Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns vs Arkansas State Red Wolves
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Matchup Analysis
This NCAAB matchup features Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (10-20 (7-8)) traveling to take on Arkansas State Red Wolves (19-11 (10-4)) at First National Bank Arena, Jonesboro, AR. The Arkansas St hold a clear statistical edge this season, outperforming the Louisiana by 12.2 points per game in scoring margin. That differential will be a key factor in this matchup.
On offense, Arkansas St averages 83.2 points per game, which exceeds what the Louisiana defense typically allows (69.6 PPG). That mismatch could give the home side opportunities to exploit. Meanwhile, Louisiana scores 62.9 PPG but faces a Arkansas St defense that limits opponents to 77.8 PPG. The home team's defensive effort could be the difference-maker.
Home court advantage is worth approximately 3.5 points in NCAAB, and Arkansas St will look to leverage their home crowd. Our model projects Arkansas St to win by approximately 8.4 points. The 68% confidence interval ranges from Arkansas St winning by 21 to losing by 4.
The market has this game at -13.5, but our model sees value on Louisiana with a 5.1-point edge. Our line: Arkansas St -8.4. Combined with the total projection of 146 versus the market line of 146.5, there are opportunities to find value on both sides of this matchup.
Team Comparison
UL Louisiana
Stat
ARST Arkansas St
10-20 (7-8)
Record
19-11 (10-4)
Last 10
62.9
PPG
83.2
69.6
Opp PPG
77.8
Current Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| UL Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns | +3875 | +13.5 | O 146.5 |
| ARST Arkansas State Red Wolves | -3875 | -13.5 | U 146.5 |
Source: Draft Kings Updated: Feb 27, 5:54 AM
Opening line: -13.5 / O/U 146.5
Model Projection
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| UL Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns | +280 | +8.4 | O 146.1 |
| ARST Arkansas State Red Wolves | -280 | -8.4 | U 146.1 |
Source: Model Updated: Feb 28, 3:59 AM
Our Picks
Spread
Louisiana (opened at -13.5)
56% Confidence
Play to -9.1
Total
Pass
Model: 146.1 | Edge below threshold
Recent Trends
Arkansas St enters at 19-11 (10-4), hovering around the .500 mark. They've shown flashes of strong play but haven't been able to sustain consistency. At home, they'll look to put together a complete performance and build momentum.
It's been a difficult season for Louisiana at 10-20 (7-8). Traveling to face Arkansas St presents a significant challenge, though every game is a chance to build for the future.
When these teams meet, the home team typically has the edge given the crowd advantage and familiarity factor. The team that controls tempo and limits turnovers will likely dictate the outcome of this matchup.
Matchup Edges
Arkansas St
Advantages
- Strong 19-11 (10-4) overall record this season
- Home court advantage and crowd support
- Strong offense averaging 83.2 PPG
Disadvantages
- Defense allows 77.8 PPG — a vulnerability
- Turnover-prone at 14.4 per game
Louisiana
Advantages
- Nothing to lose as the visiting team
- Road underdog motivation — play with less pressure
Disadvantages
- Playing on the road without home crowd support
- Struggling with a 10-20 (7-8) record this season