Welcome everyone to the latest edition of the Ragin Cajuns preview where I look at every game on the schedule! This week, it’s the Cajuns up against Georgia Southern.
Last Week: The last time both teams took the field, the Cajuns lost to Idaho in an underwhelming game last weekend 23-13. Georgia Southern on the other hand got an early advantage over Ole Miss but still lost 37-27.
Last Meeting: There have been no previous meetings between these two teams.
What to Watch For:
Speed vs. Speed: Both of these teams know how to move the ball down the field in quick fashion based off of the performances of the two teams throughout the season. Both move the ball quickly thanks to a strong run game and have had games where they have had 23 minutes of possession. If either team wants to win this game, they’ll have to slow the game down to a crawl at crucial points of the game.
Eli Isn’t Sitting: The Ragin Cajuns, despite Eli McGuire not looking like the dominant back he was before the season started are planning on playing him on Thursday against the Eagles who are middle of the road in the conference, allowing 175 yards a game on the ground. Perhaps the better idea for the Cajuns is to take the ball out of McGuire’s hands and open up the offense more. Based off the performance against Idaho, it should definitely be considered. That being said, anything is on the table in terms of changing things if they still want to get to a bowl game.
Can the Secondary Keep the Eagles From Flying? If there’s one weakness in the Georgia Southern team’s game, it has to be through the air. They’re currently at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to the Sun Belt conference. The secondary for the Ragin Cajuns has been less than stellar especially when it comes to what happened just a few days ago against Idaho where Matt Linehan looked like an all-conference QB with 227 yards through the air and going 20-30 on the afternoon.
The Cajuns Will Win If:
The Cajuns will take a win out of Statesboro if the offense can find that spark that’s been missing in the last few games. The Cajuns defense has been able to shut things down in the second half, allowing a total of six points in the last three games. The offense for the Cajuns could try and rally if it’s a close affair based off the past performance from the defense.
The Eagles Will Win If:
The Eagles of Georgia Southern can continue having a good season if they can get to Anthony Jennings and make it difficult for him to get going through the air. The offensive line for the Cajuns has looked poor, especially last week, allowing five sacks last Saturday.
-Clint Domingue