Saints left tackle Terron Armstead and safety Kenny Vaccaro did not practice today. Both players left last Sunday’s game with injuries and did not return. But right guard Larry Warford was back at practice today after missing the last two games with an abdominal strain.

In other news with the Saints, Justin Hardee was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. The rookie scored on a blocked touchdown versus Tampa Bay last Sunday. Head Coach Sean Payton says Hardee is a guy who comes to practice every day and gives you a great effort…
cut 30 (18) “….like that”
The 6-and-2 Saints are getting ready to visit Buffalo this Sunday.

Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema has yet to name a starting quarterback for Saturday’s game against LSU. It will be either former Tuerlings Catholic standout Cole Kelley or Austin Allen. Allen hasn’t played since October seventh when he suffered a shoulder injury. Kelley has played in eight games this season and completed nearly 60-percent of his passes.

This Saturday, Louisiana Tech hosts Florida Atlantic, who is 5-0 in Conference USA. The Owls are led by running back Devin Singletary who leads the league in rushing yards and has 19 touchdowns on the year. Bulldogs Head Coach Skip Holtz says Singleton is a special back…
cut 19 (15) “…happen”
Tech needs a victory to get back to the .500 mark at 5-and-5.

And the Pelicans are 6-and-5 on the year after beating Indiana 117 to 112 last night. New Orleans concludes its four game road trip tomorrow at Toronto.

LSU continues preparations today for Saturday’s 11 AM kickoff versus Arkansas. Wide receiver DJ Chark says the team is ready for a bounce back performance after losing to Alabama this past weekend…
cut 17 (18) “….maybe”
LSU is number 24 in the latest College Football rankings. Georgia, Alabama, Notre Dame and Clemson are in the top four.

ULM will finish out the season playing Florida State. The two schools were set to meet on September 9th, but the game was postponed because of Hurricane Irma. The two teams will now play on December 2nd in Tallahassee at 11 AM.

The Pelicans beat the Pacers 117 to 112 last night. New Orleans is 6-and-5 on the season and its the franchise’s first winning record since April of 2015. Anthony Davis had 37 points last night, while Cousins had 32.

The Saints Justin Hardee has been named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Hardee blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown in New Orleans 30-10 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday. Coach Sean Payton credits Hardee’s technique for getting the block. New Orleans is at Buffalo this Sunday.

Former LSU Tiger Leonard Fournette says he’ll be on time this Sunday for the Jaguars game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Fournette was inactive for last week’s game against Cincinnati. Fournette used twitter to apologize for his tardiness.

In major league baseball…former LSU Tiger DJ LeMahieu has been awarded his second gold glove. LeMahieu had eight errors this past season, the fewest among all qualified second baseman.

And another former Tiger and now World Series champion Alex Bregman will be at Saturday’s LSU-Arkansas football game. Expect Bregman to get a loud ovation when introduced to the Tiger Stadium crowd.

Danny Etling will make his 20th start at quarterback for the LSU Tigers this Saturday when they host Arkansas. Head Coach Ed Orgeron gave the QB a vote of confidence earlier this week saying unequivocally that, “Danny is our quarterback.” Etling is grateful…:
Cut 16 (15) “at that”
The teams meet at 11am Saturday in Tiger Stadium.

Thanks to the efforts by All Stars Boogie Cousins and Anthony Davis, the Pelicans were able to power past the Pacers last night, to a 117-112 victory. Davis had 37 points and 14 rebounds, Cousins added 32 points. New Orleans’ record is now 6-5, the first winning record for the Pels since April of 2015.

It’s been a tough season for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. Tech is 4-and-5 on the year and have lost three of their games by just one point. The Bulldogs will not be able to repeat as Western Division champs in Conference USA, but Head Coach Skip Holtz says that doesn’t mean they’ll give up on the season…:
Cut 18 (21) “just yet”
The Bulldogs host Florida Atlantic Saturday.

The New Orleans Pelicans G-League team will not be calling Shreveport home. A spokesman for both the Saints and the Pelicans called Shreveport’s leadership and business communities ‘”first class,” but the organization has declined Mayor Ollie Tyler’s invitation for the city to host the developmental team.

Early kickoff this Saturday for the LSU Tigers as they Arkansas. In years past, LSU did not play well after the Alabama game. Head Coach Ed Orgeron expects his team will bounce back and give a great performance against the Hogs…
cut 18 (14) “…playing at home”
Arkansas is 0-4 in the SEC and nearly lost to Coastal Carolina last week. They rank 13th in total defense in the SEC, allowing 36 points a game.

