Nicholls at McNeese State football: Scouting report, score prediction
Nicholls football will hit the road to play McNeese State at Cowboy Stadium in Lake Charles on Saturday (noon, TV: YURVIEW/ESPN+, Radio: 100.3-FM).
Nicholls (4-4, 3-2 Southland) needs a win to stay in the chase for a Southland Conference title and FCS playoff berth. McNeese (3-5, 2-3) is looking to bounce back from a 23-20 loss to Southeastern Louisiana on Oct. 30.
Here are three things to know about Saturday’s game and a prediction:
McNeese, Nicholls rivalry runs deep
Nicholls has faced instate rival McNeese 45 times since 1972. McNeese has dominated the series with a 32-13 all-time lead, including a 17-7 record when games are played in Lake Charles. The Cowboys have won six straight against Nicholls at Cowboy Stadium.
The Southland Conference rivalry could end soon, with McNeese reportedly moving to the Western Athletic Conference.
Source: Both McNeese State University and the University of Incarnate Word are departing the Southland Conference with the intention to join the WAC.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 2, 2021
It would leave the Southland with five football playing schools in Nicholls, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana, Houston Baptist and incoming Division II program Texas A&M-Commerce. The University of New Orleans and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi are Southland schools without football programs. doesn’t have a football program.
The Southland would need at least six football playing schools to keep its automatic bid to the FCS playoffs.
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Collin Guggenheim, Hayden Shaheen have breakout performances
The freshmen duo earned Louisiana Sports Writers Association players of the week honors after their performances in a 42-21 win over Northwestern State on Oct. 30.
Guggenheim rushed for a career-high 158 yards, two touchdowns and averaged 7.2 yards per carry. It was his second straight 100-yard performance.
Shaheen finished with five tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and his first career interception.
Lindsey Scott, Parker Orgeron face off in quarterback duel
Nicholls and McNeese will be led by two of the top quarterbacks in the Southland Conference.
Lindsey Scott has passed for 1,898 yards, 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions for Nicholls. He leads the Southland in rushing with 906 yards, 123 carries and nine touchdowns. He is second in total offensive yards with 2,804.
Orgeron, the son of LSU coach Ed Orgeron, has 1,511 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. He completed 20-of-27 passes for 354 yards and four touchdowns during McNeese's 43-31 win over Nicholls in the spring 2021 season on April 3.
Score prediction
Nicholls 38, McNeese 35: High scoring games have been the theme of the season in the Southland Conference. I expect another shootout between Nicholls and McNeese. Nicholls will be motivated to end its losing ways in Cowboy Stadium. I think they will have enough at the end to pull off a close win in Lake Charles.
Reach Chris Singleton at 985-857-2213 or chris.singleton@houmatoday.com and on Twitter @courierchris.
This article originally appeared on The Courier: Nicholls at McNeese State football: Scouting report, score prediction
