2011 Predictions & Game Story
Week 9 - ULL at Middle Tenn.
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Oct. 29 Louisiana-Lafayette 45 … at Middle Tennessee 20
CFN Analysis: COMING
(AP) MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Freshman Alonzo Harris rushed for a career-high 189 yards and two touchdowns as Louisiana-Lafayette romped to a 45-20 win over Middle Tennessee on Saturday night.
Quarterback Blaine Gautier added two scores for the Ragin' Cajuns (7-2, 5-1 Sun Belt Conference), who were coming off a 42-23 loss to Western Kentucky that snapped their six-game winning streak.
Gautier ran 80 yards for a touchdown, giving Louisiana-Lafayette a 28-0 lead early in the third quarter, and passed for another TD, a 39-yarder to Javone Lawson just 3:03 later.
Harris, who had 33 carries, scored both TDs from 4 yards out, the first with 2:15 to go before halftime and then with 5:43 remaining for a 45-14 Ragin' Cajuns lead.
The Blue Raiders (2-5, 1-3) were led by Logan Kilgore, who passed for 239 yards and one touchdown. One of his two interceptions was returned 55 yards for a score by Devon Lewis-Buchanan.
Louisiana-Lafayette (6-2) at Middle Tennessee (2-4) Oct. 29, 7:30
Here’s The Deal … Just when it seemed like Louisiana-Lafayette was going to run away and hide with the Sun Belt title, or at least be in the mix with Arkansas State, it got its doors blown off by Western Kentucky in a 42-23 loss last week. Everything is fine, a bowl game is still in the equation, and the Sun Belt title is still on the table, but there aren’t any margins for error. This is part two of a stretch of four road games in five, and the Ragin’ Cajuns are now dealing with a desperate team.
Middle Tennessee was supposed to be in for a tough year, thanks to a rough schedule and a rebuilding job being done on both sides of the ball, but it has rallied a bit with two wins in the last three, and a two overtime loss to Western Kentucky, just in time to potentially right the ship. However, the next two games are on the road, including a date next week against Tennessee, and there’s still Arkansas State to deal with. The Blue Raiders can’t afford a slip.
Why Louisiana-Lafayette Might Win: The Ragin’ Cajuns are going to start running and they’re not going to stop. The Middle Tennessee pass rush has been good, and the defensive front has been solid, but teams aren’t having too many problems moving the ball on the ground when needed. Troy doesn’t have a running game, and Florida Atlantic doesn’t have a team, but the two were still able to generate a little bit of production. ULL doesn’t run the ball too much or too well, but it’s just effective enough to come up with over 150 yards to balance out the attack. The passing game has sparked up and has become fantastic over the last month, and it exploded on WKU for 419 yards. The offense will move in a variety of ways on the Blue Raiders.
Why Middle Tennessee Might Win: The Blue Raider offense can keep up with anyone and is consistently playing better than anyone in the Sun Belt. The attack leads the Sun Belt in total offense, scoring offense, and passing offense thanks to a line that’s terrific at keeping the quarterback clean. The passing game might give away picks – throwing four in the last two games – but the consistent production should continue. ULL has lived off of a great pass rush that’s been bothering quarterbacks on a regular basis, but the MT line will give Logan Kilgore time. He doesn’t have to do it all, and he doesn’t have to carry the team, even though …
What To Watch Out For: The Middle Tennessee backs are banged up. D.D. Kyles has been out with a knee injury for a while and isn’t going to be back in the mix until at least next week, while Benny Cunningham hasn’t been in the mix for almost a month with a foot injury. Fortunately, sophomore William Pratcher has more than picked up the slack with 106 yards against Western Kentucky and 125 yards on 23 carries against Florida Atlantic. He’s able to rip off yards in chunks, and over the last few weeks he’s proving to be a workhorse.
ULL quarterback Blaine Gautier has been known for his dual-threat talents, but he’s becoming more and more of a passer and isn’t running quite as much. With 11 touchdown passes and just one pick over the last five games, outside of a 54-yard day against Troy, he’s been on fire. Last week he threw for 419 yards and two scores, and he’s going to keep bombing away to keep pushing the Blue Raider secondary.
What Will Happen: This should be fun. Both teams can throw and both teams can put up yards and points on great runs. Gautier and Kilgore will combine for 700 passing yards, and the Ragin’ Cajuns will find a way to do a little bit more. Middle Tennessee has normally found ways to lose games, while ULL is doing the little things to win them.
CFN Prediction: Louisiana-Lafayette 34 … Middle Tennessee 30
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Middle Tennessee -3 O/U: 60
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