The first college playoff rankings of the year were released last night and the one-loss LSU Tigers are ranked third, ahead of undefeated Notre Dame. Alabama is number one and Clemson is two.

A wild atmosphere is expected when number one ranked Alabama faces third ranked LSU on Saturday. It will be a new experience for sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but Coach Nick Saban is optimistic he can handle it…
cut 18 (14) “….to play”
The only time LSU defeated a number one ranked team in Tiger Stadium was in 1997, when the Tigers toppled the Florida Gators. Herb Tyler was LSU’s quarterback that day and likes LSU’s chances to win…
cut 7 (11) “…gunna like”

The Saints will welcome the undefeated Los Angeles Rams to the Mercedes Benz Superdome on Sunday afternoon at 3:25. The Rams have the NFL’s leading rusher in Todd Gurley, their defense ranks eighth in yards allowed and they are led by Sean McVay. Saints Coach Sean Payton on the 32-year-old head coach….
cut 20 (18) “…new thoughts”
The Rams made a trade yesterday before the NFL trade deadline as they acquired pass rusher Dante Fowler from Jacksonville.

Hahnville High School quarterback Andrew Robison won his arbitration hearing and he’s eligible to play Friday for the first time this season in the regular season finale against H-L Bourgeois. Back in August, the LHSAA ruled Robison ineligible for the year because they claimed he was illegally recruited from Vandebilt Catholic.

LSU is a 14 point underdog against top ranked Bama this Saturday, the largest point spread at home in 20 years. Matt Doyle spoke with a Baton Rouge sports talk show host who is a betting odds expert…
Voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Looking at the other betting odds for this weekend. Louisiana Tech is a three touchdown underdog to Mississippi State. ULM is about a touchdown underdog to Georgia Southern. The Cajuns are a 10-point underdog to Troy.

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagvailoa has been playing at a different level this season and is a front-runner to win the Heisman Trophy. Coach Ed Orgeron says it will take a team effort to slow Tua down and it starts with the defensive line playing great technique…
Cut 18 (18) “…them down yet”
The Crimson Tide leads the NCAA in scoring, averaging 54 points a game.

Anthony Davis and Elfrid Payton didn’t play last night and the Pelicans lost their second straight as they fell to Denver 116 to 111. Julius Randle had 24 points and Nikola Mirotic had a double-double, 17 points and 10 rebounds. A-D has missed two games because of a sprained elbow and the Pels visit the defending NBA champs, the Golden State Warriors.

After making a trip home to Ohio during the bye weekend, Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow is ready for his first taste of the LSU-Alabama rivalry. He goes into this game unafraid…
Cut 16 (14) “.ready to go”
Protecting Burrow will be a big key on Saturday. Coach Ed Orgeron says starting left guard Garrett Brumfield is expected to play. He’s been missing since injuring his knee in the Louisiana Tech game on September 22nd.

Louisiana Tech defensive end Jaylon Ferguson has been named one of 20 semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik AWard, which goes to the nation’s best defensive player. Ferguson leads the nation with 10.5 sacks and he’s the nation’s active career leader with 38 sacks.

The La Tech Bulldogs are Mississippi State Saturday.

The Pelicans fell behind by 18 points last night, but made a game out of it, before losing to the Denver Nuggets 116 to 111. Anthony Davis missed his second straight game with a sprained elbow. Elfrid Payton didn’t play either because of a sprained ankle. Nikola Mirotic tried to pick up the slack with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Julius Randle had 24 points. Hopefully, the Pels get healthy soon. They are at Golden State tomorrow.

With four games left in the regular season, ULM is 4-4, 2-2 in the Sun Belt and tied with the Ragin Cajuns for first place in the West Division. But Warhawks Coach Matt Viator says there hasn’t been much talk about being in first place…
cut 20 (16) “…really”
ULM hosts Georgia Southern on Saturday.

The Saints didn’t put up huge numbers on offense, but still beat the Minnesota Vikings 30-20 in Minneapolis last year. Quarterback Drew Brees threw for just 120 yards as the offense had just 270 total yards. But Brees says they were 2-for-3 in the red zone, which was huge…
cut 14 (11) “…to score”
The defense also produced big plays, with four sacks, two by rookie Marcus Davenport and an interception returned for a touchdown by PJ Williams.

The Saints win sets up a huge weekend of football in Louisiana. Satruday nigth in Tiger Stadium it’s top ranked Alabama versus 4th ranked LSU. The Tigers are 14.5 point underdogs for the 7 PM kick off.

