New Orleans native Peyton Manning is heading to a Super Bowl for a fourth time. Manning threw two touchdown passes as Denver held on to beat New England 20-18 in the AFC Championship game. It’s been a difficult year for the future Hall of Fame Quarterback, but he’s grateful for another opportunity at winning his second Super Bowl championship…

cut 24 (18) “Super Bowl 50”

Manning’s Broncos will face the Carolina Panthers, who pummeled the Arizona Cardinals 49-15. Cam Newton threw for 335 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another two scores. Former LSU Tiger and Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson had a costly muffed punt in the 2nd quarter.

LSU narrowly got past Alabama 72-70. Ben Simmons led all scorers with 23 as the Tigers improve to 5-2 in SEC play, good enough for a three way tie for second. Georgia will visit Baton Rouge tomorrow.

Louisiana Tech snapped a two game losing streak in defeating Southern Miss 70-59. Erik McCree scored 25 and Alex Hamilton added 15 to lead the Bulldogs who are now 3-3 in Conference USA. Tech will host Texas-San Antonio Tuesday.

Justin Roberson scored 23 as ULM crushed South Alabama 100-68. All five Warhawk starters scored in double digits. ULM will take on Texas-Arlington Thursday in Monroe.

UL-Lafayette defeated Troy 88-65. Shawn Long led the Ragin Cajuns with 20 points, which passed the 2,000 point threshold in his collegiate career. The Cajuns welcome Texas-San Antonio Thursday.

In Southland Conference basketball action, Central Arkansas knocked off Nicholls State 94-83, Stephen Ugochukwu’s tip-in with 13 seconds remaining lifted McNeese State to a 75-74 win over Northwestern State, and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi beat UNO 97-76.