Louisiana vs. Charlotte Recap: 24 Straight Points After Halftime

Louisiana beat Charlotte 34-7, but it was only 10-7 at halftime. Louisiana moved the ball slowly in the first half, and Charlotte's only points came on a 54-yard fumble return with 24 seconds left before the break. The second half was all Louisiana: 24 straight points while Charlotte turned it over four times. Louisiana ran 49 times and held the ball for 40:53. Three DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game, all posted before kickoff.

What cashed

Louisiana ML (-375 at DraftKings): CASHED

• Our read: Charlotte lost at home to FCS Citadel 43-41 and scored 9 at Ole Miss and 21 at App State. Louisiana beat UAB 21-14 and scored 30 at USC.
• What happened: Louisiana won by 27. Charlotte finished with 137 total yards, ran 15 times for 26 yards and converted 1 of 11 third downs. Its offense never scored.
• Worth watching: At -375 this belongs in a parlay, not as a single. Charlotte's offense looked like the one we read before kickoff.

ALT: Louisiana -3.5 (alt, targeted -170 to -200): CASHED

• Our read: The main line was Louisiana -9.5. Charlotte was 0-3 with a home loss to FCS Citadel and had allowed 41 to Ole Miss. A 4-point win would cover.
• What happened: Louisiana won by 27 and covered -3.5 by 23.5. The main -9.5 would have covered too, by 17.5. At halftime, though, Louisiana led by only 3, short of even this alt.
• Worth watching: The cushion didn't matter at the end, but a 3-point halftime lead is the reason we take points off a big favorite.

Lunch Winfield anytime TD: CASHED

• Our read: The Louisiana QB had 5 rushing touchdowns and had scored in every game, with two in each of his last two. Charlotte was 0-3 and had lost to The Citadel.
• What happened: He scored on a 9-yard run with 9:21 left, which made it 27-7. He also threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Steven Blanco in the second quarter and finished 19 of 26 through the air. JJ Garner and Anthony Reagan Jr. had Louisiana's other rushing scores.
• Worth watching: A QB who runs near the goal line keeps this angle live even when the backs share the work. He has now scored in every game.

How the game played out

Charlotte split snaps at quarterback. Cole Gonzales completed 9 of 16 passes for 68 yards with an interception, and Conner Harrell completed 8 of 13 passes for 43 yards. Jaden Barnes led the team with 5 catches for 45 yards. Charlotte's defense kept it close early: Gavin Willis had 11 tackles and 2.5 for loss, and the unit sacked Winfield three times.

Trends to watch

• Louisiana used a committee: 49 runs, with Darrell Smith, Winfield and Reagan all getting 9 or more carries. Don't assume one ball carrier gets the volume.
• Winfield's touchdown equity is the steady part of his profile. He ran one in and threw one in.
• Charlotte had 137 yards, 4 turnovers and 19:07 of possession. Until its offense shows more, Charlotte team total unders are worth a look.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. New to these terms? Read up on the alt line, the anytime touchdown and our college football hub.