LendingTree Bowl: UL Lafayette vs. Miami-Ohio preview and pick

After a flurry of college football bowls and the first round of the NFL playoffs, Monday, January 6 will bring us the LendingTree Bowl between the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns and the Miami-Ohio RedHawks. This matchup may not have the national profile of the New Year’s Six bowl games, but on an otherwise dark day of football, it is still football, and for that we rejoice!

LendingTree Bowl: Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Miami-Ohio, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Ragin' Cajuns are heavy favorites

ULL enters the game at 10-3 overall and 9-4 against the spread. Miami enters the game 8-5 overall and 7-6 against the spread. ULL won its division of Conference USA before it lost a shootout to Appalachian State in the conference title game, 45-38. Miami also played in its conference championship game and defeated Central Michigan to win the MAC.

ULL's ground game is formidable

ULL is led on offense by quarterback Levi Lewis. He is mostly a pocket passer and racked up 2,804 yards through the air, with an impressive 24-4 touchdown-interception ratio. Lewis’ No. 1 receiver is Ja’Marcus Bradley, who gained 818 yards and scored eight touchdowns on the season.

On the ground is where ULL really makes headway. Three different running backs having at least 100 carries and 796 yards this season. Elijah Mitchell is a 217-pound workhorse who notched 15 touchdowns on the year, while Raymond Calais showed the most explosiveness, with 7.7 yards per rush.

The entire offense for ULL is powered by impressive offensive lineman and future NFL player Kevin Dotson. Dotson was named an All-American by several publications and was one of the highest-graded lineman in the country. Along with fellow all-conference lineman Robert Hunt, ULL ended the season third in the country in rushing touchdowns and 11th in total offense at 38.8 points per game.

For Miami, MAC Freshman of the Year Brett Gabbert leads the way at quarterback and helped contribute to six wins in the RedHawks' final seven games to become bowl eligible and win the conference. Despite the accolades and conference success, however, Gabbert completed just 53.7% of his passes and had 11 touchdowns to eight interceptions. He didn’t show dangerous mobility, either, with 0.9 yards per rush on the season.

Miami's strength is defense

Much of Miami’s success this year came with defense and forcing sacks, but against ULL’s talented offensive line and power running game, much of Miami’s strengths will likely be neutralized. This has been the most successful season in ULL history, and I suspect they want to finish this campaign in style.

The Ragin' Cajuns have a strong and overpowering running game and face a mediocre offense that won’t be able to keep up. Look for ULL to lean on Miami and wear the RedHawks down rather easily to finish the year with 11 wins for the first time in school history.

NCAAF free pick: Louisiana -14

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