It was a rough weekend for Louisiana’s two most popular football teams. Jeff Palermo looks back at LSU’s 37-7 shocking loss to Mississippi State…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
LSU dropped 13 spots to number 25 in the AP top 25.

The Saints a 36-20 decision to the New England Patriots Sunday, but Coach Sean Payton believes this team can turn things around…:
Cut 9 (13) “made of”

Louisiana Tech rallied back from a 22-13 4th quarter deficit to beat conference rival Western Kentucky 23-22. Jonathan Barnes 22-yard field goal with two seconds left gave the Bulldogs an important win as they look take the Conference USA western division. Barnes had three field goals on the night:
Cut 19 (15) big time“
The Bulldogs return to action Saturday when they face South Carolina.

In the Sun Belt, UL-Lafayette made it exciting at first against Texas A&M, but the Aggies went on to score 31 unanswered points to rally from a halftime deficit to defeat the Ragin Gajuns 45-21. ULM dropped its home opener 28-17 to Southern Miss.

Central Arkansas scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter on the way to a 38-6 victory over Southeastern Louisiana.

Also in the Southland, McNeese State outlasted Alcorn State 34-27. Northwestern State triumphed over Lamar 35-28 in Natchitoches.

LSU and Mississippi State meet tonight in Starkville in the SEC opener for both teams. The Tigers best pass rusher returns to the field. Arden Key missed the first two games as he continued to recover from shoulder surgery. Key and the rest of the Tigers will look to control Bulldogs Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald who has 152 yards on the ground already this season. Tigers linebacker Devin White on this Mississippi State offense…
cut 30 (11) “….whole field”
Kick-off is at 6 PM.

The other big game in the SEC is Tennessee at Florida. The Vols are averaging 42 points a game. In College Station, Texas A-and-M hosts UL Lafayette. True freshman Kellen Mond might get the start for the Aggies at quarterback. Senior Jake Hubenak will reportedly not play because of a shoulder injury. Kick-off is at 11 AM.

Louisiana Tech and Western Kentucky resume their rivalry today as the two teams meet in Bowling Green, Kentucky at 6 PM. These two teams split a pair of games last season, Tech won in the regular season, but the Hilltoppers were victorious in the Conference USA title game.

Defending SWAC champion Grambling State opens defense of its league title by hosting winless Jackson State. Jackson State has really struggled to start the season. They’ve only scored 15 points in two games and they allowing almost 400 yards of total offense.

Tulane is at 2nd ranked Oklahoma. The Green Wave has never defeated a team ranked in the top five.

ULM hosts Southern Miss. It’s the first meeting between these schools since 1993. Southeastern Louisiana is at Central Arkansas. Northwestern State hosts Lamar, Nicholls State takes on Priaire View and McNeese State is at Alcorn State.

The Saints host New England tomorrow. Offensive tackle Zach Strief has been ruled out for the game because of an injury.

It’s LSU and Mississippi State Saturday night in Starkville. The SEC opener for both teams, who are 2-0 on the season. LSU had succes throwing the football down field last week and the voice of the Tigers, Chris Blair, anticipates the Bayou Bengals will open up the playbook even more against the Bulldogs….
cut 20 (23) “….gonna see”

Two quarterbacks heading to the Hall of Fame will meet on Sunday in the Mercedes Benz Superdome as the Saints host the New England Patriots in a matchup between Drew Brees and Tom Brady. Both teams are looking to avoid 0-2 starts. New Orleans has started the year 0-2 the last three seasons.

Louisiana Tech jumps into Conference USA play on Saturday against Western Kentucky. It’s the eighth meeting between the two teams and Tech leads the all-time series four to three. The home team is undefeated in the series. Head Coach Skip Holtz says it’s not easy running the football on the Hilltoppers…
cut 30 (19) “…as well”

In other action….the Ragin Cajuns are at Texas A-and-M, ULM hosts Southern Miss. Grambling opens SWAC play by hosting Jackson State. Tulane is at second ranked Oklahoma. In the Southland…Southeastern is at Central Arkansas, Northwestern State hosts Lamar, Nicholls takes on Prairie View and McNeese is at Alcorn State.

LSU gets its first test in the SEC tomorrow night when they visit Mississippi State. The voice of the Tigers, Chris Blair, believes this game will be won in the trenches….
Cut 18 (20) “the field”
Head Coach Ed Orgeron says Ed Ingram will start at right guard, but Saahdiq Charles will rotate in as they’ve done in the first two games. And walk-on Jack Gonsoulin will handle the field goal duties.

