The second-ranked LSU Tigers are already in Atlanta ahead of tomorrow’s SEC championship game matchup between the Bayou Bengals and the Georgia Bulldogs. The key matchup is LSU’s offense versus the Georgia defense. The Tigers rank second in the nation, averaging 49 points a contest, while Georgia is allowing just 10 points a game and they’ve pitched three shutouts.

The Saints take on the 49ers Sunday in a battle that may determine who takes the 1 seed and home-field advantage for the NFC playoffs. San Fran has the number two scoring defense in the NFL, only allowing 15 points a game. Saints QB Drew Brees says unlike other teams, there are no holes for the Black and Gold offense to exploit…
cut 18 (17) stout group
The 49ers are also number two in the league with 45 sacks on the season.

Southern is at Alcorn State on Saturday for a rematch of the last year’s SWAC Championship game. The Braves won last year’s title game and beat the Jags again in late October. But Coach Dawson Odums’ team has won four straight since that game, including SWAC victories over Alabama A-and-M, Jackson State and Grambling…
Cut 16 (20) …go out there”
Alcorn has won three of the last five SWAC Championship games, including last year when the Braves defeated the Jags 38-24.

LSU’s explosive offense will face its biggest test yet against a dominant Georgia defense. Matt Doyle has a preview.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Before the L-S-U-Georgia game, it will be the Sun Belt Championship game in Boone, North Carolina as the Ragin Cajuns face Appalachian State at 11 AM. The Mountaineers rank 21st in the College Football Playoff rankings and they’ve defeated two Power Five Schools this year, North and South Carolina.

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees knows he’ll have to get rid of the ball quickly on Sunday when New Orleans hosts the 49ers. San Francisco is second in the NFL with 45 sacks and Brees says they do not have to blitz to get to the quarterback…
cut 19 (17) “….four”
The line is led by rookie Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead, who’ve combined for 18 sacks.

Five Louisiana Tech Bulldogs scored in double figures last night as the Bulldogs defeated Mississippi State 74-67. Tech’s victory ends State’s 26-game non-conference home winning streak. Daquan Bracey had 16 points, while Amorie Archibald had 15 points.

The Pelicans rallied from a 20-point deficit but lost in overtime to the Suns 139-132 in overtime. New Orleans has lost seven in a row.

LSU’s high-powered offense will go up against a defense that ranks among the top five nationally in all major categories when they face Georgia in the SEC Championship game. Tigers center Lloyd Cushenberry says they do all of the little things right
Cut 16 (10) …for us”

The Saints are also facing a stingy defense on Sunday when they host the 49ers. San Francisco is allowing just 134 passing yards a game. They rank second in sacks with 45. Rookie defensive end Nick Bosa has eight sacks. Coach Sean Payton says Bosa is tough to block…
cut 20 (17) “….fantastic season”
Kick-off Sunday is at noon.

There are bowl projections that show the Ragin Cajuns and Louisiana Tech could meet each other in the New Orleans Bowl later this month. New Orleans Bowl officials would certainly like that match-up as the Ragin Cajuns usually bring a big crowd when they play the game in New Orleans and attendance would be helped even more if U-L’s opponent was Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs last played in the New Orleans Bowl in 2015 and beat Arkansas State.

Louisiana Tech basketball is in Starkville tonight to face Mississippi State. The Dunkin Dogs from Ruston are 5-and-2 and they are averaging nearly 19 turnovers a game, which ranks 14th in the country. Mississippi State is 6-and-1 and they’ve won 26 straight non-conference home games.

Last night, the ULM Warhawks defeated Millsaps College 86-63. J-D Williams had a big second half, scoring 15 of his 17 points after halftime.

The Saints will go up against one of the top defenses in the N-F-L on Sunday when they host San Francisco. The 49ers are holding opposing teams to just 134 passing yards a game. They rank second in the league in sacks with 45. Rookie defensive end Nick Bosa has eight sacks. Coach Sean Payton says Bosa is tough to block…
cut 20 (17) “….fantastic season”
The Saints could use starting left tackle Terron Armstead for this game. He missed the Thanksgiving night win over Atlanta with an ankle injury. Armstead practiced in a limited capacity yesterday.

Guard Andrus Peat and linebackers Kiko Alonso and A-J Klein did not practice.

