Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns Football 2011 Preview, Predictions, Picks, Odds
As the 2011 NCAA Football Season approaches, we are providing season previews for every college football teams to give you the betting edge. Follow the best College Football Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2011 season preview. Be sure to bookmark SportsbookBuzz.com your source for Sportsbook Reviews. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the College Football in our recommend sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2011 NCAA Football Season Previews here.
2010 Record: 3-9 Sun Belt Record: 3-5 (T-6th) 2011 Returning Starters: 14; 5 offense, 7 defense, kicker, punter
Coach: Mark Hudspeth, First Season
Offensive Coordinators: Jay Johnson Defensive Coordinators: Greg Stewart
2011 Louisiana Lafayette Players to Watch: QB Chris Masson, TE Ladarius Green, DE Bemard Smith, LB Devon Lewis-Buchanan, CB Dwight “Bill” Bentley, SS Lionel Stokes, CB Melvin White
2011 Louisiana Lafayette Strengths:
Green, who can do more than catch short routes over the middle, is one of the nation’s top tight ends. He had at least one catch of 20 yards or more in all but one of his 10 games. Whoever wins the quarterback Job will be experienced. The secondary is the most experienced unit on defense.
2011 Louisiana Lafayette Weaknesses:
The Cajuns have questions at wide receiver and the offensive line, and they lack depth at running back. The defense, especially up front, has serious depth issues as well and did not stop the run well last season. One or two injuries could be disastrous.
2011 Louisiana Lafayette Offense:
The Ragin’ Cajuns were one of the nation’s top rushing teams from 2005-08, but they went to the spread offense for two seasons and failed to post a winning record in either of those years. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that new coach Mark Hudspeth and coordinator Jay Johnson are keeping options open on what to expect from what has been an inconsistent unit. The Cajuns used three different quarterbacks last year due to injuries, and they still haven’t settled on a regular. Senior Chris Masson started most of the past two seasons, throwing for 1,842 yards and 11 scores with two 300-yard games in 2010, but backup Blaine Gautier actually wound up as the team’s second-leading rusher. True freshman Aaron Spikes led the team in rushing but had more yards receiving (398) than rushing (339) last season. A more prolific aerial target is senior Ladarius Green, the nation’s leader in five receiving categories among tight ends last year and the second-leading receiver in the Sun Belt (79.4 yards per game). Junior Javone Lawson, returning from a midseason injury, and senior Andrew “Rico” Joseph are the top outside targets. The offensive front allowed 39 sacks last year and lost two starters. Guard Kyle Plouhar and tackles Leonardo Bates and Jaron Odom are back.
2011 Louisiana Lafayette Defense:
The Cajuns’ defense will have a different look, with their former 4-3 front morphing into a hybrid that will stretch from a 3-4 to an eight-man front. The hope is to improve a unit that gave up 37 points and almost 400 yards per game in last year’s 3–9 season. The biggest improvement may be up front, where senior tackle Derreck Dean returns for his fourth year and senior end Bernard Smith may finally live up to his reputation after a solid spring. Devon Lewis-Buchanan is the leading returning tackler with 63 last year and heads up a revamped linebacking corps that also includes converted wide receiver Lance Kelley and the oft-injured Richard Brooks. Arkansas transfer Jelani Smith, who sat out last season, is part of a unit that will alternate as many as eight different players. Since the new alignments will pack the box, the Cajuns’ secondary will have to do better than the 2010 unit that allowed 62.7 percent completions by opposing quarterbacks. But improvement could happen with the return of veterans Dwight Bentley and Melvin White at the corners and the athletic Lionel Stokes at safety.
2011 Louisiana Lafayette Special Teams:
Sophomore Brett Baer took over as the Cajuns’ kicker in the fourth game of last season and was 7 of 7 on field goals after that. But he faces a challenge in the fall from incoming freshman Carlos Alvarez. Both also will compete for the primary punting job. Incoming junior college transfer Harry Peoples is expected to take over punt returns. Sophomore Darryl Surgent averaged just more than 20 yards on 31 kickoff returns last year.
| 2011 Louisiana Lafayette Football Schedule | Louisiana Lafayette Football Sportsbooks |
2011 Louisiana Lafayette Predictions:
The arrival of the effervescent Hudspeth pumped life into the UL Lafayette program in the offseason, and the Cajuns are ahead of the public relations game entering the 2011 season. But all that goodwill won’t be enough to cover several shortages that could carry over from last year, including an inconsistent offense and a defense that struggled mightily. If the running game doesn’t emerge and several newcomers don’t contribute heavily, the Cajuns will have a tough time winning more than two games in the Sun Belt.
2011 Louisiana Lafayette Betting Odds:
Louisiana Lafayette Current odds to win a National Championship: +5000
Will Louisiana Lafayette go to a Bowl Game this season or will their season be lackluster? Either way, you can still enjoy Louisiana Lafayette Football Betting at our feature sportsbooks. College Football Betting is serious business; where you can make a ton of loot placing informed, smart Utah bets. Check out these highly reliable, trustworthy, online sportsbooks.
NCAA Football Handicapping Picks
Check out our weekly Sports Handicapping Picks from the world’s best handicappers. Trust our handicapping experts offering premium and free NCAA Football Picks and packages daily. Also stay up to date with weekly College Football Matchups, and buy some picks to win some BIG cash this football season at our recommended sportsbooks.
Bet on Louisiana Lafayette
If you are looking for the best Online Sportsbook to bet on the Louisiana Lafayette this season, then BetOnline.com with their Better Bonus Guarantee, is the place for you. BetOnline.com has NCAA Football Betting Lines and Odds, along with a tons of futures on the 2011 Season, so get your college football bets in early while the lines are hot!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.