SE Louisiana vs UL-Monroe Picks and Prediction for Saturday September 19 2026

The Southeastern Louisiana Lions travel to Malone Stadium in Monroe, Louisiana, to face the UL Monroe Warhawks on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 PM ET with coverage on ESPN+. Southeastern Louisiana is 1-2 after earning its first victory with a 30-25 comeback win over Hall, while UL Monroe is 0-2 after losing 62-13 at Mississippi State and 26-20 at UAB. The Warhawks finally showed significant improvement in Birmingham and now return home looking for their first victory. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Be sure to check out our free college football picks for more NCAAF predictions throughout the season.

Southeastern Louisiana Finally Broke Through

Southeastern Louisiana enters with some momentum after earning its first victory of the season. The Lions trailed against Hall but responded by scoring 23 consecutive points on their way to a 30-25 comeback win. That matters because Southeastern Louisiana had started 0-2 and desperately needed evidence that it could finish a competitive game.

The Lions now step up against an FBS opponent, but UL Monroe hasn't established itself as an overwhelming favorite. The Warhawks are winless and have already experienced major defensive problems. Southeastern Louisiana therefore has a legitimate opportunity to remain competitive if it can avoid the turnovers and negative plays that often decide FCS-FBS matchups.

The biggest challenge will be maintaining offensive efficiency for four quarters. Southeastern Louisiana cannot rely on another huge comeback if it falls behind early. Sustaining drives and making UL Monroe play from longer fields would give the Lions a chance to keep pressure on a Warhawks team still searching for its first win.

UL Monroe Showed Real Improvement at UAB

UL Monroe's 0-2 record looks ugly, but its two performances were dramatically different. The Warhawks were overwhelmed 62-13 at Mississippi State in their opener, a matchup where the difference in SEC talent quickly became apparent. Against UAB, however, UL Monroe was much more competitive and lost only 26-20.

That six-point defeat provides a more encouraging foundation for Saturday. The Warhawks showed that they can remain in a game when they aren't facing an enormous roster disadvantage, and they now take another meaningful step down in competition. Playing at Malone Stadium also gives UL Monroe its first home game after opening with consecutive road trips.

This is an important opportunity for the Warhawks because the schedule doesn't provide many automatic wins. UL Monroe needs to take advantage of an FCS opponent at home, but Southeastern Louisiana's comeback victory shows the Lions won't simply disappear if they fall behind. The Warhawks need to establish control rather than allowing another fourth-quarter game.

SE Louisiana vs UL-Monroe Picks and Prediction

Pick: UL Monroe -6.5 or Better

Take UL Monroe if the spread is -6.5 or better. The Warhawks' 62-13 loss at Mississippi State is much less relevant to this matchup than their 26-20 defeat at UAB. UL Monroe showed considerable improvement against a more comparable opponent and now returns home against an FCS team. Keeping the number below a touchdown gives enough value to back the Warhawks.

Pick: Under 55.5

Take the Under if the total is set at 55.5 or higher. UL Monroe's best performance came when it held UAB to 26 points, and the Warhawks should have a much easier defensive assignment Saturday. Southeastern Louisiana should attempt to shorten the game and avoid allowing UL Monroe to repeatedly exploit its depth advantage. A projected UL Monroe 30, Southeastern Louisiana 20 supports both positions.

Final Picks: UL Monroe -6.5 or Better and Under 55.5