The college football playoff selection committee drops LSU to number two in the latest rankings and moved Ohio State to number one. The Tigers are coming off a 36-point win over a bad Arkansas team, while the Buckeyes just beat a top ten team in Penn State. Tiger Rag Assistant Editor Tyler Nunez says O-S-U has the same number of quality wins as LSU…
cut 3 (12) “….that direction”
LSU closes out the regular season by hosting Texas A-and-M

Tonight at the Smoothie King Center, Anthony Davis makes his return. It will be his first game back in New Orleans since the trade that sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers. Davis is not expected to receive a warm welcome when he’s introduced. The Pels are trying to snap a two-game losing streak Tip time is at 7:00.

The Saints can win the N-F-C South if they beat the Falcons tomorrow night. New Orleans is 9-and-2 on the season, four games ahead of Carolina, who the Black and Gold just beat 34-31.

Louisiana Tech can win the Conference USA Western Division if the Bulldogs beat U-T-S-A on Saturday and they’ll also need U-A-B- to lose to North Texas. If Tech, U-A-B and Southern Miss all win their final regular season game, the tie breaker will be determined by average computer ranking.

ULM can become bowl eligible if they upset U-L Lafayette on Saturday night in Cajun Field. Warhawks Coach Matt Viator says he hasn’t spent much time thinking about bowl possibilities…
cut 17 (19) “….have time”
Meanwhile, U-L Lafayette is asking its fans to pack Cajun Field for the regular season finale as the Cajuns go after their 10th win of the season.

Ohio State has overtaken LSU for the top spot in the college football playoff rankings, which were released last night. Both teams are 11-and-0, but the Buckeyes picked up another quality win last Saturday when they defeated Penn State 28-17. The Nittany Lions are ranked 10th in the new C-F-P.

LSU can impress the committee this Saturday when they host Texas A-and-M in the regular-season finale. Quarterback Joe Burrow on what the Aggies bring defensively….
cut 15 (20) “….picked up”
Junior Saahdiq Charles will start at left tackle for LSU after missing the last two games because of a coach’s decision. That will put senior Adrian Magee back at left guard.

ULM heads into Saturday’s game against the Ragin Cajuns as a three-touchdown underdog. Last year, the Warhawks lost to U-L Lafayette by three points. ULM coach Matt Viator says the Cajuns are a better team on defense this year
Cut 16 (19) … Ron can do”
If the Warhawks can pull off the upset on Saturday, they will be eligible for a bowl game.

Louisiana Tech football Coach Skip Holtz is not saying if J’Mar Smith will start versus Texas-San Antonio. Smith and junior receiver Adrian Hardy are eligible to play Saturday after serving a two-game suspension.

In basketball, U-C Irvine defeated the Cajuns 92-67, ULM held off Northwestern State 77-69. Nicholls dismantled Blue Mountain College 102-56.

And Anthony Davis makes his return to the Smoothie King Center as the Lakers visit the Pelicans.

It was three years ago today, LSU hired Ed Orgeron as its head football coach. Who would have thought three years later, LSU would be ranked number one? Football analyst Mike Detillier says Coach O did
Cut 6 (12) “ national championship.”
New college football playoff rankings come out at 6 PM tonight.

The winner of Saturday’s Bayou Classic between Southern and Grambling will play in the SWAC Championship game. Tigers Coach Broderick Fobbs says he’s been attending the Bayou Classic since he was a kid and understands what this game means, even when a division title is not on the line…
cut 13 (10) “…possibly are”
Bayou Classic organizers are expecting the game to sell out.

If the Ragin Cajuns win Saturday night versus ULM and Appalachian State loses to Troy, then U-L Lafayette will host the Sun Belt Championship game next week. But Coach Billy Napier will not spend much time scoreboard watching on Saturday night…
Cut 16 (19) …that part”

Louisiana Tech will need to beat UTSA on Saturday and get some help in order to win the Conference USA Western Division. Quarterback J-Mar Smith is eligible to play Saturday after missing the last two games because of a suspension. Coach Skip Holtz said today that the Bulldogs will play the quarterback that gives them the best chance to win. Freshman Q-B Aaron Allen has started the last two games, both losses.

Before LSU can prepare for the SEC Championship game against Georgia, the Tigers will have to tangle with Texas A-and-M this Saturday in Tiger Stadium. These two teams battled through seven overtimes last year with the Aggies winning 74-72 in College Station. Coach Ed Orgeron says playing the contest this year in front of purple and gold nation should help…
cut 14 (13) “….there’s no looking back”
And LSU could also get safety Grant Delpit back. He missed the Arkansas game with an ankle injury, but Orgeron says Delpit is now able to practice close to full speed.

