A hurricane watch has been issued for a good portion of Florida’s eastern coast as Hurricane Matthew approaches the Sunshine state. The Tigers are getting ready to play the Gators on Saturday morning at 11 AM. Officials from both schools had a conference call earlier today and they plan on moving forward with the early Saturday kick-off in Gainesville.

It’s still unclear if running back Leonard Fournette will play this weekend. He’s already missed two games because of an ankle injury. There have been camera shots that have shown Fournette not looking happy on the sidelines, but his back-up Derrius Guice, says the star running back is very supportive of his teammates…
cut 20 (18) “…comes from”
Guice was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week this past week.

In NBA preseason action tonight…the Pacers host the Pelicans. It will be first round pick Buddy Hield’s first game in the bird nest. Hield told reproters today that his thoughts will be with his native country, the Bahamas, which is in the crosshairs of Hurricane Matthew.

In the NFL, the Saints are off this Sunday. Through four games of the NFL season, New Orleans has allowed the most points, as they have given up 130 points through four games.

Louisiana Tech’s defense looked much better in the Bulldogs 28-7 win over UTEP on Saturday. On Thursday, Tech hosts Western Kentucky in a Conference USA matchup. The Hilltoppers are averaging 322 yards per game through the air. Western Kentucky has also played well on defense this season as they’ve given up 22 points a contest.

In the latest high school football polls, John Curtis, Neville, De La Salle, Notre Dame and Haynesville remain the number one ranked teams in their respective classes.

After beating Missouri 42-7 on Saturday, the unranked LSU Tigers now turn their attention to this Saturday’s 11 AM kickoff at Florida. Wide receiver Malachi Dupre is anxious to see how the the rest of the season plays out….
cut 30 (12) “…deserve respect”
Head Coach Ed Orgeron says he’s still not sure if running back Leonard Fournette will be able to play against the Gators on Saturday, because of a bad ankle.

Florida Head Coach Jim McElwain says quarterback Luke Del Rio could play for the Gators on Saturday. He’s missed the last two games because of a sprained knee. Florida has only scored 20 points in the last six quarters. For the seaosn, Del Rio has completed 61-percent of his passes for 762 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions.

UL Lafayette football coach Mark Hudspeth announced today that Jalen Nixon suffered a career-threatening ankle injury in the double-overtime loss to New Mexico State. Nixon came in for an ineffective Anthony Jennings. Hudspeth says Jennings is still the Cajuns starting QB and Jordan Davis is his back-up.

The Saints head into the bye week with a 1-and-3 record after yesterday’s miraculous victory over the San Diego Chargers. New Orleans trailed by 13 points midway through the fourth quarter, but thanks to a couple of Charger turnovers, the Saints escaped San Diego with a 35-34 win. After a quarter of the season, New Orleans is in a tie for second place in the NFC South. Atlanta is running away with the division with a three and one record.

Haughton Native Dak Prescott is a candidate for NFC Rookie of the Year as he has led the Cowboys to a three and one record. Prescott threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns in Dallas 24-17 win over San Francisco.

The Saints nearly started their season with an 0-4 record yesterday, but thanks to three fourth quarter turnovers by the San Diego Chargers, New Orleans pulled out a 35-34. Saints Fullback John Kuhn had three touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving.

LSU scored seven touchdowns in their 42-7 romp over Missouri. Interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron on what was different with the offense…
cut 18 (20) “…run the ball”
This Saturday, the Tigers are at Florida. The Gators have allowed seven touchdowns this season, while LSU has given up five. Kick-off is at 11 AM.

It wasn’t flashy, but Louisiana Tech picked up a much needed victory on Saturday with a 28-7 win over UTEP. Ryan Higgins threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns and Coach Skip Holtz says it was nice to get a win after losing two straight on the road…
cut 16 (12) “…our tackling”
The Bulldogs will have to play better, if they want to beat Western Kentucky at home on Thursday.

The Ragin Cajuns will not play again, until Wednesday October 12th when they host Appalachian State. The Cajuns lost for the second straight week in overtime on Saturday as they fell to New Mexico State 37-31.

In the Southland….Southeastern lost to Lamar 38-14, while McNeese State thumped Nicholls State 38-13. Cowboys quarterback quarterback James Tabary threw for 376 yards and two touchdowns. That’s the second-most passing yards in a game in school history.

The New Orleans Saints barely got their first win of the season Sunday as New Orleans held on for the 35-34 victory over the Chargers. The Black and Gold forced three turnovers in the final 7 minutes to rally back from a 13 point deficit. Coach Sean Payton…:
CUT 1 (07) “bye week”
It was a homecoming victory for Quarterback Drew Brees who spent five seasons playing for San Diego.

