2021 New Orleans Bowl: LOUISIANA (36) MARSHALL (21)

[RaginDave]

EMU is a decent MAC football team, they beat Texas State handily, Texas State was missing a ton of players because of COVID. They also easily defeated a terrible UMASS team. I don't see them giving us much of a test, but again, they are a better than average MAC team, so they will have some talent.

Rice is better than they used to be, but still not good. It is highly likely that Luke McCaffery will be their starting QB, the starter they had this year was a well traveled Grad transfer who started at Boise State, then Ventura State, then Weber State and finally ended up at Rice. They struggled mightily to run the ball this year and turned the ball over a ton. I don't see them being much of a challenge, but I do love this being a game in Houston that we can travel to.

SLU was really good this year, but man o man, they lose their starting QB Cole Kelly, who will get a shot to play on Sunday's. (as a backup). He was also their leading rusher by a ton. So they will need to replace allot on offense from the QB position. The other thing was like most really good offensive teams, they were not very good on defense, so we should have a chance to take advantage of that.

I don't see us losing any of these 3 games, the reality is that they should not be close. But you never know, that is why you play the games.

[billbeck451]

I have to give it to Marshall, that running back was good and fast and he earned every yard he got

[RaginDave]

I have to give it to Marshall, that running back was good and fast and he earned every yard he got

and more importantly, A FRESHMAN.

[cjr3888]

The reality is this game should be played at Tulane's stadium, not the superdome, 21-30K is a realistic size for this game. The SuperDome seats almost 80K, even at our best we got 40K in the New Orleans Bowl. I know that if we would have played someone like a Houston we might have exceeded the capacity of the 30K that Yulman Stadium holds, but having this game in the SuperDome is always going to look questionable, even if we would get 30+ at the game.

No, the game should always be in the Superdome. All this worrying about attendance and how it looks is nonsense. Bowl games are a reward for a successful season. Not many people who where there cared about attendance, they were just having a good time.

[cjr3888]

SLU will be the toughest of the 3…. Rice and EMU we SHOULD win with our rushing attack.

SLU has good DB's but their LB's are very bad. Most of their early signees have been on defense. Also, losing their QB with no viable backup. To put it lightly, this years team could have run for 500+ yards on the SLU defense.

[Scott Malkinson]

The reality is this game should be played at Tulane's stadium, not the superdome, 21-30K is a realistic size for this game. The SuperDome seats almost 80K, even at our best we got 40K in the New Orleans Bowl. I know that if we would have played someone like a Houston we might have exceeded the capacity of the 30K that Yulman Stadium holds, but having this game in the SuperDome is always going to look questionable, even if we would get 30+ at the game.

Attendance would have been much with a better opponent honestly. One of the downfalls of it being a non espn bowl. That and the fact we have been there with a 6-6 record

[RaginDave]

SLU has good DB's but their LB's are very bad. Most of their early signees have been on defense. Also, losing their QB with no viable backup. To put it lightly, this years team could have run for 500+ yards on the SLU defense.

Unless something changes their starter at QB should be former USA QB Cephus Johnson III. We saw him a couple of years ago vs us. He is capable, but he is no Cole Kelly.

[cjr3888]

Unless something changes their starter at QB should be former USA QB Cephus Johnson III. We saw him a couple of years ago vs us. He is capable, but he is no Cole Kelly.

Cephus played a little this year and wasn't able to do anything. He ran a little but couldn't complete any passes.

[UL_Cajuns]

I am Curious to see if USM, JMU or Marshall will be on the schedule this year. I am thinking USM for sure. JMU and Marshall will be in the SBC EAST so doubt it for this year, but we may face one of them.

[RaginDave]

Cephus played a little this year and wasn't able to do anything. He ran a little but couldn't complete any passes.

No I agree, they are going to be in trouble if CJ3 is their QB, but right now he is the leading candidate for the job. Now that being said with the transfer portal that could all change, but as of right now my assumption is that CJ3 will be their starting QB when the Lions come to Lafayette.

[RaginDave]

I am Curious to see if USM, JMU or Marshall will be on the schedule this year. I am thinking USM for sure. JMU and Marshall will be in the SBC EAST so doubt it for this year, but we may face one of them.

I think all of the teams above will be on the schedule for the SBC teams. I think for sure we get USM, the question will be how to make the others work. JMU will be in their transitional year, so they will need to be on a few teams schedules in the SBC, specifically since they need to fill out their schedule with the CAA games they are going to be missing. JMU has non conference games next year that include, Weber State, Norfolk State and Louisville, so they will need 8-9 games to fill out their schedule.

[fanof71]

A better opponent? That game was a dog fight for 3 quarters...