And then Sunday afternoon in the Dome, the 6-and-1 Saints host the undefeated Los Angeles Rams, who won a wild won over the Green Bay Packers yesterday.

UL-Lafayette and McNeese State moved into first place in their respective conferences with victories on Saturday. The Ragin Cajuns outscored Arkansas State 47-43 to improve to 2-2 in the Sun Belt. Coach Billy Napier says it was a complete team win….
cut 16 (15) “…kicking game”

Over in Lake Charles, McNeese muscled past Central Arkansas 23-21. Cody Orgeron, the son of LSU Coach Ed Orgeron, made his first start at quarterback and Little “O” ran for a touchdown in the first quarter….
cut 18 (12) “….really helped”

Southern heads into a bye week in first place in the SWAC west division after 41-7 beat down of Jackson State.

The Saints bring a five-game winning streak into Sunday’s game at Minnesota, while the Vikings have won three in a row. During the win streak, Minnesota’s defense has forced eight turnovers, allowed just five touchdowns and opponents have converted on 4 of 32 third down chances. Running back Mark Ingram says they will need to play well…
cut 17 (18) “…where to be”
Ingram will look to be the first running back to have a rush for more than 20 yards against the Vikings defense this season.

Big news on the recruiting front, Destrehan’s John Emery has de-committed from Georgia. He’s considered one of the nation’s top running backs and attended the LSU game when the Tigers upset Georgia.

Louisiana Tech kicks-off this weekend’s local college football weekend by visiting Florida Atlantic tonight, in a game that will be televised by CBS Network at 5:30. Coach Skip Holtz says he’d rather paly on Saturday, but likes playing on national television…
cut 19 (18) “….the exposure”
The Owls are 3-4, but they they’ve won 10 straight at home. Tech is seeking its third win a row and a victory makes them bowl eligible.

The Ragin Cajuns are home tomorrow night to host Arkansas State. A win and UL-Lafayette gets back to 4-4 on the season.

In high school football, St Frederick snapped a 13-game losing streak to Ouachita Christian as the Warriors defeated the Eagles 24-21.

Today is LSU’s final day of practice and then they’ll get the weekend off. The players will likely enjoy the time away. The fan base’s frustration over Devin White’s suspension that will see him sit out the first half of the Alabama game has died down a little bit. But it might pick back up next weekend.

Billboards that read hashtag free Devin White have gone up in Birmingham, Alabama, the home of the SEC headquarters. They were paid for by LSU fans. Linebacker Jacob Phillips says White appreciates the love he’s receiving from Purple and Gold nation…
Cut 18 (08) “…they love us”
Sophomore Patrick Queen was seen going through drills with the first team in practice yesterday. Queen and freshman Micah Baskerville are the two candidates set to replace White in the first half.

The Monroe News-Star reports running back DeSherrius Flowers and defensive back Cecil Cherry have left the Grambling State football program.

Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says he’ll make another push in the next legislative session to legalize sports betting in Louisiana. Martiny made the statement after hearing from Mississippi Gaming Commission Executive Director Allen Godfrey, who described how Mississippi casinos are seeing an increase in business since the first sports bets were made last month…
cut 14 (10) “…long time”
Nine states have legalized sports betting.

Federal drug enforcement agents raided a home and business office associated with the father of Saints and LSU superfan Jarrius Robertson, who lives in St. John the Baptist Parish. The 16-year-old has received national attention for his battle against a rare liver condition and his mother says the investigation has to with the father’s foundation called It Takes Lives to Save Lives.

Saints Coach Sean Payton says they are hopeful newly acquired cornerback Eli Apple will play in Sunday night’s game against Minnesota. Apple had highs and lows during his 2.5 seasons in New York, but Payton feels good about the trade after talking with players on their roster who played with Apple at Ohio State….
Cut 19 (15) “.with him”
It remains to be seen how much Apple plays against the Vikings. It’s the third meeting in 13 months between New Orleans and Minnesota. Vikings Coach Mike Zimmer joked he does not like preparing for an offense led by Drew Brees.
One of the Vikings top players on defense is former LSU star Danielle Hunter, who leads the team with 7.5 sacks.

Two Saints players missed practice yesterday, offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod, who continues to grieve over the death of his young daughter and Max Unger has a hand injury.

