UL Lafayette vs. Iowa State Prediction
No. 23 Iowa State will open its 2020 college football season at home versus UL Lafayette at 12:00 p.m. ET. Will the Cyclones cover the spread as a double-digit favorite or will the Ragin’ Cajuns prove to be a difficult season-opening opponent?
Game Snapshot
415 UL Lafayette Rajin’ Cajuns (+11.5) at Iowa State Cyclones (-11.5); o/u 56.5
ESPN, 12:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, September 12, 2020
MidAmerican Energy Field, Ames, Iowa
UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns Game Notes
Louisiana promoted safeties coach Patrick Toney to defensive coordinator. Toney joined Louisiana’s staff in 2018 and served as the safeties coach for two seasons. Though Toney will continue to coach safeties in 2020, he is tacking on DC responsibilities as well. Since getting into coaching in 2012, Toney has only ever been a defensive backs coach, so this is a major step up the ladder for him.
Iowa State Cyclones Game Notes
Iowa State will not have fans at their season-opener against Louisiana. Cyclones AD Jamie Pollard revealed that this decision came about after school president Dr. Wendy Wintersteen took feedback from the Ames community. It’s something of a reversal of course on Iowa State’s previous stance, but in the same breath, the decision is very much understandable. The state of Iowa is currently one of the worst COVID-19 hotspots in the world — no hyperbole on that. And beyond the state’s utter inability to control the spread of the virus, the “no fans” approach for the opener allows Iowa State to (theoretically) get into the flow of its season without the immediate complications that could come with potential fan spread.
UL Lafayette vs. Iowa State Betting Predictions
It was a little surprising to see that the spread for this game was listed at under two touchdowns, but that just goes to show you the respect that oddsmakers have for this Ragin’ Cajuns’ squad. UL Lafayette is a perfect 5-0 against the spread in its last five games played in the month of September and has covered the number in nine of its last 13 games on the road. The Ragin’ Cajuns are also 4-1 against the spread in their last five non-conference games and have covered in seven of their last 10 games as an underdog. Meanwhile, the Cyclones are just 2-6 against the number in their last eight non-conference games, are winless at the betting window in their last four games overall and are 0-4-1 against the number in their last five games as a favorite.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 2 BETTING PREDICTION: UL LAFAYETTE RAGIN’ CAJUNS +11.5