Through eight games, the Saints are ranked in the top half in the NFL in several defensive categories. The Black and Gold are ranked 15th in total defense, after finishing lsst season 27th. And they are ninth in scoring defense.

The Pelicans continue their four-game road trip tonight at Indiana. New Orleans is 5-5 on the season and so are the Pacers. The Pels would like to see better three-point shooting from guard Jrue Holiday, so far he’s only 9-of-40 from three-point territory. That’s 23-percent.

Also, the Pelicans have told Shreveport they will not place their future G-League team in their city. It looks like their minor league affiliate will play in Pensacola, but a final decision has not been made.

Ragin Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth has announced freshman quarterback Levi Lewis will be his starting quarterback this Saturday against Ole Miss. Lewis was a surprise starter last week against South Alabama and led the Cajuns to a 19-14 win over Sun Belt foe South Alabama.

Three Louisiana schools remain ranked in the Top 25 of the FCS Coaches Poll. Grambling is number 11. Nicholls is ranked 17th and McNeese is ranked 18th. The Cowboys are off this Saturday, Nicholls is at Stephen F Austin and Grambling visits Alabama State.

LSU will play Arkansas this Saturday after losing to Alabama by two touchdowns last weekend. But Head Coach Ed Orgeron says he doesn’t see a wide talent gap between the Tigers and Tide…
Cut 17 (14) “see it”
In years past, LSU did not play well after the Alabama game. Orgeron expects his team will bounce back and give a great performance against Arkansas.

If Louisiana Tech wants to go to a bowl game, they’ll need to win two of their final three games. The Bulldogs are 4-and-5 on the season and they’ll host Lane Kiffen and the Florida Atlantic Owls this Saturday. F-A-U is 6-and-3, 5-and-0 against CUSA opponents.

Ragin Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth says freshman Levi Lewis will start at quarterback this Saturday against Ole Miss.

Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans has been suspended for his cheap shot on Saints corner back Marshon Lattimore. Also, Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston, who didn’t finish the game in the Saints loss, will be shut down for a couple of weeks because of an injured throwing shoulder. New Orleans visits Buffalo this Sunday. The Black and Gold enter the second half of the season ranked 9th in scoring defense and 15th in total defense, a big change over what it has been in recent years.

Three Louisiana schools remain ranked in the Top 25 of the FCS Coaches Poll. Grambling is number 11 with a record of 8-and-1. Nicholls is ranked 17th and McNeese is ranked 18th. The Cowboys are off this Saturday, Nicholls is at Stephen F Austin and Grambling visits Alabama State.

And the final high school football polls are out. The number one ranked teams are West Monroe, Karr, De La Salle, Notre Dame and Logansport. The playoffs begin this weekend.

LSU Head Football Coach Ed Orgeron says quarterback Danny Etling will remain the Tigers starting QB. Coach O says despite some missed opportunities in the passing game against Alabama, Etling is the better option over freshman Myles Brennan to achieve a 10-win season…:
Cut 16 (20) “our quarterback”
LSU will play Arkansas this Saturday after losing to the Crimson Tide by two touchdowns last weekend.

Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans has been suspended by the NFL for one game for unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness in the Bucs loss to the Saints. The league said Evans struck a New Orleans player in the back, knocking him to the ground after a play had ended. That player was Saints defensive back Marshon Lattimore.

Former LSU star shortstop and Astros World Champion Alex Bregman says he’ll be back in Baton Rouge for the LSU/Arkansas game on Saturday. Houston’s third baseman held an “Ask Me Anything” on Reddit Monday.

The 5-5 New Orleans Pelicans will take on the Pacers tonight on the road. It’s #3 of a four game away trip that started with the Pels squeaking out wins against Dallas and Chicago. Tipoff tonight in Indianapolis is 6pm.

Louisiana Tech now has a new Tech XXII mascot after Tech XXI retired last fall. Vice President for Student Advancement Jim King says they are excited to finally introduce the beloved bulldog to students. King says Tech is well taken care of by the university’s pre-vet club and has been adopted by a local Ruston family…:
Cut 7 (07) “the campus”
King says Tech XXII will likely attend anywhere from 40 to 50 events, with the occasional trip to campus just to visit students.

The Saints dominated Tampa Bay 30-10 yesterday to remain in first place in the NFC South. New Orleans defense continues to play well, the running game keeps producing and on special teams, the Black and Gold blocked a punt that resulted in a touchdown.

A strange play occurred when TommyLee Lewis laid down in the end zone during a kickoff in the hopes the Buccaneers kick-off team would not see him. The play didn’t work at all and New Orleans was forced to start a drive deep in their own territory. Head Coach Sean Payton says they’ll probably not try that again…
cut 17 (23) “..was a dud”
The NFL announced today that Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans has been suspended for one for his blind side hit on Saints rookie cornberback Marshon Lattimore.