The Saints have just two more days to get ready for Thursday night’s matchup with Atlanta. New Orleans did not practice yesterday, but the team released an estimated injury report and it shows offensive linemen Andrus Peat, Terron Armstead and Will Clapp unable to practice.

The Ragin Cajuns go after their 10th win of the season on Saturday when they host U-L-M to close out the regular season. Coach Billy Napier on the importance of beating their in-state rivals..
cut 15 (19) …this point”
The Warhawks enter the game with a five-and-six record and they need to win in order to become bowl eligible.

Also on Saturday, it’s the Bayou Classic between Grambling and Southern. It will kick off at 4 PM at the Mercedes Benz Superdome. Southern beat Grambling for the first time in four years last year. The winner this year will play in the SWAC Championship game.

In college basketball last night…U-L Lafayette defeated Detroit 81-62 in a game played in Las Vegas. Jalen Johnson had 18 points. Vanderbilt defeated Southeastern Louisiana 78-70, despite a career-high 26 points for sophomore forward Ty Brewer. And Indiana downed Louisiana Tech 88-75. Amorie Archibald had a career-high 24 points for the Bulldogs.

LSU safety Jacoby Stevens has been named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week. Against the Razorbacks, Stevens had a career-high three sacks and four tackles for a loss and finished with eight tackles. And fellow Safety Mo Hampton Junior is the SEC Freshman of the Week. Hampton started for the injured Grant Delpit and had six tackles.

Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire did not receive any recognition from the SEC, even though he rushed for 188 yards on just six carries. His final rush was for 89 yards and he was only in the game so he could pick up a couple of yards to get over 100 yards for the game…
cut 17 (18) “…for everybody”
LSU now looks to complete an undefeated regular season when they host Texas A-and-M on Saturday.

The Saints can’t reflect long on yesterday’s 34-31 win over Carolina. That’s because the Black and Gold play Thanksgiving night against the Atlanta Falcons. Quarterback Drew Brees looks forward to the matchup…
cut 30 (20) “…and football”
Since the game is just three days away, an injury report was released, even though the Saints didn’t practice. Offensive linemen Andrus Peat, Terron Armstead and Will Clapp were listed as did not practice, while cornerback Marshon Lattimore was limited. Armstead will reportedly miss several weeks with a high ankle sprain.

Nicholls defensive lineman Sully Laiche is a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the most outstanding defensive player in the F-C-S. Nicholls will host North Dakota this Saturday in the first round of the F-C-S playoffs.

LSU is SEC West champions for the first time since 2011, but there was not a big celebration after the Tigers clinched with a 56-20 victory over Arkansas. Coach Ed Orgeron says the team strives to accomplish bigger goals…
cu 16 (12) …we are done”
LSU is also eager at another shot at Texas A-and-M after losing to the Aggies in seven overtimes last year. Kick-off for that game in Tiger Stadium is at 6 PM.

Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana are both hosting F-C-S playoff games this Saturday. The Lions will welcome Villanova to Hammond, while the Colonels will face North Dakota.

Basketball, the Pelicans dropped their second straight last night as they fell to the Clippers 134-109. L-S-U basketball beat Rhode Island 96-83 in Jamaica. Tonight Louisiana Tech is at Indiana.

The Saints raced out to a 14-0 lead but needed a 33-yard game-winning field goal by Will Lutz as time expired to beat the Panthers 34-31 at the Superdome on Sunday. Lutz connected on his field goal a couple of minutes after Carolina missed a field goal to give them their first lead. Drew Brees marched the team 65 yards for the winning score…
cut 19 (21) team effort”
Offensive tackle Terron Armstead left the game with a high ankle sprain. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says Armstead is expected to miss several weeks. Patrick Omameh is expected to fill-in for Armstead. With San Francisco beating Green Bay last night, the Saints have the number two seed in the NFC playoffs.

The Saints can improve to 9-and-2 and pretty much lock up the N-F-C South with a win over Carolina on Sunday. The 5-and-5 Panthers have lost two in a row, but they are tied with San Francisco for most sacks in the league with 39. Quarterback Drew Brees says they have good pass rushers…
cut 20 (17) “…make em”
Kick-off on Sunday is noon.

Number one ranked LSU is a huge favorite to beat Arkansas on Saturday night as the Razorbacks have won just two games and they are winless in the SEC. True freshman quarterback K-J Jefferson could start at quarterback on Saturday. He’ll be the fourth different starter for the Hogs this season and his biggest threat is running the football. A win for LSU and they clinch the SEC West.

