Pregame note

September 22, 2007

Drew Champlin

Just back from a lunch at Prejeans (thanks to the University of Louisiana)

—WR/HLD Austin Silvoy didn’t make the trip because of a concussion. He got dinged up pretty bad (“knocked cuckoo” I believe were the words) last week against Oklahoma State. Zack Marcum will be the holder and at the Y, I would imagine Josh Allen and Cornelius Williams split the snaps. That position’s gotten a lot of production in the early season and I think those two guys will do well.

Silvoy is Troy’s second-leading receiver (9 catches, 105 yards, 2 TDs)

Also out for sure are DE Brandon Lang (knee) and safety Sherrod Martin (hand), though Martin made the trip.

Gameday links

Drew Champlin

From me, Troy is determined to avoid the letdown.

From the Daily Advertiser, ULL’s new season starts tonight, some backup running backs get their shot tonight, and Who has the edge?.

GAMEDAY: Troy at UL-Lafayette

Drew Champlin

Troy (1-2) @ UL-Lafayette (0-3)Time: 6 p.m.
TV: ESPN Plus
RADIO: 94.7 FM WTBF out of Pike County
for more audio/video information, visit http://www.troytrojans.com
Last week: Troy 41, Oklahoma State 23; McNeese State 38, ULL 17
Last year: Troy got a career-high 172 yards on the ground and won a shootout, 42-28, over ULL in Troy
Last time in Lafayette: Troy came back from 20-7 down, when Carl Meadows hit Smokey Hampton with a 12-yard touchdown pass with under 20 seconds left to force overtime. ULL kicked a field goal, but Troy coaches called for safe plays after a first-down long pass (that fell incomplete) to set up for a tying FG, but Greg Whibbs’ 37-yarder was wide left.

Key matchups: ULL’s running backs (whomever they may be) vs. Troy’s run defense. The Cajuns may be without starter Tyrell Fenroy, one of the league’s top backs, and top backup Deon Wallace, though Wallace is more likely to play. Troy’s run defense is last in the country and ULL likes to operate out of the spread offense with quarterback Michael Desormeaux, but it’s a run-oriented scheme. Desormeaux looks at his one read, and if he doesn’t like it, takes off. He’s hard to tackle, too.

Big question: How much will it rain? That could dampen Troy’s passing game, and make ULL’s runners harder to tackle. With Troy yet to establish an effective run game, and with Kenny Cattouse questionable, this game could get closer than people think.

Prediction: Troy 27, ULL 20. Omar Haugabook has over 100 yards on the ground for this one and a good enough day passing.

Sun Belt predictions

September 21, 2007

Drew Champlin

Week 1: 7-0
Week 2: 6-1 (missed ULL)
Week 3: 5-2 (missed FAU’s win, ULL’s loss)

man, I’m getting worse and worse. I need to give myself a LOSS for Thursday night because I admit, I would have picked Middle Tennessee to beat Western Kentucky Thursday. WKU pulled the 20-17 win. It does look like my pick of Middle to finish 6th overall is looking better and better. I like Rick Stockstill, talked to him a few times, but this just isn’t the Big Blue’s year. Next year might not either, but once his recruits become juniors and seniors, they’ll be contenders.

For tomorrow

Troy over ULL (pick will be in gameday blog preview)
Tennessee 34, Arkansas State 17
Kansas 38, Florida International 7
Florida Atlantic 45, North Texas 28
ULM is off

Friday links

Drew Champlin

I’m off to Lafayette in a bit so you won’t hear from me today, but here are some links of interest

I wrote a feature on Troy’s Wes Potter.

From the Daily Advertister, there’s grumblings about ULL head coach Rickey Bustle.