After a tough loss to Alabama, the LSU football team is moving on to Arkansas. The Tigers were three touchdown underdogs to the Crimson Tide, but lost by two touchdowns. But Head Coach Ed Orgeron says he does not believe in moral victories…
cut 19 (10) “….we’re coming”
Orgeron reitiered today that Danny Etling will remain the Tigers starting quarterback, despite a poor performance against Alabama. But Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran anticipates Coach O will also give freshman Myles Brennan some snaps as well…
cut 7 (10) “…for now”

ULM sophomore quarterback Caleb Evans was named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week. Evans accounted for 403 yards of total offensive and five touchdowns in the Warhawks 52-45 win over Appalachian State.

The Saints won their sixth straight on Sunday as they dominated Tampa Bay 30-10. A blocked punt that went for a touchdown in the 1st quarter gave New Orleans a 9-0 lead and they never looked back. Rookie Alvin Kamara had a touchdown rushing and receiving and Ted Ginn Junior caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from Drew Brees. The Saints Q-B says they did a lot of things well…
Cut 16 (20) “football games.”
Carolina also won yesterday as they defeated Falcons 20-17. So New Orleans continues to lead the Panthers by a half game for first place in the NFC South. New Orleans is at Buffalo this Sunday. The Bills are 5-3 on the season.

LSU ougained Alabama on Saturday night but still lost to the Crimson Tide 24-10 in Tuscaloosa. Tigers Head Coach Ed Orgeron says Alabama’s ability to make the big play was the difference…
Cut 18 (17) “ball in the end zone”
Orgeron said after the game that Danny Etling will remain the starting quarterback, even though he struggled on Saturday night completing just 12 of 26 passes for 137 yards and an interception.

It was a great college debut for freshman Ragin Cajuns quarterback Levi Lewis who threw two touchdown passes and also rushed for 129 yards in a 19-14 win over South Alabama.

ULM’s Caleb Evans threw for 356 yards and three touchdowns in the Warhawks 52-45 win versus Appalachian State.

Not many people are giving LSU the chance to beat top ranked Alabama on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. But Senior wide receiver DJ Chark says winning the battle of field position will be important in this game..:
Cut 18 (17) “get em”
Fans have mixed emotions on the game. LSU is expected to lose the game by a large margin, being a 21 and a half point underdog. These guys believe that spread is too large, but the Tigers will need to play perfect to win:
Cut 14 (10) “don’t think they’ll beat Alabama”
Kickoff in Brytant Denny Stadium is at 7pm.

The New Orleans Pelicans kick off a four-game road trip with a stop tonight in Texas to square off against the Dallas Mavericks. The 3-5 Pels will look to end their losing skid, as the Mavs are 1-8. Tipoff is at 7:30.

The Saints are looking to extend their winning streak to six on Sunday when they host NFC South rival Tampa Bay. New Orleans’ defense has played well, but Quarterback Drew Brees sees areas of improvement on offense..:
cut 20 (20) “better and better”
Kickoff is at noon in the Superdome.

Marshon Lattimore was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month on Thursday for a spell that saw him intercept two passes, including one which he returned for a touchdown, and break up another five passes.

Not many people are giving LSU the chance to beat top ranked Alabama on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. The Tigers are three touchdown underdogs. Senior wide receiver DJ Chark says his teammates know they face a big challenge…:
Cut 17 (20) “after that”
Alabama has won six straight games against LSU.

Also tomorrow… in the Sun Belt, UL-Lafayette travels to face South Alabama. ULM hosts Appalachian State.

In the Southland, in-state rivals Southeastern and McNeese face off in Cowboy Stadium. Nicholls State hosts Houston Baptist.

Louisiana Tech hosts North Texas, their homecoming opponent.

The Saints look to extend their winning streak to six games on Sunday when they host NFC South rival Tampa Bay at 12:00 in the Mercedes Benz Superdome. The Bucs are 2-and-5, but New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees expects a tough game…:
Cut 19 (12) “beat them”
The Saints organization responded to the decision of veteran John Wells to refuse an award that the team gives out at every home game. Wells said he could not enter an NFL stadium because of how the league has allowed some players to sit or kneel during the national anthem. The Saints called Well’s decision “unfortunate and disappointing” in a lengthy statement released Thursday.

In big high school action last night, Sterlington got by Richwood 28-21. Bastrop was shutout by Neville 10-0. Oak Grove clobbered Cedar Creek, 42-0. And Warren Easton fell to Karr, 40-6.