Colby Cameron leads an offense that's averaging 52.6 points per game. (Peter Casey-US PRESSWIRE)
–Louisiana Tech accomplished another first this week when the Bulldogs appeared in the BCS Standings for the first time. Tech was ranked No. 25. The Bulldogs, who scored their first-ever victory as a ranked team last Saturday night at New Mexico State (28-14), are ranked No. 22 in the Associated Press poll this week, the highest in school history, and No. 23 in the USA Today/Coaches poll.
–During its last 16 games, Louisiana Tech has a plus-32 turnover margin. The Bulldogs are tied for second nationally with Alabama in turnover margin (plus-2.13).
–The Bulldogs have scored 17 touchdowns this season in one minute or less.
SERIES HISTORY: First meeting between Louisiana Tech and Texas-San Antonio.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: Led by senior quarterback Colby Cameron and returning all-WAC wide receiver Quinton Patton, the Bulldogs have been prolific offensively this season, scoring an average of 52.63 points per game. Cameron, who has not thrown an interception in an NCAA record 319 pass attempts, benefits from playing behind a veteran offensive line and also from a strong running game by freshman Kenneth Dixon and senior Ray Holley that averages 246.5 yards per game.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The Bulldog defense, instrumental in helping the team win the 2011 WAC title, seems to be peaking heading into November. Louisiana Tech has held its last two opponents to an average of 21.0 points per game with most of those coming in garbage time after the outcome had already been long decided. This is a hard-hitting and opportunistic group that has forced 24 turnovers this season, including six in a 52-24 win at Illinois on Sept. 22.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Well, just a bunch of stuff you cannot print. The big thing was having them play hard. They are not just going to give us the ball and say you have a good offense, now go score on us. You have to earn it. — We just did not have right mindset, and that starts with me.” — Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Dykes on what he told his team, which ranks second in the nation in scoring (52.63), at halftime of Saturday’s 28-14 win at 1-7 New Mexico State. The listless Bulldogs led only 7-0 at intermission.
