Louisiana football vs. Buffalo: Score prediction, scouting report
Louisiana football ended its latest two-game road swing much better than it started it, following a loss at ODU with a trouncing of UAB in Birmingham, last weekend.
The Ragin' Cajuns (2-1) return to the friendly confines singing a different tune as Buffalo comes calling at Cajun Field Saturday night (6:30 p.m., ESPN+).
All the more impressive, UL shredded the Blazers without four starters on offense, including starting quarterback Ben Wooldridge, who went down on the fourth play of the game with a foot injury that's significant enough to keep him out for the "foreseeable future," Cajuns coach Michael Desormeaux said Monday.
Better news upon the team's return home is that starting sophomore running back Dre'Lyn Washington, sophomore receiver Rob Williams and right tackle George Jackson are expected to be back in the lineup.
Louisiana football's offense with Zeon Chriss at quarterback
Chriss, the freshman, performed masterfully at UAB in relief of the injured Wooldridge.
He amassed 277 yards on offense with two total touchdowns, including an 80-yard TD run.
Desormeaux said earlier this week that Chriss proved against the Blazers that he's not just a runner at quarterback but that he can fully operate the Ragin' Cajuns' offense. There were some tweaks made to the run game approach and those played to Chriss' strengths, which UAB could not handle.
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The Bulls, who have started an abysmal 0-3 on the season, have given up plenty of yards and points to opponents in the early going. And particularly dual threat QBs have thrived. This seems like a mismatch well in the Cajuns' favor.
Can Ragin' Cajuns pass defense have a repeat performance vs. Buffalo?
Let's start up. Through three games, UL ranks second in the country in sacks with 15, hitting teams at a five a game clip. Sophomore Jordan Lawson has been the team's top menace with four, leading a group where eight guys have recorded at least a half sack.
Lawson and company helped the Cajuns' young secondary at UAB bounce back from a woeful performance at Old Dominion two weeks ago.
The Bulls come in with QB Cole Snyder, who threw for more than 3,000 yards last season and can throw it. The problem for Buffalo is that it can't run the football, which averages right at 100 yards a game, making the offense one dimensional.
Buffalo Bulls susceptible to turnovers. Winning that battle will be key
As good as Snyder has been for Buffalo, the quarterback has still made some mistakes. And teams have been able to cash them in.
UL's defense is coming off a game where it intercepted two passes and could be looking for more.
On the other side, the offense has had the least ball security it's had in some time on average with six giveaways through three games.
Winning the turnover battle will factor into how this contest shakes out. For UL, if it can finish in the positive, it'll be in great shape to start 3-1 on the season.
Score prediction
The Cajuns ride the high off the UAB thrashing into the game with Buffalo. With Chriss at quarterback, they keep their foot on the pedal and cruise to a victory. Louisiana 36 Buffalo 18
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU/UL athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Louisiana football vs. Buffalo: Score prediction, scouting report
