After winning the last two games on the road, Louisiana Tech, a team that won only three games last season, opened the door to a possible winning season and even becoming bowl eligible.

It's a shame for the Bulldogs that they have to visit No. 2 LSU this week.

"It's really hard to think of a bigger challenge than what we have this week," The coach Derek Dooley told Monday's WAC media conference call. "Certainly, they're the most-talented team in the country. They're ranked No. 2 in the country and they've had all the stars aligned for them this season.

"It's a great opportunity for our team to kinda get a gauge about where we stand against the best."

The folks that make the point spreads say the Bulldogs (4-5, 3-3 WAC) stand as 36-point underdogs in the non-league game against a team that may well play for the national championship.

This is one of those "guarantee games" smaller schools play against the giants, a payday that helps the budget. Dooley doesn't mind playing a game like this, and the odd number of teams in the WAC makes late non-league games a must because everyone has to play someone. What the first-year coach would like to see more of is a schedule that has more home-and-home matchups.

"To play one game (like this), I think it's good for the program," he said. "But to play three it's probably not as good. I'm not sure that playing LSU is something our program wants to do every year because LSU won't come to our place, which they shouldn't."

He saluted his team to even having a chance to finish at .500 after coming off a 3-10 season that got Jack Bicknell Jr. fired. But to get to 6-6 (after the loss this week), the Bulldogs will have to beat San Jose State at home and then win at Nevada in the finale.

--RB Patrick Jackson saved the best of his best for the fourth quarter in last week's win at Idaho. He had a career-high 150 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries in the games, but ran for 71 of those yards in the fourth quarter; 50 on a late drive that he finished off with an 8-yard run that iced the game. He was nominated for WAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

--S Antonio Baker was named WAC Defensive Player of the Week after he had a team-high eight tackles, an interception and fumble recovery in the win at Idaho; his third straight game with an interception. He leads the Bulldogs with 91 tackles.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: Derek Dooley likes it when his team runs the ball, which it did to pull out the last two games. In fact, Tech is 35th in the country in rushing, which has led to the overall offense coming in at No. 77. This will be a huge test. Zac Champion has played better and gotten a lot more consistent at QB.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Tech was able to take away Idaho's bread and butter, the run, and the Bulldogs are 21st in the country in run defense. But Idaho isn't exactly LSU, so this will be a lot tougher. Tech is No. 101 in the country against the pass, but LSU is just No. 57 throwing the ball.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Other than the New England Patriots, this is probably as tough as it gets. Even my 8-year-old son knows how good they are, so there's no need to do a (team-by-team) comparison." -- Louisiana Tech coach Derek Dooley on playing No. 2 LSU this week.

THIS WEEK'S GAME: Louisiana Tech at LSU, Nov. 10 -- Tech's third straight road game is a doozy, which is why the Bulldogs are 36-point underdogs to the team many feel is the best in the country.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Zac Champion -- He will be under siege by the No. 6 passing defense in the country and Champion's job this week is to try to stay, as they say, within himself amid this monstrous storm.

LB Quin Harris -- His numbers for the season are terrific; 78 tackles, seven for loss, 3.5 sacks, eight pass breakups, an interception, forced fumble and a pair of QB hits.

The RBs -- Tech has a nice little troika of Patrick Jackson, Daniel Porters and William Griffin, with each feeding off the other two.

ROSTER REPORT: All is quiet on the injury front as the Bulldogs steam down the stretch.

--DE Ben McGilton tipped an Idaho pass up into the air and picked it off before returning it five yards for a touchdown last week.

--K Danny Horwedel missed his only field goal try last week but is the active WAC leader with 42.

--P Chris Keagle is second in the WAC, but the team leads the league in net punting. He was nominated for WAC special teams player of the week after averaging 45.9 yards per punt on seven kicks last week.

--WR Philip Livas had a huge 70-yard touchdown catch from Zac Champion in the fourth quarter last week.

--DE Chris Pugh leads the WAC in sacks with 6.5.

--Tech is second in the conference in turnover margin (plus-0.67).