ULM hosts Southern Miss for its home opener tomorrow, while the Ragin Cajuns are at Texas A-and-M for an 11 AM kickoff. Nicholls State nearly beat the Aggies last week. Nicholls hosts Prairie View A-and-M. And Grambling hosts SWAC foe Jackson State.

Louisiana Tech jumps into league play tomorrow by facing the defending Conference USA champion Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. W-K-U is led by senior quarterback Mike White, who is considered one of the top quarterbacks in the country….
Cut 16 (16) “he’s done”
These two teams met twice last year. Tech won at home 55-52 and then lost in the Conference USA title game.

The Super Bowl champions will face the Saints in the Mercedes Benz Superdome on Sunday. Two Hall of Fame Quarterbacks will battle it out…Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Brady is 3-and-1 against the Saints during his career. In those four games, he’s thrown eight touchdowns and he was intercepted just three times. Kick-off is at noon.

LSU leaves today for its game tomorrow night at Mississippi State. Bulldogs Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald is off to a terrific start this season, but the Tigers put the clamps on him last year. Fitzgerald rushed for only 13 yards, he was sacked four times and threw for just 120 yards. The voice of the Tigers, Chris Blair, says LSU will look to keep Fitzgerald in the pocket again….
cut 19 (20) “…throw it away”

Louisiana Tech will also face a good quarterback tomorrow night in their Conference USA battle with Western Kentucky. Senior Mike White was named the league’s preseason offensive conference player of the year.

Starting with tonight’s games, several Louisiana high schools are taking part in “Touchdowns Against Cancer,” which benefits St. Judes. Michelle Southern reports..:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

And there are plenty of good high school football games tonight….in the Acadiana area, you have Notre Dame at Teurlings Catholic, while St. Thomas More hosts Plaquemine. In north Louisiana, the big matchup is Oak Grove at Sterlington, as they battle for the Mayor’s Cup.

Last night, Woodlawn over Haughton 32-24 and Buckeye beat Bunkie 35-20.

LSU and Louisiana Tech have key conference games this weekend. The 12th ranked Tigers are at Mississippi State. Both teams are 2-and-0 have enjoyed lopsided victories this season. LSU is favorite by 6.5 points.

Louisiana Tech is a touchdown underdog to Western Kentucky. These two teams met twice last season. The Bulldogs won the first meeting 55-52 in Ruston, but the Hilltoppers won the rematch in the Conference USA Championship game. It’s the eighth meeting between the two teams, and the home team is undefeated. Kick-off is at 6 PM on Saturday.

In the Southland Conference…Southeastern Louisiana is at Central Arkansas. Both teams are still looking for their first win. The Lions have not started a season with a 0-3 record since 2012. UCA leads the all-time series seven to three. Northwestern State lost its first two games and they’ll host Lamar at 6 PM.

The Saints continue preparations for their home opener this Sunday against New England. It marks the return of receiver Brandin Cooks, who was traded by New Orleans in the offseason for a first and third round pick. Cooks importance to the Pats has grown, because Julian Edelman is out for the year, Malcolm Mitchell is on injured reserve and Danny Amendola suffered a concussion last week.

ULM is at home this Saturday to take on Southern Miss, who beat Southern 45-0 last week. Warhawks Head Coach Matt Viator is impressed with the Golden Eagles skill position players….
cut 19 (17) “…call it”
ULM has just one game under its belt, because last week’s game at Florida State was cancelled because of Hurricane Irma.

The Saints continue peparations for their home opener this Sunday against the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. New Orleans must play better this week after giving up 470 total yards to the Vikings and allowing rookie running back Dalvin Cook to rush for 127 yards. Meanwhile, Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady says they need to improve their mental approach after losing their season opener to Kansas City.

The Ragin Cajuns gave up 66 points in a loss to Tulsa last week and Head Coach Mark Hudspeth says it was disappointing not to see improvement from week one to week two…
Cut 17 (20) “don’t miss”
UL Lafayette is at Texas A-and-M on Saturday.

LSU Head Football Coach Ed Orgeron says they’ll have a big competition today to determine who will be their field goal kicker for Saturday’s game at Mississippi State. Redshirt freshman Connor Culp and walk-on sophomore Jack Gonsoulin are a combined three for six on field goal tries.