And how bout them Tigers? In interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron’s debut game at the helm, LSU exploded to pound Missouri 42-7. The Tigers offense rolled up 634 total yards which is a school record in SEC games. Coach “O” says this is huge for the program…:
CUT 19 (15) “little deeper”
LSU is at Florida for an 11 AM kickoff this Saturday. Running back Leonard Fournette is expected to return according to an ESPN report.

For the second straight week, UL Lafayette lost in overtime on the road. New Mexico State beat the Cajuns 37-31 in double overtime on Saturday. Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth says the two interceptions thrown by quarterback Anthony Jennings were costly…:
Cut 17 (11) “right now”

Elsewhere around the state over the weekend, Louisiana Tech picked up a much needed 28-7 victory over UTEP. The Bulldogs win comes after two straight losses on the road.

McNeese State rolled to a 38-13 victory over in-state rival Nicholls.

Auburn’s offense racked up 688 total yards as the host Tigers pushed past ULM 58-7.

Tulane rallied to beat UMass 31-24 to overcome a deficit larger than 10 points to win since the turn of the century.

Grambling State scored 36 unanswered points to take a 36-16 win over rival Prairie View A&M.

Southeastern fell to Lamar, 38-14.

Today is the not the season opener for the LSU Tigers, but it almost feels that way, as interim head coach Ed Orgeron will lead the Bayou Bengals onto the field tonight at Tiger Stadium. Football analyst Mike Detillier says Orgeron’s personality should provide this 2-and-2 football team with a spark…
cut 18 (08) “…under Orgeron”
It’s a game-time decision on whether Tigers running back Leonard Fournette will play, because of an ankle injury. And Missouri brings one of the most explosive offenses in the SEC into Death Valley. Kick-off is at 6:30.

UL Lafayette will face a team tonight that is capable of scoring a lot of points. But New Mexico State’s record is just one and three. Kick-off in Las Cruces is at 7 PM.

Louisiana Tech quarterback Ryan Higgins is coming off a game in which he threw more than 500 yards. The Bulldogs host UTEP tonight.

ULM is at Auburn today. Auburn has never lost to a team from the Sun Belt, but in 2012, the Warhawks nearly defeated the Tigers. Auburn escaped with a 31-28 victory in overtime. Kick-off is at 2:30.

Tulane is coming off an overtime victory over the Ragin Cajuns. The Green Wave can get over the .500 mark with a win over UMASS. Nicholls lost in overtime to South Alabama last week. The Colonels jump back into Southland play, where they’ll visit McNeese State. Nicholls has not won in Lake Charles since 1988. Southeastern Louisiana is at Lamar. It’s a chance for the Lions to go 2-0 in the Southland. Grambling battles Priairie View in Dallas. Both teams are undefeated in the SWAC.

The winless Saints are in San Diego tomorrow. For the second straight week, New Orleans will be without starting left tackle Terron Armstead, because of a knee injury.

The Pelicans tip-off preseason action against Dallas tonight in Bossier City at the Centurylink Center.

Will the LSU Tigers look any differently tomorrow night with Coach Ed Orgeron at the helm? Orgeron replaced Les Miles this week after another frustrating offensive performance in a loss to Auburn. Football analyst Mike Detillier says one of the first things Coach “O” changed up, was how they practice….
cut 17 (22) “…football team”
Running back Leonard Fournette is a game time decision tomorrow night, because of an ankle injury. Kick-off is at 6:30.

Saints offensive tackle Terron Armstead has been ruled out for Sunday’s game at San Diego. It’s the second straight game the left tackle will miss. Willie Snead, Kenny Vaccaro, Tyeler Davison, Dannell Ellerbe and James Laurinaitis are all listed as questionable.

Tomorrow night will be the first time LSU interim head coach Ed Orgeron will get to show whether he has what it takes to turn the season around. Halen Doughty reports…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva told a Baton Rouge radio station he believes its “comical” Tiger fans are already predicting who will replace Les Miles. He says it’s still early in the process. Alleva also says he hopes there will be a change in offensive play-calling for the remainder of this season and this is a great opportunity for Interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron to show if he can turn the program around.

Elsewhere around the state in college football this weekend, Tulane is at UMass. ULM is at Auburn. Prairie View plays Grambling in Dallas. UTEP is at Louisiana Tech. Nicholls faces in state rival at McNeese. Southeastern is at Lamar. UL-Lafayette is at New Mexico State.