LSU Coach Ed Orgeron said on the SEC teleconference either Patrick Queen or Micah Baskerville will fill in for Devin White during his first half suspension for the Alabama game. Orgeron says Jacob Phillips will make the calls and checks in White’s absence. Phillips says he’s ready for the extra responsibility…
Cut 17 (10) “to everybody”
Orgeron also says injured offensive guard Garrett Brumfield could be ready to play in the Alabama game.

Orgeron plans to head to Lake Charles this Saturday as his son, Cody Orgeron, could get the start at quarterback for the McNeese Cowboys. The Pokes are hosting Central Arkansas for homecoming. Both teams are 4-1 in the Southland.

LSU Coach Ed Orgeron hopes the targeting call against Devin White will spark coaches in the offseason to review the rule and demand that officials have more leeway when determining the severity of a targeting penalty. In the meantime, he says either Micah Baskerville or Patrick Queen will start in the place of the suspended White…
Cut 20 (14) “man up”
Orgeron says he’s glad to see Governor Edwards and famous LSU alumnus James Carville speak out against the call against White.

And Billboards are up in Birmingham, Alabama, the home of the SEC headquarters, that read hashtag-free Devin White. LSU fans raised the money through a Go Fund Me Account.

The Pelicans are 3-0 after beating the Clippers 116 to 109 last night. Anthony Davis 34 points and 12 rebounds.

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis said on Sirius Radio this morning that newly acquired cornerback Eli Apple has a lot of upside. New Orleans sent a fourth round pick in 2019 and a seventh round pick in 2020 to New York to get the former first round pick.

Apple was labeled a cancer by his Giants teammate Landon Collins last December after the 2016 first round pick was suspended for the final game of the 2017 season for “conduct detrimental to the team.” NFL analyst Mike Detillier says Apple has had trouble adapting to the culture of the NFL after being drafted out of Ohio State.
Cut 17 (20) “Sean Payton”

There was speculation that the Saints would trade for former LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson, who is suffering through a 1-6 season with the Arizona Cardinals. Peterson released a statement today that says he intends to give his all to the Cardinals organization for years to come.

Eli Apple is leaving the Big Apple for the Crescent City in a deal that sees New Orleans ship off a fourth and seventh round pick to pick up the troubled, but highly talented cornerback. NFL Analyst Mike Detillier says Apple is a remarkably gifted athlete, but comes with some serious questions about his temperament.
Cut 16 (20) “.hard coaching”
Apple has played in five games this year, where he’s defended five passes but has yet to nab an interception.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron calls Devin White’s first-half suspension for targeting unfair, but they have to move forward. He says guard Garrett Brumfield is still at 60-percent as he comes back from an injury suffered a month ago.

The Pelicans didn’t play their best game last night, but they still defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 116 to 109 at the Smoothie King Center. The Pels shot just 43-percent from the field, 6-of-24 from three point territory, but played better defense in the second half. Anthony Davis had 34 points, while Elfird Payton had 20 points and his three-pointer with 52 seconds left, sealed the victory…
cut 30 (05) “…way to win”
The Pelicans will announce today that it’s G-League team will begin play next season in Birmingham, Alabama.

TCU has dismissed former Neville football star Kavontae Turpin from the team after he allegedly assaulted a woman. The victim says Turpin grabbed her and dragged her across a parking lot and slammed her to the ground during an argument.

Former LSU Quarterback Justin McMillan will get the start Saturday for Tulane as the Green Wave visits Tulsa. The Greenies are just 2-and-5 on the season.

LSU senior associate athletic director Robert Munson says discussions with the SEC regarding Devin White’s first half-suspension for the Alabama game were amicable, but the suspension for targeting stands. Coach Ed Orgeron said today the suspension is unfortunate, but they’ve got to move on.

One of the items on the November sixth ballot asks voters if fantasy sports betting should be legal in their parish. Matt Doyle reports there’s a TV ad that supports the measure….
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The LSU Tigers begin the college basketball season ranked 23rd in the preseason AP poll. Javonte Smart from Baton Rouge is one of the new key newcomers. He was named Mr. Louisiana Basketball three consecutive seasons at Scotlandville High School and also won three state titles. Coach Will Wade says Smart is committed to becoming a great player…
cut 18 (19) “…the perimeter”
LSU opens the season November sixth at home against Southeastern Louisiana.

The Pelicans look to improve to 3-0 tonight as they host the Los Angles Clippers. The Clippers are 2-and-2 and they are coming off a 115 to 112 win over Houston. Nikola Mirotic has scored 66 points in the first two games for the Pels.