Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday and former LSU wide receiver Brandon Lafell goes after his first Super Bowl ring. Lafell and the rest of the Patriot receivers will go up against the best defensive secondary in the NFL. Plus the Seahawks like to talk, but Lafell says this isn’t a trash talking contest…

cut 16 (22) “this offense”

Other Louisiana connections to the Super Bowl: Former Louisiana Tech punter Ryan Allen is also a Patriot. Northwestern State product Jeremy Lane and former LSU Tiger cornerback Tharold Simon are Seahawks.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees and former LSU star and Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Junior set the Guiness World Record for the most one-handed catches in one minute. Beckham caught 33 passes with one hand from Brees as part of ESPN’s Super Bowl coverage.

Lousiana Tech climbed back into a first place tie in Conference USA with a 69-56 win over Western Kentucky last night in Ruston. Raheem Appleby and Alex Hamilton each scored 17 as the Bulldogs are now in a dead heat with the Hilltopper atop the conference standings with a 7-1 league record. Tech, who have won 23 straight home games, will host Marshall, Saturday afternoon.

In the Sun Belt, UL-Lafayette has now lost 5 of their last six games after they blew a 10 point halftime lead to lose to South Alabama 89-85. Shawn Long scored 26 and Kasey Shepherd came off the bench to add 20 as the Ragin’ Cajuns fall to 11-10 overall and 5-5 in league play. The Cajuns travel to San Marcos to take on Texas State Saturday.

ULM overcame a 10 point half time deficit to defeat Troy 58-55 in overtime last night. Majok Deng and Mack Foster scored 15 points apiece for the Warhawks who are now tied for second in the league. ULM will host South Alabama Saturday.