Expectations are high as the Pelicans tip-off the regular season tonight against the defending NBA champs, the Golden State Warriors. New Orleans is considered by many as a team on the rise, but Jake Madison, who writes for the blog site, Bourbon Street Shots, says wins might be difficult early on, because the team is dealing with numerous injuries…

cut 16 (20) “back on track”

The Pelicans will start the season without their top two centers Omer Asik, who has a calf strain, and Alexis Ajinca, who has a hamstring injury. You can watch at 9:30 PM on TNT.

The undefeated McNeese State Cowboys are ranked seventh in the FCS Coaches Top 25 poll. The Pokes are coming off a 47-27 win over Northwestern State. McNeese is at Abilene Christian this Saturday.

Hype is already building for the November 7th top-10 matchup between LSU and Alabama at 7pm in Tuscaloosa. The No. 4 Tigers and No. 7 Crimson Tide will play as top 10 teams for the sixth time in the last eight meetings including the 2011 Game of the Century which also happened at Bryant Denny Stadium. Brant Garrison, with Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sport, says she’s not sure if this game is as big as the 2011 game, but it’s always more fun when there’s something on the table to be won…

cut 8 (11) “great energy”

Both teams are on a bye this weekend.

Louisiana Tech cornerback Bryson Abraham was named Conference USA defensive player of the week. Abraham returned an interception for a touchdown in the Bulldogs 45-16 win over Middle Tennessee. Tech will travel to Rice for a game that will be played on Friday.

And Judy MacLeod has been named the new commissioner of Conference USA. She becomes the first female commissioner of a FBS conference.