The definition of frustration is when the longshots come in and the sure-things somehow don’t happen.

That was last week, when the state was poised for history. There hadn’t been a mid-season weekend in at least three decades where every college football team in Louisiana that was playing posted a victory.

It was in the cards when Tulane pulled off an upset at Army and LSU had a smaller-version upset at Georgia. All that was needed by the time Saturday night rolled around was for Grambling and Southern – both of whom were favored – to hold on for victories, and the state would have had a perfect weekend.

Didn’t happen. The Jaguars and the Tigers both had frustrating losses, those reflecting in the final 3-2 weekend tally here. Not that there’s any complaints about a 3-0 week against the spread with the LSU, Tulane and UL Monroe picks, but it could have been so much more.

As Jimmy Buffett once said … breathe in, breathe out, move on.

There’s a full schedule this weekend starting with Friday night’s La. Tech contest at Nevada on ESPN2, and a balance  between Saturday afternoon and night games including that little dust-up at Tiger Stadium…

Games are listed in time order along with television plans, and betting lines (the Caesars Las Vegas line) are listed next to the favorites.


Louisiana Colleges -- Week 6

FRIDAY
La. Tech at Nevada (-10 ½) (8 p.m., ESPN2) – The Bulldogs took care of business in their WAC opener last week against Hawaii – the first time Tech had beaten the Warriors since Derek Dooley took over the program. Tech hasn’t beaten Nevada under Dooley, either, but the Wolf Pack will be a much stiffer test … Nevada 37-28.

SATURDAY

Nicholls State at Sam Houston State (2 p.m.) – Nicholls has lost three games by a combined 157 points. Sam Houston’s not as good as Air Force, Louisiana Tech or Ryan Perrilloux’s Jacksonville State team, but it’s hard to argue with those numbers. Here’s hoping Southland play is better to the Colonels, but … Sam Houston State 41-21.

Southeastern La. at Texas State (2 p.m.) – There’s still the belief that the Lions are better than their showings in the last two games, and that the big loss at South Dakota was an aberration. TSU hasn’t looked like the preseason pick to win the Southland, so this one may be closer than most figure. Still … Texas State 31-24.

Marshall (-4) at Tulane (2:30 p.m.) --  The Thundering Herd is coming off an emotional loss to East Carolina and can’t afford another Conference USA loss. Still, the Green Wave’s been downright impressive the last two weekends, and there’s something to be said for learning how to win. With a massive home throng on hand … Tulane 28-24.

Alabama A&M at Grambling (3 p.m.) – The temptation is to pick against the G-Men just out of frustration for last week. But since Rod Broadway has been the Tigers’ coach, his team has managed to bounce back from its few losses. This week should be no different … Grambling 35-20.

McNeese State at Stephen F. Austin (6 p.m.) – Beware teams that score a lot of points, even against lesser competition. SFA has scored 197 in the last three weeks. Defense is not the Cowboys’ strong suit, but the offense has plenty of playmakers. It’s an old-fashioned shootout in the Texas piney woods … McNeese 41-31.

North Texas at UL Lafayette (-6) (6:05 p.m., Sun Belt Network/Cox & CSS) – The Cajun players have been repeatedly reminded that they have zero touchdowns in the last 10 quarters, and it’s been almost a month since that last TD. Don’t worry, be happy, because the Mean Green are the cure for that … UL Lafayette 27-17.

Central Arkansas at Northwestern State (7 p.m.) – It gets no easier for the Demons. After a brutal non-conference slate, NSU’s first three Southland games are against the three teams picked to finish at the top of the league. Don’t know when they’re going to catch a break, but it’s probably not until November … Central Arkansas 44-27.

Florida (-7 ½) at LSU (7:05 p.m., CBS) – Word is that this is a big game. Florida supposedly has a good quarterback, but there’s a rumor out there that he’s battling an injury. Tiger fans, the good Samaritans they are, have been phoning with get-well messages. LSU’s coach has a really big white hat. All the other information out there is just overkill ... Florida 31-27.

NEXT TUESDAY (Oct. 13)

Arkansas State (-8) at UL Monroe (7 p.m., ESPN2) – ASU has played well for two straight weeks and only has three-point losses to show for it. The Warhawks are 2-0 in the Sun Belt, but the Red Wolves have faced better competition and are desperate after a league-opener loss to Troy. In the battle of the former Indians … Arkansas State 35-21.



Last week: 3-2 overall, 3-0 against the spread. Season: 35-8 overall, 11-6 against the spread.

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