Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns football: Game-by-game predictions for 2021

Tim Buckley, The Advertiser, August 29, 2021

The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns are ranked 23rd nationally entering Billy Napier’s fourth season.

UL, which finished 10-1 last season, opened 2020 with an upset of nationally ranked Iowa State and hopes to start 2021 in similar fashion at No. 19 Texas.

Sept. 4: at Texas

Last meeting: Texas won, 60-3, on Sept. 3, 2005, in Austin.

The buzz: With new coach Steve Sarkisian and a quarterback battle between Hudson Card and Casey Thompson, the Cajuns at least catch the Longhorns at a good time.

The pick: Texas 28, UL 21

 

Sept. 11: Nicholls

Last meeting: UL won, 70-7, on Sept. 14, 2013, at Cajun Field.

The buzz: Former UL assistant coach Tim Rebowe went 7-2 and made the FCS playoffs each season from 2017-19, then went 4-3 in a condensed 2021 spring season. The Colonels have quite a quarterback in LSU transfer Lindsey Scott Jr., but he faces a tall task.

The pick: UL 42, Nicholls 21

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Sept. 16: Ohio

Last meeting: Ohio won, 38-31, on Oct. 30, 2010, in Athens.

The buzz: The Bobcats, 2-1 in their COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, have a new coach (former offensive coordinator Tim Albin) and an uncertain quarterback situation. But running back De’Montre Tuggle is a good one.

The pick: UL 28, Ohio 20

Sept. 25: at Georgia Southern*

Last meeting: UL won, 20-18, Sept. 26 at Cajun Field.

The buzz: The Cajuns catch the Eagles early enough to take advantage of an unsettled quarterback situation after longtime starter Shai Werts transferred to Louisville, especially with Justin Tomlin ineligible for the season’s first two games.

The pick: UL 24, Georgia Southern 21

Nov. 27: UL Monroe*

Last meeting: UL won, 70-20, Nov. 28 in Monroe.

The buzz: New coach Terry Bowden hired former West Virginia, Michigan and Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez as offensive coordinator, and Rodriguez brought along his son, Rhett Rodriguez, a graduate transfer quarterback from Arizona. 

The pick: UL 49, ULM 21

Final record: 11-1, 8-0 Sun Belt