Mississippi State Football: Could Louisiana pose upset threat for Bulldogs?

1. Louisiana keeps it close — for three quarters

The SEC and the Sun Belt are on two distinctly different tiers of college football, but that doesn’t mean this game is going to be a cakewalk for the Bulldogs. Because of their proximity to the Southeastern Conference, UL has played a few SEC schools over the last few seasons and they’ve found a way to make most of those contest interesting.

Here’s how the Ragin’ Cajuns have fared against SEC competition since 2015:

• 2015: @ Kentucky, Lost 33-40
• 2016: @ Georgia, Lost 21-35
• 2017: @ Texas A&M, Lost 21-45
• 2017: @ Ole Miss, Lost 22-50

Those are four losses, all by double-digit margins, but the UL offense put up points every single time. If Mississippi State doesn’t start fast on offense, which they didn’t really do against Kansas State, this game is going to be closer than most expect.

Ultimately the talent level between these two programs will bring to bare what most experts project. Mississippi State is going to win, they’ll make the boxscore look presentable, but UL keeps this close for a while.