ULM takes on Southern Miss for its home opener on Saturday. Warhawks Coach Matt Viator says this is an important game for his program…:
Cut 18 (22) “have come”
Southern Miss is coming off a 45-0 victory over Southern, while the Warhawks had the weekend off because its game against Florida State was cancelled because of Hurricane Irma. ULM Athletics Director Nick Floyd says they are exploring options to schedule a 12th game.

LSU will likely be without its top defensive lineman for a second straight game, as head coach Ed Orgeron said Wednesday that Rashard Lawrence is very questionable and likely won’t play in the SEC opener against Mississippi State Saturday night. But outside linebacker Arden Key is expected to start.

Two weeks into the season and the Ragin Cajuns defense ranks as the third worst out of the 129 F-B-S teams. UL Lafayette has allowed nearly 12-hundred yards. But Head Coach Mark Hudspeth says there is a great desire to turn things around…:
Cut 16 (23) “of the ball”
UL Lafayette travels to face Texas A&M on Saturday.

ULM takes on Southern Miss for its home opener on Saturday. Warhawks Coach Matt Viator says this is an important game for his program…:
Cut 18 (22) “have come”
Southern Miss is coming off a 45-0 victory over Southern.

The SEC unveiled the television networks and start times for its 2017-18 men’s basketball schedule. LSU will make 18 total league game appearances.

The Pelicans released a statement Wednesday saying the team isn’t scared away from considering Shreveport for its minor league team even though the city council all voted against borrowing money to build an arena. A Pels spokesman said the vote isn’t going to affect which city they choose.

LSU is anticipating a loud atmosphere on Saturday night in Starkville when they face Mississippi State. Both teams are 2-0. Quarterback Danny Etling says they have to be focused….
cut 20 (20) “….we can be”
Cutting down on penalties is a big key as the Tigers lead the SEC after two games as they’ve been flagged 21 times. Today on the SEC teleconference, Head Coach Ed Orgeron said he doubts that defensive end Rashard Lawrence will be able to play this Saturday, but Arden Key should start. The All-American missed his the first two games of the season as he continued to recover from shoulder surgery.

First year LSU basketball coach Will Wade continues to recruit very well. Power forward Naz Reid from New Jersey announced via twitter that he’s committed to LSU after taking an unofficial visit lat week. Reid is listed as the 18th best player in the nation on the ESPN 100 list.

This Sunday the Saints will take on the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. Starting right tackle Zach Strief is not expected to play after he reportedly suffered an MCL Sprain in the loss to Minnesota. New Orleans has signed veteran tackle Byrce Harris, who has been cut and brought back several times, but now looks like he has a permanent spot on this team for the next month.

The New Orleans Pelicans have released a statement after the Shreveport City Council rejected a proposal to begin the process of getting funds together to build a 30-million dollar sports complex that would be the home to the Pelicans minor league basketball team. The Pels statement says they are focused on finding a location for their G League team and that’s their sole focus and the other development plans for that area are not part of their proposal.

After two games, LSU is the most penalized team in the SEC, with 21. Quarterback Danny Etling says they have to play smarter football…
Cut 19 (16) correct“
Etling says their focus has to be extra sharp this Saturday against 2-and-0 Mississippi State. The atmosphere at Scott Field in Starkville is expected to be electric and loud with thousands of cowbells ringing. Kick-off is at 6 PM.

Cajuns head coach Mark Hudspeth is not sure about kicker Stevie Artigue’s availability for Saturday’s road game at Texas A-and-M. Artigue has a strained muscle in his leg and only handled two of the kickoffs in the loss to Tulsa.

Conference play begins this Saturday for Northwestern State and Southeastern. The Lions are at Central Arkansas and the Demons host Lamar.

The Saints are beginning the process of moving forward after a tough 29-19 loss to Minnesota. Coach Sean Payton says the mental errors that hurt them on defense have to be fixed….
cut 17 (16) “….better job”
Payton admits there were only 10 players on the field for the first play of the game. The head coach blames miscommunication on the sidelines.

The Shreveport City council has voted against an economic development plan that included the construction of a three-thousand plus seat arena for the New Orleans Pelicans Gatorade League Team. This could result in Pensacola becoming the home of the Pels minor league team.

And LSU has received a commitment from five-star big man Naz Reid from New Jersey. He’s six-foot-ten, 240 pounds.