The Black and Gold are 0-3. But Saints Quarterback Drew Brees still has high hopes for this season….
cut 20 (09) “…things will happen”
Brees and the Saints are in San Diego to take on the Chargers.

The Bengals turned in a dominating performance in Thursday night’s 22-7 win over the Dolphins. But former LSU Tiger Jeremy Hill averaged just 3.4 yards a carry.

Lady Gaga will headline the Super Bowl halftime show. The NFL and Pepsi announced Thursday that the pop star will take the stage Feb. 5 at NRG Stadium in Houston. Gaga sang the national anthem at the Super Bowl this year in Santa Clara, California.

LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva told a Baton Rouge radio station today he believes its “comical” Tiger fans are already predicting who will replace Les Miles. He says it’s still early in the process. Alleva also says he hopes there will be a change in offensive play-calling for the remainder of this season and this is a great opportunity for Interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron to show if he can turn the program around.

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has thrown for an NFL best 1,062 yards, however the Black and Gold are 0-3. But Brees still has high hopes for this season….
cut 20 (14) “…things will happen”
Brees and the Saints are in San Diego to take on the Chargers. That’s where the 37-year-old started his NFL career.

Louisiana Tech is 1-3 heading into Saturday’s home game against UTEP. Some fans in Bulldog nation would rather see redshirt freshman J’Mar Smith as the startering quarterback. But Coach Skip Holtz says Ryan Higgins is his guy, especially after throwing for 504 yards and three touchdowns last week at Middle Tennessee…
cut 18 (24) “….pretty impressive”
Higgins is just one of three Bulldog quarterbacks to throw for over 500 yards in a game.

Tonight’s NFL match-up has the Miami Dolphins at the Cinncinati Bengals. Former LSU Tiger Jeremy Hill is leading the Bengals in rushing, while the Dolphins leading pass catcher is another former Tiger,in Jarvis Landry.

There was a big crowd last night at Ed Orgeron’s first LSU radio call-in show. Oregeron confirmed Danny Etling will start on Saturday night against Missouri. Athletic Director Joe Alleva said on a Baton Rouge radio station this morning that he hopes to see different play calling and he’s leading the search for a new coach, but he says it’s comical to speculate who the next coach will be.

Alabama Senior linebacker Tim Williams, who played at University High in Baton Rouge, was arrested this morning and charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, which is a misdemeanor. Williams had 10.5 sacks last season and he’s considered a possible first round pick. Alabama hosts Kentucky this Saturday.

Also in the SEC this weekend, ULM travels to Auburn. It’s the 10th meeting between the two teams and Tigers have won the nine previous contests. The Warhawks are 32.5 point underdog.

After a two-game road trip, where Louisiana Tech lost both games, the Bulldogs are back home Saturday night to host UTEP. Tech Head Coach Skip Holtz says he’s glad to be back home…
cut 17 (20) “….home”

Quarterback Drew Brees is returning to his first NFL home this Sunday as the Saints visit the San Diego Chargers. Brees left southern California after the 2005 season, because the Chargers decided to go with Phillip Rivers instead.

The Saints are banged up on the offensive line. Terron Armstead missed Monday’s game with a knee injury and Senior Kelemete has been battling a hamstring injury. That’s why New Orleans signed veteran offensive lineman Khalif Barnes, who played in 14 games for the Raiders last year.

The Saints seek their first win of the season this Sunday in San Diego where the Black and Gold take on Quarterback Drew Brees’ old team, the Chargers. Brees says it would be great if the team was rewarded for all of their hard work with a win….
cut 19 (13) “…progresses”
2004 was the last time the Saints played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. Brees was the quarterback of the Chargers and he threw four touchdown passes that day in a 43-17 San Diego win.

In other Saints news…safety Kenny Vaccaro, who missed the Atlanta game with an injury, was limited in practice yesterday. New Orleans has signed veteran offensive lineman Khalif Barnes as o-linemen Terron Armstead and Senio Kelemente battle injuries and former Saints running back CJ Spiller has signed with Seattle.

LSU starting defensive end Davon Godchaux is back with the team as his suspension has been lifted. Godchaux was arrrested earlier this week after authorities said he had a tussle with his girlfriend at his apartment. Also, running back Leonard Fournette is a game time decision for Saturday’s contest versus Missouri because of an ankle injury.

Louisiana Tech hosts UTEP Saturday night in Ruston in match-up of 1-and-3 teams. The Bulldogs have lost their last two games, including a 38-34 defeat to Middle Tennessee. Tech Coach Skip Holtz says his team is a work in progress that is trying to get better….
cut 16 (17) “…on Saturday”
Tech has been poor on defense, giving up 36 points a game.