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Louisiana vs. TCU Prediction & Picks: New Mexico Bowl Odds

Brenden Schaeffer

Last Updated: December 27, 2024 5:30 PM EST • 3 min 5 sec read.

Louisiana wide receiver Lance LeGendre makes a catch against Wake Forest. We're back LeGendre in our Louisiana vs. TCU prediction.
Louisiana wide receiver Lance LeGendre makes a catch against Wake Forest. Photo by Jim Dedmon via Imagn Images.

Louisiana may get its starting quarterback back healthy for the New Mexico Bowl, giving the Ragin’ Cajuns every opportunity to engage in a closer contest with TCU than the lofty point spread would indicate.

As part of our college bowl game predictions this week, our Louisiana vs. TCU prediction for the New Mexico Bowl sees the Ragin’ Cajuns' consistent offense exploiting TCU’s mediocre defense in order to keep things close.

Louisiana and TCU (-9.5) face off in the New Mexico Bowl at University Stadium in Albuquerque on Saturday at 2:15 ET (ESPN).

Our college football bowl game opt-out tracker has you covered with the latest opt-out news and the impact on the college bowl game odds. 

Louisiana vs. TCU prediction & best pick: New Mexico Bowl

College football picks based on the odds from our best college football betting sites. Odds subject to change.

  • Against the spread pick: Louisiana +10.5 () vs. TCU ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • My best pick: Lance LeGendre Over 62.5 receiving yards () ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Louisana vs. TCU ATS prediction

Louisiana to cover the spread: +10.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -110 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 52.38%

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As noted by Rob Paul in SBR’s bowl game opt-out tracker,  suggests Louisiana will get QB Ben Wooldridge back for the New Mexico Bowl. That could present the Ragin’ Cajuns as a valuable side given the lopsided nature of this spread.

Wooldridge's return could energize Louisiana

The senior QB missed several recent games due to injury but guided Louisiana to an 8-1 record in his nine full games. Of those eight wins quarterbacked by Wooldridge, the Ragin’ Cajuns won six times by double-digits.

Even if Wooldridge isn’t able to make it back on the field as anticipated, a TCU defense that allowed 28.8 points per game (83rd in FBS) could be the element that keeps Louisiana (7-6 ATS) competitive against a point spread that has risen to +10.5 at BetMGM.

The Horned Frogs were 5-7 ATS on the season and will be missing multiple wide receivers to injury, as well as their starting running back and center due to the transfer portal.

Louisiana vs. TCU best pick

Our NEW college football player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

Lance LeGendre Over 62.5 receiving yards (-115) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -115 via be365 | Implied probability: 53.49%

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The Horned Frogs adjusted defensive efficiency ranks outside the top 50 and could be susceptible to Louisiana’s offense, which ranks 27th nationally in adjusted efficiency. The Louisiana offense averaged 252.0 passing yards per game this season.

One key element of the Ragin’ Cajuns' passing attack has been big-play threat receiver Lance LeGendre, whose 17.0 yards per reception make him a viable candidate to clear his receiving total on Saturday. 

LeGendre has gone Over 62.5 receiving yards in six of his past 10 games. In five separate games, he has used his big-play ability to secure a reception of 30-plus yards to help expedite his path to a volume-receiving day without requiring a high receptions count.

Louisiana vs. TCU odds

See all of this week's college football odds and NCAAF scores.

Louisiana vs. TCU live odds

Louisiana vs. TCU opening odds:

  • Louisiana: +9.5 (-110)
  • TCU: -9.5 (-110)

Louisiana vs. TCU injuries

New Mexico Bowl game info

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 28
  • Kickoff: 2:15 p.m. ET
  • Where: University Stadium (Albuquerque, N.M.)
  • How to watch: ESPN
  • Weather: 48 degrees, 0% chance of precipitation, wind 8 mph NW
  • Favorite: TCU -9.5 (-115 via FanDuel)

College football betting odds pages

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Written By:
Brenden Schaeffer
Brenden has covered the St. Louis Cardinals as a credentialed baseball writer for KMOV-TV since 2016. His sports writing has appeared in outlets including the Austin American-Statesman and Columbia Daily Tribune. Since 2021, Brenden has co-hosted 'The Big Show' during the afternoon drive for KTGR, the ESPN radio affiliate in Columbia, MO. He has appeared on radio stations around the country, including KMOX, and hosts a daily St. Louis Cardinals podcast. In the sports betting content space, Brenden has covered the NFL, college football, NBA, and college basketball for outlets including SBR since 2019. For his football handicapping, Brenden looks to target NFL player prop markets as well as sharp underdog lines in college football. Brenden looks to reference FanDuel for his sports betting articles because of its consistently competitive odds on parlays. FanDuel's boost offerings are also customer-friendly, and its odds on the NFL Same Game Parlay articles he's written for SBR have historically been consistently competitive compared to other books.