The LSU Tigers will leave later today for Atlanta where they’ll play Georgia in Saturday’s SEC Championship game. Tigers Center Lloyd Cushenberry says it will take a complete team effort to beat the Bulldogs…
cut 17 (12) “….worried about that” ‘
LSU’s Joe Burrow has won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. The honor goes to college football’s best quarterback, who is a fourth-year junior or senior.

The Sun Belt Conference names U-L Lafayette’s Billy Napier as its coach of the year. Napier and the Cajuns will face Appalachian State in Saturday’s Sun Belt title game.

In college basketball last night, after a week-long layoff the ULM Warhawks defeated Millsaps College 86-63. J-D Williams had a big second half, scoring 15 of his 17 points after halftime. Tonight, La Tech is at Mississippi State.

LSU remains second in the latest college football rankings, right behind Ohio State. The final rankings will be unveiled on Sunday. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says the Tigers can regain the top spot if LSU wins in the SEC Championship game and Ohio State doesn’t play well in the Big 10 title game…
Cut 9 (07) “…good debate.”
LSU faces Georgia in the SEC title game on Saturday, while Ohio State takes on Wisconsin in the Big 10 title game that night.

The Ragin Cajuns battle Appalachian State on Saturday in the Sun Belt title game. Today, the Sun Belt Conference announced that Billy Napier is the league’s coach of the year. The offense and defensive players of the year come from App State, running back Darrynton Evans and Akeem Davis-Gaither.

And there’s reports the Cajuns and Louisiana Tech could meet each other in the New Orleans Bowl later this month.

Southeastern Louisiana will make the long road trip on Saturday to face Montana in the second round of the F-C-S playoffs. This should be a high scoring game. The Lions average 37 points a game, while Montana averages 36 a contest. S-L-U Coach Frank Scelfo says the Grizzlies feed off the big play…
cut 19 (19) “….regular basis”
Kick off on Saturday is at 2 PM.

Saints defensive end Cam Jordan has been named the N-F-C Defensive Player of the Week. Jordan had four sacks in the Thanksgiving night win over Atlanta. Jordan is now second in the N-F-L in sacks with 13.5. New Orleans hosts the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. The Black and Gold are just a 2.5 point favorite.

No major changes at the top of the college football playoff rankings. Ohio State is number one, LSU is two, Clemson is third and Georgia is fourth. LSU will make its first appearance in the SEC Championship game since 2011, while Georgia is in the title for the third consecutive year. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire says the Tigers can’t wait to get to Atlanta
Cut 17 (22) ready to play ”

Bad news for LSU fans looking to buy the Joe Burrow jersey with his name spelled with e-a-u-x. Sara Sanders is the co-owner of the Purple and Gold Sports Shop in Baton Rouge and she says they are not available…
Cut 13 (09) “…not for sale.”

Southeastern Louisiana’s run through the F-C-S playoffs takes them to Montana this Saturday as the Lions seek their first-ever appearance in the quarterfinals. Montana is a six national seed and brings a 9-and-3 record into the contest. S-L-U Coach Frank Scelfo
cut 18 (22) of a game”
This should be a high scoring game. The Lions average 37 points a game, while Montana averages 36 a contest.

The Saints return to practice today. Linebacker Maniti Te’ o is back with the Black and Gold. The former second round pick out of Notre Dame played for the Saints in 2017 and 2018. Te’o is needed after Kiko Alonso and A-J Klein suffered injuries in the win over Atlanta on Thanksgiving night.

LSU remains second, behind Ohio State, in the college football playoff rankings. Clemson is third, Georgia fourth, Utah fifth and Oklahoma is sixth.

The final rankings will come out on Sunday.

Junior running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s play has been a big surprise this season for LSU. Edwards-Helaire has rushed for 1,233 yards and 16 touchdowns. He’s also caught 43 passes. Before the season started, many thought Edwards-Helairie would eventually lose his starting job, but the Baton Rouge product says people have doubted him his whole life…
cut 16 (24) “…to the house”
LSU faces Georgia in the SEC Title game at 3 PM.

The Ragin Cajuns and Southern Jaguars are getting ready for conference championship games. U-L Lafayette will take on 20th ranked Appalachian State. Cajuns coach Billy Napier says several key starters on defense will return from injury, nose tackle Zi-Yon Hill, linebacker Ferrod Gardner, and defensive back Percy Butler.