For Louisiana Tech to stay in first place in the Conference USA Western Division, they need to win Saturday in Birmingham against the U-A-B Blazers. The Bulldogs have the league’s top-ranked offense, while the Blazers have the number one ranked defense. Tech Coach Skip Holtz says U-A-B is very aggressive on defense…
Cut 16 (17) …rushing”
Tech will not have starting quarterback J’Mar Smith and leading receiver Adrian Hardy Saturday as they will serve game two of their two-game suspension for violating athletic department policy. Freshman Aaron Allen is set to start again at Q-B .

Also Saturday, the Ragin Cajuns host Troy. Coastal Carolina is at ULM. The loser will fail to qualify for a bowl game. McNeese is at Lamar, while Tulane hosts U-C-F.

The Saints are 8-and-2 and have a comfortable three-game lead over Carolina for first place in the N-F-C South. Those two teams meet on Sunday. Quarterback Drew Brees says miscues are keeping the offense from performing at a higher level…
cut 19 (23), can be”
Kick-off on Sunday is at noon.

Last night, Nicholls defended its Southland regular-season title with a 28-27 win over Southeastern Louisiana in the River Bell Classic. Chase Fourcade connected with Dai’Jean Dixon on a 57-yard touchdown pass with 90 seconds left for a one-point lead and then the victory was secured when S-L-U Quarterback Cole Kelley fumbled at the goal line with 15 seconds left.

La Tech has unveiled plans for new baseball, softball and soccer stadiums. They were destroyed last April by a tornado. Athletics Director Tommy McClelland says there will be chair-back seats with berm seating at the new baseball stadium, some of the seating will be partially covered and once fans enter the concourse they’ll always see the field
Cut 30 (12) “…of the field.”

The Bulldogs football team is at UAB. Freshman Aaron Allen is set to start again at quarterback for the suspended J-Mar Smith. Allen threw for 159 yards last week in a loss to Marshall. Coach Skip Holtz on Allen’s performance…
cut 17 (16) “…competed”
Tech needs to win Saturday to stay in first place in Conference USA.

There’s a good chance Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore will miss his second straight game on Sunday. He did not practice again yesterday because of a hamstring injury. Andrus Peat, Deonte Harris and Zach Line also missed practice, but offensive linemen Larry Warford and Ryan Ramczyk were upgraded to full participants.

LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says right tackle Austin Deculus and safety Grant Delpit will likely not play Saturday against Arkansas. With Delpit out, freshman safety Maurice Hampton will make his first start. Senior Badara Traore will start at right tackle.

What a game last night in Hammond as Nicholls defeated Southeastern Louisiana 28-27 to earn an automatic berth into the F-C-S playoffs. Chase Fourcade’s 57-yard touchdown pass to Dai Jean Dixon with 90 seconds left was the winning score. S-L-U had a chance to win in the final seconds, but Lions quarterback Cole Kelley fumbled trying to get the ball in the end zone.

Louisiana Tech had an eight-game win streak snapped last week against Marshall, tomorrow they’ll visit U-A-B in a game that will go a long way in deciding who will win the Conference USA Western Division. Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz says he’s looking forward to his team bouncing back, but they’ll have to do it at a tough place to win for opponents…
cut 18 (16) “…can do”
Kick-off is at 2:30.

Also tomorrow, the Ragin Cajuns host Troy. Coastal Carolina is at ULM. The loser will fail to qualify for a bowl game. McNeese is at Lamar, while Tulane hosts U-C-F.

Last night the Pelicans won their third straight as they defeated Phoenix 124 to 121. Brandon Ingram had 28 points and eight rebounds.

The Saints will host Carolina on Sunday. The Panthers have lost two in a row to drop their record to 5-and-5. But running back Christian McCaffrey is playing like an MVP candidate with over 1,000 yards rushing and 59 catches. Coach Sean Payton says McCaffrey is no longer an offensive weapon who comes on the field for passing downs…
cut 16 (24) “….passing game’
Four Saints did not practice yesterday, Andrus Peat, Marshon Lattimore, Deonte Harris and Zach Line. Offensive linemen Larry Warford and Ryan Ramcyck were limited. Kick-off on Sunday in the Superdome is at noon.

There is a big college football game in Hammond tonight as Nicholls visits Southeastern Louisiana. The winner not only gets the River Bell Trophy, but at least a share of the Southland Conference Championship and an automatic berth into the F-C-S playoffs. S-L-U leads the Southland in total offense, while the Colonels lead the league in rushing offense, averaging 189 yards a game. Lions coach Frank Scelfo anticipates a physical game…
cut 19 (23) “…they’re going to play”
Kick-off is at 6 PM on C-S-T.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron says linebacker Michael Divinity is back practicing with the team after leaving for personal reasons. But he’s not eligible to play until the national championship game.