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Marshall vs. Louisiana Prediction: Sun Belt Championship Game Preview & Betting Odds

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Dec 6, 2024 1:28 AM ET

There's a lot going on here beyond just a terrific matchup. It starts with when it'll be seen - or, unfortunately, not seen.

ESPN needed something to counter-program the other games, but this starts just as the SEC Championship between Georgia and Texas will be ending - with about a real time 45 minute window before the Big Ten Championship between Penn State and Oregon starts.

(This would’ve been PERFECT for late Friday afternoon as the first championship game going.)

And then there’s the narrative around Marshall, with head coach Charles Huff being rumored to be off to take the Southern Miss job.

On the field, Marshall is pushing for its first conference championship since winning the 2014 Conference USA title. Huff’s team has won its last six games and eight of the last nine with only a 24-23 loss to Georgia Southern as the blip.

Louisiana has been fantastic. After a few years to reload under Michael Desormeaux after Billy Napier won the 2020 and 2021 Sun Belt titles, the program is back on track in a great 10-2 season.

Marshall vs Louisiana, Sun Belt Championship: How to Watch and Game Preview

Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
Game Time: 7:30 pm
How To Watch: ESPN
Venue: Cajun Field, Lafayette, LA
Teams: Marshall (9-3), Louisiana (10-2)
CFN Bluesky | CFN X | CFN FB
- Championship Week Schedule, Predictions

Why Louisiana Will Win

How has this all gone so right?

Louisiana’s offensive line has been outstanding, the scheme works, the attack is ultra-efficient whenever it gets a chance to score, and at least until recently, turnovers haven’t been an issue.

The Ragin’ Cajuns have a balanced O that should be able to open up big running lanes against the mediocre Marshall run defense. Combine that with a strong pass D going against a Thundering Herd passing game that’s not all that accurate or consistent, and Louisiana should own the narrative from the start.

However …

Why Marshall Will Win

Louisiana doesn’t do enough to get behind the line.

The run defense isn’t great, the pass rush is just okay, and there aren’t any tackles for loss. It all works together somehow for the Sun Belt’s second-best defense, but the Herd offensive front should take over at time.

The front five is great for the ground game, solid at keeping teams out of the backfield, and the more time this bunch gets to work - especially for the passing game - the better everything else clicks in the tempo of the attack.

But …

Marshall vs Louisiana, Sun Belt Championship: Who Will Win?

Marshall tends to have problems against accurate passing teams.

They don’t have to bomb away deep, but they do have to hit passes. The Herd are 7-0 when allowing teams to complete fewer than 62% of their throws, and Louisiana has only been under that mark twice all year.

Yeah, it might be at a weird time, and yeah, the Huff situation might take over a bit of the attention, but it should be a strong game with both teams doing about the same thing. The Louisiana passing game will be a bit stronger.