The Cajuns have won ten games in the regular season for the first time. Sarah Armentor with the Ragin Cajuns Store says the number 98 jersey has been a big seller for them this year…
cut 15 (08) “….put a player”

Meanwhile, Southern will face Alcorn State in the SWAC Championship game. The winner will play in the Celebration Bowl on December 21st in Atlanta.

In college basketball, LSU routed UNO 90-54, Ragin Cajuns dribbled past Southeastern Louisiana 98-81, S-M-U slammed Northwestern State 77-51 and the Pelicans lost their sixth straight, 118 to 97 to Dallas.

As we look ahead to Saturday’s SEC Championship game between LSU and Georgia, the Bulldogs will bring one of the nation’s top defenses to Atlanta. But can they stop Biletnikoff Award finalist Ja’Marr Chase, who leads the country in yards per game and touchdown catches. In Chase’s last five games, he’s caught 35 passes for 831 yards and eight touchdowns. Coach Ed Orgeron on the former Rummel standout…
cut 18 (20) player”

In N-F-L news today, the Panthers have fired longtime head coach Ron Rivera. Carolina is 5-and-7 and they just lost to the Redskins.

Seattle’s win over Minnesota last night gives the Saints the number one seed in the N-F-C playoffs. New Orleans hosts San Francisco this Sunday.

Hundreds of LSU fans got their grass handed to them. Kevin Barnhart was on hand to speak with those who obtained some of the free sod from Tiger Stadium during the Monday afternoon giveaway.
Cut 3 (32) “ I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

The PMAC tonight, LSU hosts UNO. The Tigers lead the SEC in shooting at 51-percent. The Ragin Cajuns host Southeastern Louisiana.

In New Orleans, the Pelicans look to end a five-game losing streak as they host Dallas. The Mavericks are 13-and-16. Tip-off is at 6:30.

With LSU playing in the SEC Championship Game, that means less time on the road recruiting for the coaches. But Coach Ed Orgeron says what the Tigers have done on the field this season has been their best recruiting tool, especially for skill position players
Cut 16 (28) …LSU’s offense”
Also, Orgeron says positive discussions are underway to make sure passing game coordinator Joe Brady stays on the LSU coaching staff. Brady is a finalist for the Broyles Award, which goes to the top assistant in college football.

The Ragin Cajuns are getting ready to make another trip to Boone, North Carolina where they’ll play Appalachian State for the second straight year in the Sun Belt Championship game. U-L Lafayette lost twice last year at App State, Cajuns Coach Billy Napier hopes the third time is the charm
cut 19 (19) the game”

Tonight in basketball, the Ragin Cajuns host Southeastern Louisiana. Last year, U-L Lafayette beat the Lions by just one point in Hammond.

Also, LSU hosts UNO. First meeting on the hardwood between these two schools since 2013. And Northwestern State is at SMU.

The Pelicans will try to end a five-game losing streak when they host Dallas. The Mavs are 13-and-6.

New college football playoff rankings will be released tonight. Most believe the LSU Tigers are in the four-team College Football playoff, even if they lose to Georgia in the SEC Championship game. But Coach Ed Orgeron is not taking anything for granted…
cut 17 (15) “…right now”
LSU beat Georgia 30-16 last year at Tiger Stadium. Orgeron says that’s when the team really started believing in Joe Burrow as there quarterback.

LSU Athletics offered free slabs of sod from Tiger Stadium to fans yesterday. About 33-hundred servings of grass were given away in minutes. Clay from Prairieville on what he’ll do with the sod.
Cut 13 (08) “…of the family.”
The sod was removed as LSU plans to improve the drainage and install new turf at Tiger Stadium.

The Ragin Cajuns are a confident team heading into Saturday’s Sun Belt Championship matchup with 25th ranked Appalachian State. U-L Lafayette has won six in a row, since losing to the Mountaineers at Cajun Field, 17-7 on October 9th. Coach Billy Napier says both teams are different two months later…
cut 20 (17) “…excited about the opportunity”
The Cajuns also have a bunch of injuries on the defensive side of the football, which is a reason why they gave up 570 yards of offense in a one-point win over ULM on Saturday.

Game times and sites are set for the private school football championships. And Ouachita Christian will face Catholic Pointe-Coupee in the Superdome for the Division Four State championship a week from Friday.