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Louisiana-Lafayette-LSU Preview

Sep 15, 2009 - 9:40 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Louisiana-Lafayette (2-0) at LSU (2-0), 7:00 p.m. EDT

LSU is unbeaten, but the Tigers have hardly looked dominant so far. A home meeting with a weaker non-conference opponent could change that.

The No. 9 Tigers look to extend their winning streak against non-league foes to 22 on Saturday night when they face Louisiana-Lafayette - a team they have never lost to.

LSU started the season with a 31-23 win at Washington on Sept. 5 and beat Vanderbilt 23-9 last Saturday to open its SEC schedule. Both games were close until the Tigers were able to create some breathing room midway through the fourth quarter each time.

"Any time you play imperfectly and you come to the postgame, you have to recognize that first things first - you'd much rather win than do any other thing," coach Les Miles said. "That being said, I think we've got to play better. ... There were no style points for (the win against Vanderbilt). That's a fact."

The Tigers, winners of 22 in a row against in-state rivals, have the nation's longest winning streak against non-conference foes at 21 games. They have outscored opponents by an average of 30.9 points during that run.

"Every time that I line up against a team that does not have a name that warrants a national viewing audience, I always find out that they're pretty good, have talent and can play," Miles said.

LSU's run against non-league opponents includes a 45-3 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 2, 2006. That moved LSU to 21-0 in the series, during which they have outscored the Ragin' Cajuns 957-22.

An area of concern for LSU is consistent quarterback play - an issue that haunted the Tigers throughout a disappointing 2008. Jordan Jefferson has completed 31 of 48 passes for 310 yards and three touchdowns on the season, but all of the sophomore's TDs came in the opener. He was limited to short passes and 138 yards by the Commodores, who also sacked him three times.

Miles had to be encouraged by the improvement of his defense last week. The Tigers allowed 210 yards - 88 passing - to Vanderbilt after giving up 478 yards and 321 through the air against Washington.

Louisiana-Lafayette (2-0) is coming off last Saturday's 17-15 win over Kansas State, as Tyler Albrecht connected for a 48-yard field goal with 32 seconds left in his first collegiate attempt.

The Cajuns haven't started a season 3-0 since winning their first four games of 1988, but face a tough task in taking on LSU in Baton Rouge.

"For us to have a chance we cannot turn the ball over," coach Rickey Bustle said. "We're not going to stop them every time up the field. Our goal will be to make it a four-quarter game and see what happens in the end."

Louisiana-Lafayette has dropped 10 in a row to ranked opponents.

The Cajuns' Chris Masson has gone 38 of 60 for 468 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in his first season as the starter. The sophomore has also rushed for 53 yards and a TD on eight carries.

The Ragin' Cajuns have proved to be an opportunistic defensive team thus far, intercepting four passes and recovering a fumble.