Southern Miss vs. Louisiana Picks and Prediction, Saturday, October 18, 2025
Use Code SSWC Sun Belt action heats up on Saturday at Cajun Field with Louisiana (2-4) hosting Southern Miss (4-2). Southern Miss has won two in a row and is tied with Troy atop the West Division, while Louisiana has lost three of their last four games. Here in this Southern Miss vs. Louisiana prediction, you can get the full score info and other free NCAAF picks.
Southern Miss comes into this game as road favorite posted at -3.5 with a total of 53.5.
Southern Miss Holds on for Win
In their last game, Southern Miss was on the road in a 38-35 win over Georgia Southern, where they held on to win after being up 28-7 in the first half. In the W, the Golden Eagles outgained the Eagles 421 yards, including rushing for 184 yards, and forced three turnovers and only committed one. Braylon Braxton passed for 234 yards with two TD and no picks, Jeffery Pittman went big, rushing for 140 yards and two TD, and Elijah Metcalf led the way with 862 receiving yards. The game was a pick with Southern Miss a 3-point favorite and on the season, they are 3-2-1 ATS.
- The Golden Eagles have a pretty balanced offense and while they rank tied for 51st, averaging 32.2 ppg, they only rank tied for 95th in points against per game (27.7 ppg).
- Braxton (1.473 yards 13 TD 3 INT) has two TD and no INT in each of the last two games.
- Pittman (346 yards 6 TD) has totaled 220 yards in the last two games after totaling 110 yards in the previous two games.
- Southern Miss has four players with at least 189 receiving yards, led by Carl Chester (267 yards 2 TDs).
- USM will be facing a Louisiana defense that ranks 39th against the pass but only 133rd out of 136 FBS teams against the run.
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Louisiana Not Nearly the Same on Offense
After scoring 54 points in a win over Marshall, the Louisiana offense was not quite the same in their last game in a 24-14 road loss to James Madison. While they forced three turnovers and only committed one, they were outgained 477 yards to 288 yards, only rushed for 45 yards, and were shut out in the second half. Lunch Winfield passed for 243 yards with two TD and an INT and led the team with only 23 rushing yards and Robert Williams had 134 receiving yards. The Ragin’ Cajuns covered as an 18.5-point favorite and have covered the spread in their last two games while failing to do so in the previous two games.
- The Ragin’ Cajuns rank a respectable tied for 42nd in rushing yards per game but only tied for 87th in scoring, 120th in points against per game, and 129th in passing yards per game.
- Winfield (372 yards 4 TD 1 INT) took over for starter Daniel Beale (395 yards 1 TD 4 INT) in the win over Marshall, leading Louisiana to a win and will likely get the start against Southern Miss.
- Zylan Perry (411 yards 5 TD) is the lead rusher and is listed as probable after missing the last game and the second leading rusher, Bill Davis (335 yards 3 TD) has only totaled 66 yards in the last two games.
- Williams (223 yards) is one of only three players in triple-digits in receiving yards.
Louisiana will be up against a Southern Miss defense that only ranks 113th in the nation against the pass and 58th against the run.
Southern Miss vs. Louisiana Pick
Spread pick for Southern Miss vs. Louisiana
- Southern Miss -3.5 (+4 Units)
Southern Miss has won two in a row and is tied for first place in the Sun Belt West Division, while Louisiana is two games under .500 and has lost three of its last four games. The Golden Eagles rushed for 184 yards in their last game and will lean on the run in this game, facing a Ragin’ Cajuns run defense that only ranks 133rd in the nation. While Louisiana is led by its run, they have passed it pretty well in the last two games and will continue to do so, facing a Southern Miss secondary that has not been good this season. When it comes to the Southern Miss vs. Louisiana prediction, the Golden Eagles have the better offense and they will get the win over a Ragin’ Cajuns team that has major issues on the defensive side of the ball.
Over/Under Pick for Southern Miss vs. Louisiana
- Over 53.5
When these two teams met last season, the total went Under, but I am leaning towards the Over in this game. Southern Miss is averaging over 32 ppg and they have totaled 70 points in their last two games. They will have a high scoring game in this Sun Belt affair, facing a Louisiana team that only ranks 120th in the nation giving up an average of 30.8 ppg. Louisiana only scored 14 points in their last game but they were facing a James Madison team that ranks 10th in the nation in points against per game. Facing the Southern Eagles, who only rank tied for 95th in points against and gave up 60 points in their last two games, they will also put up a pretty high total. With the two defenses these teams have this game will be a high-scoring one, so the Over is the pick.
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