Our Havoc Rankings are back for Week 6.
Last week, New Mexico cruised to an easy cover in a 61-7 win over UTEP while also holding the Miners under their team total.
After a 2-0 start, we're taking a look at an in-state battle between Louisiana and Louisiana Tech, where one side has created Havoc all season and the other has struggled to protect the ball.
For those unfamiliar, Havoc is the collection of stats that can derail offensive momentum on the defensive side of the ball, including tackles for loss, pass breakups, forced fumbles, interceptions and sacks.
Havoc allowed, meanwhile, is a stat used to quantify an offense's ability to avoid chaos that creates a negative play. Offenses that are elite in Havoc allowed have a low number of fumbles, interceptions and tackles for loss allowed.
Let's take a look at our college football picks for Louisiana vs. Louisiana Tech and Week 6 Havoc Rankings for the upcoming week.
College Football Picks, Havoc Rankings
Louisiana vs. Louisiana Tech Odds
| Louisiana Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 +100 | 48.5 -110o / -110u | +126 |
| Louisiana Tech Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -122 | 48.5 -110o / -110u | -152 |
Louisiana Tech enters its initial Sun Belt season as one of the most Havoc-minded defenses in the nation. A Week 5 victory over Army included a turnover and six tackles for loss.
The Bulldogs are now the seventh-best FBS team in terms of Defensive Havoc, a statistic that calculates interceptions, pass breakups, forced fumbles and tackles for loss.
Louisiana Tech leads the nation in passes defensed while generating a top-10 rank in tackles for loss.
Head coach Sonny Cumbie will turn his attention to a Louisiana offense that has had severe struggles when it comes to protecting the ball.
The Ragin' Cajuns have fumbled eight times this season while producing a mid-level FBS Success Rate on the ground.
The offensive line has struggled to protect quarterback Lunch Winfield this season, as the quarterback has been pressured 48 times on 136 dropbacks through five games.
On top of that, Louisiana pass-catchers have hauled in only half of the 50/50 balls thrown this season, an issue that's sure to limit the Ragin' Cajuns offense against Louisiana Tech.
There are a number of other analytical reasons to back the Bulldogs in their first Sun Belt game with a massive edge in EPA. Havoc will be the biggest deciding factor, as the Louisiana offense ranks 104th in Havoc Allowed.
Pick: Louisiana Tech -3 or Better
