The 2023 New Orleans Bowl matchup between the 8-4 Jacksonville State Gamecocks and the 6-6 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns will be a good one for the second bowl of the bowl season. Jacksonville State is in a bowl game for the first time in school history in their first year of being in the FBS. They are in this bowl game because there were not enough teams above the .500 mark so the Gamecocks get the nod.
Louisiana comes into this losing three out of their last four games, but they won their last game of the regular season to become bowl eligible. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 5-2 in 7 bowl games with two of their bowl wins being vacated in the past decade. Louisiana has a 2-1 record in New Orleans Bowl games. Jacksonville State is a 3 point favorite with the over/under set at 59.5. Here is the preview for the 2023 New Orleans Bowl.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks
The Jacksonville State Gamecocks had a great first season in the Division I FBS. Their offense averages 29.8 points per game and is a top ten rushing team in rushing yards per game in the country. The Gamecocks averaged 232.3 rushing yards per game in the 2023 season. Jacksonville State has a two- headed monster at running the football with quarterback Zion Webb (638 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry and 7 touchdowns) and running back Malik Jackson (860 rushing yards, 6.5 yards per carry and 7 touchdowns). Those two have been key to the Gamecocks success on the offensive side of the football and will need to be key if they want to get their first ever bowl win in their first ever appearance.
Defensively, the Gamecocks allow 20.3 points per game and are very good at stopping the run. Jacksonville State gives up 113.1 rushing yards per game which is ranked 47th in the country. They also only allow opponents to convert on 32.6% of their third down attempts. However, the biggest issue for this Gamecocks defense has been their secondary. They rank t-217th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game. If they want to succeed in the New Orleans Bowl, their secondary is going to need to make some key plays against a good Ragin’ Cajuns offense.
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
This Ragin’ Cajuns offense has been good for the past couple of seasons. In 2023, it seems like they took a little step back, however. Yes, they average 32.3 points per game and 418.1 total yards of offense per game. It just seems like they are missing the “it” factor on the offensive side of the football this season. Louisiana is led by running back Jacob Kibodi and quarterback Zeon Chriss. Kibodi has rushed for 729 rushing yards on 5.6 yards per carry to go along with 7 rushing touchdowns.
Chriss has thrown for 1,222 passing yards and added 492 rushing yards on 6.7 yards per carry to go along with 17 total touchdowns. Zeon Chriss is questionable with a leg injury. With that being the case, backup Chandler Fields is no scrub. Fields has appeared in six games this season including three starts and has thrown for 914 passing yards to go along with 7 passing touchdowns and 3 interceptions. No matter who starts at quarterback for Louisiana, the Ragin’ Cajuns will be ready offensively.
Defensively, however, the Ragin’ Cajuns have been suspect in 2023. They allow 28.2 points per game and give up 160 rushing yards per game. This defense has given up 30+ points seven times this season. In those seven games, they have a 2-5 record. With their defense struggling to keep opponents off the scoreboard, they need to find a way to create turnovers which is something they have kind of good at this season. The Ragin’ Cajuns defense has forced 12 fumbles while recovering only five of them and they add 10 interceptions to their turnover tally. If Louisiana wants to win this game against Jacksonville State, they are going to need to create turnovers.
Betting Trends
-Jacksonville State is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
-The under is 5-2 in Jacksonville State’s last 7 games on a Saturday.
-Louisiana is 2-4 straight up in the last 6 games.
-The under is 4-2 in Louisiana’s last 6 games on a Saturday.
The Don’s Best Bet
This game has some question marks in it, that’s for sure. However, I think I am going to take Jacksonville State -3 -112 for one unit. The Gamecocks have looked great this season and I think their rushing attack is going to be something that the Ragin’ Cajuns will struggle to stop. My lean for this game is under 59.5. I think this is a 30-17 type of game with the Gamecocks having control from start to finish. Ride with Jacksonville State and take a nice trip to the cash counter during the early part of your Saturday night.
