UL Lafayette @ Oklahoma State preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 8, 2010 ) Oklahoma State 54, UL Lafayette 28

THE STORY: No. 9 Oklahoma State returns one of the nation’s best passing attacks with quarterback Brandon Weeden and wide receiver Justin Blackmon. The Cowboys ranked second in the country in passing yards per game (345.8) and third in points per game (44.2) last season. But they begin this season with a couple question marks because of the departures of offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen and running back Kendall Hunter.

TV: Fox College Sports. LINE: Oklahoma State -38.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (11-2 in 2010): Nobody knew what to expect last year from a quarterback who had been playing minor league baseball and an unknown receiver. Weeden and Blackmon won’t sneak up on anybody this season, and the Cowboys have to replace four starters on offense and six on defense.

ABOUT LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE (3-9 in 2010): The Ragin’ Cajuns ranked seventh out of nine Sun Belt teams in scoring offense and scoring defense last season. They begin 2011 with a new coach in Mark Hudspeth, who left his job as passing game coordinator at Mississippi State. He compiled a 66-21 record as coach at Division II North Alabama.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Oklahoma State begins the season in the top 15 for the third season in a row.

2. Oklahoma State beat the Ragin’ Cajuns 54-28 in Lafayette last season. The Cowboys have lost one non-conference game since 2009, when they lost to Houston 45-35 in Stillwater in 2009.

3. Louisiana Lafayette last beat a BCS-conference team in 2009, when it upset Kansas State 17-15 in Lafayette.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 52, Louisiana Lafayette 7 - The Cowboys might be working with a new offensive coordinator and a new running back, but the Ragin’ Cajuns are playing with an entirely new coaching staff.