Louisiana vs UL Monroe Prediction 1/18/25 College Basketball Picks

The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks meet Saturday in college basketball action from Fant-Ewing Coliseum. Here’s a Louisiana vs LA-Monroe prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Louisiana vs LA-Monroe pick. We will examine:

The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns’ recent form and player performance

The Louisiana Monroe Warhawks’ recent form and player performance

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks

Recent betting trends in games played between Louisiana and LA-Monroe

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Louisiana vs LA-Monroe game

Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Betting Preview

The Cajuns have had quite a difficult year so far. Louisiana opened with a rough skid, and things haven’t gotten much better since then. In their 1-8 start, the Cajuns won over only UT Dallas. Otherwise, it was losses to Kent State, Houston, Rice, Liberty, George Washington, UAB, Nicholls, and Louisiana Tech at that time. Following a reasonable 3-2 stretch that included losses to Lamar and McNeese among wins over SE Louisiana, App State, and Coastal Carolina, Louisiana lost to Georgia State and Old Dominion before notching another win over Louisiana-Monroe that brought the Cajuns to 5-12 over their first 17 games of the season.

In their Thursday matchup with Arkansas State, the Cajuns had a pretty rough time. Louisiana was down 44-24 by the start of the second half and didn’t end up gaining any ground on a 39-39 run during an 83-63 blowout loss. Tops in scoring was Mostapha El Moutaouakkil with 18 points and six boards. Kentrell Garnett added 10 points with three steals and four rebounds, while Christian Wright led the bench players with his 10 points, three boards, and three assists.

Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks Betting Preview

Over on the LA-Monroe side, they’ve had a similarly difficult run so far this season. The Warhawks blew out Champion Christian in their opener, then fell to LSU, Tulane, and Rice in the next three games. Louisiana-Monroe beat Ecclesia and Northwestern State with a loss to SE Louisiana among the next three games, then lost three straight versus North Alabama, Stephen F. Austin, and Texas Arlington before another win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. LA-Monroe would hit the skids after that, falling to Texas-Arlington, Houston Christian, Old Dominion, Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina, Southern Miss, Louisiana, and Troy over the next eight outings for a 4-15 result over their first 19 games this year.

Matched up against Troy on Wednesday, the Warhawks were within five points at the break 35-30. LA-Monroe didn’t end up getting any closer than that though, falling behind on a 42-28 run on the way to a 77-58 blowout loss. Coltie Young finished as the high starter with 16 points and four boards, while Jacob Wilson added 16 bench points and three rebounds with three assists and two steals. Tyreese Watson put up 14 points with five assists and two steals.

Why the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks will win

• Louisiana has lost each of its last six day games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• The home team has won five of the last six games between Louisiana and Louisiana-Monroe.

Why the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns will win

• Louisiana-Monroe has lost each of its last 10 games against Conference opponents.
• Louisiana has won three of its last four games at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
• Louisiana has won the first half in six of its last seven day games against Conference opponents.

Louisiana vs LA-Monroe Prediction

I’ll take a stab at LA-Monroe, but I’m probably not touching this one. The Warhawks are coming off a rough outing versus Troy, shooting just 31.8 percent from the field with a 48-32 rebounding deficit. That makes fewer than 69 points in four straight games for LA-Monroe, who has lost eight straight.

One of those losses came last weekend versus Louisiana 71-68 at the Cajundome. The Warhawks were at least competitive in that one, shooting 45.3 percent from the field with a 41-35 rebounding edge. The 15-of-25 (60 percent) from the line and the 13 turnovers buried LA-Monroe, however. In the home rematch, I like the Warhawks to get some revenge (if they can clean up the mistakes) but it’s likely not one I’m going to mess with.