It’s time to get this season underway.

It’s always interesting when a new football season begins.  Everyone is undefeated and fans of every team, especially if their team has had success, has high hopes for their squad.

Fans of the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns are no different.

After four straight 9-4 seasons, fans are optimistic.  Most of the predictions I’ve seen have the Cajuns anywhere between 7-5 and 9-3, with another 8-4 regular season the most popular choice.

Those goals are reachable.  The Cajuns will be underdogs in four games, all on the road (Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State, Appalachian State).  Obviously, they’d need to win one of those and then run the table on the rest to reach that nine win plateau.

But there aren’t many gimmes on the schedule this year.  So, if the Cajuns are to continue on the pace they’ve been the last four years, here are five games they have to win.  None of them will be a sure thing.

AKRON—SEPTEMBER 26, CAJUN FIELD—The Cajuns got a test from the lowly Zips two years ago and this program has improved greatly under coach Terry Bowden.  Akron came very close to bowl eligibility a year ago, but let a game or two get away.  Bowden returns a good nucleus of players including a veteran quarterback that started against the Cajuns in 2013.  Most pre season magazines pick the Zips to be either first or second in the MAC Eastern Division.  The road has not been kind to Akron the last several years.  This team might be the best equipped to handle adversity as Akron has had in a decade.  Mark Hudspeth has already called Rob Perillo and ordered lots of heat and humidity.

TEXAS STATE---OCTOBER 10TH , CAJUN FIELD---Dennis Franchione’s club has been pretty good the last two seasons…except when they’ve played the Cajuns.  Louisiana ran out to a 45-3 lead against the Bobcats at Cajun Field two years ago and dominated again last year on national television, 34-10.  The Bobcats should be at least as good as they were a year ago when they beat Tulsa, ULM and Arkansas State.  It’s the conference opener for both.  Obviously, that makes this game huge.  Oh, and the Bobcats will have two weeks to prepare.

ULM—OCTOBER 31, CAJUN FIELD---I’ve already said I think the Warhawks will be the best defensive team in the league.  Their big question mark is on the other side of the football, which is pretty unusual for a Sun Belt team.  They’ll have a lot of youth in the offensive backfield.  But by the time this game is played, they’ll have gotten a world of experience.  The Cajuns will have eleven days to prepare after their Tuesday night game against Arkansas State.  They’ll need them.  And, remember, ULM beat the Cajuns here two years ago, and the Cajuns needed a miracle finish to win four years ago.

At GEORGIA STATE---NOVEMBER 7—GEORGIA DOME---Don’t laugh.  This team hasn’t been very good and not a lot is expected from them this year.  I just know they’ve given the Cajuns everything they’ve wanted in the two previous meetings.  Two years ago they were tied in the third quarter.  Last year Brooks Haack had to lead a fourth quarter comeback.  In both games, Georgia State, who has turned the ball over at an alarming rate, valued possession and as a result, the games were close.  If they get that part figured out, they’re going to win some games this year.  The Cajuns need to make sure November 7th isn’t one of those games.

AT SOUTH ALABAMA---NOVEMBER 12TH—LADD-PEEBLES STADIUM—Right after the trip to Atlanta, the Cajuns have a quick turnaround, traveling again for a Thursday night contest with the Jaguars.  Two road games in five days is not an easy task.  And, by that time, a Jaguars team that lost a lot of players but have welcomed several UAB transfers should have gotten the experience necessary to gel.  The Cajuns will probably be favored in this game, but the short week is a real concern.

The Cajuns will be solid favorites against Northwestern State, New Mexico State and Troy.  Get a road upset and take care of business in these five games, and you have nine wins.  But stumble and you have….never mind….don’t want to think about it.

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