EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth in the series previewing the 2018 football season.
With LSU entertaining Louisiana Tech in the fourth week of the season, the Tigers could either be recovering from a 1-2 start or rolling along at 3-0.
One way or another, LSU can’t let the Bulldogs do what Troy managed to do last year – win at Tiger Stadium.
Tech should be undefeated after wins over South Alabama and Southern, but LSU is expected to roll (85.7 percent chance to win).
Louisiana Tech senior wide receiver Teddy Veal led the Bulldogs in receptions (74), receiving yards (950) and touchdown catches (7) on his way to being named C-USA Co-Newcomer of the Year and the Newcomer of the Year in the state of Louisiana.
Additionally, Veal’s 74 receptions last season was 40 more than the team’s second-leading receiver, while his 950 receiving yards ranked third in C-USA and 33rd in the nation.
Tech cornerback Amik Robertson was ranked eighth in the nation with five interceptions, while he finished third on the team with 62 tackles (51 solo, 11 assisted).
Robertson also recorded a team-high six pass break-ups.
The Bulldog offense finished fourth in Conference USA in scoring offense and total offense.
Tech was ranked sixth in the league in rushing offense with an average of 172.5 yards per game on the ground and the Bulldogs had a fourth straight 1,000-yard rusher.
After a trip to Mississippi State, UL Lafayette opens Sun Belt play against Coastal Carolina.
Coastal Carolina coach Joe Moglia took a medical sabbatical last year to deal with a medical issue that involved a bacterial infection that caused inflammation in his lungs. He returned full time to his head coaching position on Jan. 5.
The Chanticleers are still a season away from fully completing their transition from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision in terms of available scholarships.
Coastal will only have 70 to offer this year while its FBS opponents will have a full allotment of 85.
For the first time in conference history the Sun Belt has been split into two divisions and will have a championship game on Dec. 1.
The Chants have been picked by the league’s coaches to finish last in the East Division.
The Cajuns were voted to finish fourth in the West Division.
Coastal only had linebacker Silas Kelly listed in the pre-season all conference team so an uphill battle is expected in their second season in the Sun Belt.
The Cajuns should open conference play with a win to improve to 1-2 on the season with a trip to Alabama up ahead.
Other games to follow the fourth week of the season include Troy at UL Monroe, McNeese at Brigham Young, Southern at Alabama A&M, Grambling at Alabama State, Southeastern at Lamar and Northwestern Louisiana visits Central Arkansas.