The game tonight can lift the Cajuns (#14 .65527) over #13 Arkansas (.65596) as not much separates them. Alabama (.66052) (idle until Tennessee this weekend) and Oklahoma State (.66092) (hosts North Texas tonight) are also within RPI ranking striking distance. A win over McNeese, in addition to the benefits of beating a 33-15 team ranked 41 in the RPI, would also include an RPI Bonus of .0020 (just .0006 less than the one earned last night with the win over LSU). Of course, Arkansas has three games at LSU this weekend (not bonus eligible). So we could use some help from LSU.
Meanwhile, as discussed yesterday, #15 Florida State (.65424) is at #17 Florida (.64414) tonight (they play in Tallahassee next week). We want Florida to win this one (mostly to help separate Louisiana from Florida State re: national seed/host resume). Not much separates Louisiana and Florida State in RPI ... Florida State would receive an RPI bonus of .0026 should they win tonight. Florida (all other things being equal) will not catch the Cajuns tonight should both the Cajuns and Gators win. But Florida is higher in the national seed pecking order anyway.
Brian