sun Belt. This is a weak conference, and they are clearly the class of this conference. Their strength in the trenches should carry them through to a big season.
It won’t surprise me a bit if they go unbeaten in the Sun Belt.
2014 Red Wolves Schedule
- 8/30/14 7:00 PM ET SOUTH
- 9/6/14 7:00 PM ET LT
- 9/13/14 4:00 PM ET @MISS
- 9/20/14 10:30 PM ET @BSU
- 10/4/14 TBD GSU
- 10/14/14 8:00 PM ET @TXST
- 10/21/14 8:00 PM ET ARST
- 11/1/14 TBD USA
- 11/8/14 8:00 PM ET @NMSU
- 11/15/14 7:00 PM ET @ULM
- 11/22/14 TBD APP
- 11/29/14 TBD @TROY
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