JONESBORO — For updated insights into Louisiana-Lafayette, Arkansas State won’t have to wait for the traditional film exchange.
Instead, Red Wolves players can settle down in front of their televisions tonight when the Ragin’ Cajuns play at North Texas while enjoying an extra day of rest.
The Red Wolves (4-3, 2-1 Sun Belt Conference) have nine days between games after a 36-29 victory Saturday against South Alabama before a critical road test at Louisiana-Lafayette (4-1, 2-0) next Tuesday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
“We’ve given our guys two days off from practice,” ASU Coach Gus Malzahn said. “We really want these guys physically and mentally fresh.”
It will be the second time this month the Red Wolves will have an extended layoff for a midweek, nationally televised game. The Red Wolves beat Florida International on Oct. 4, a Thursday.
Arkansas State plays three games this month after playing five in September, including a five-day turnaround after a home loss to Western Kentucky.
The Red Wolves have two remaining home games, Nov. 8 against Louisiana-Monroe and Dec. 1 against Middle Tennessee in the season finale.
“That’s just the way it is,” Malzahn said last week.
Malzahn said the extra time this week gives his staff a chance to “really focus on recruiting and evaluate ourselves” and get a “head start on Lafayette, which is a very good team.”
The Red Wolves also get a chance to see how the Sun Belt race shapes up this weekend.
On Saturday, Troy (3-3, 2-2) hosts struggling Florida International (1-6, 0-3), the preseason pick to win the conference.
A loss by Troy would practically remove it from the race, considering the Trojans have lost to first-place Western Kentucky (5-1, 2-0) and fellow contender Louisiana-Lafayette.
The Hilltoppers host Louisiana-Monroe (4-2, 2-0) in a critical game between teams with victories over SEC opponents and votes in The Associated Press Top 25 poll.
If the Hilltoppers win, they will have a 3-0 record against early league favorites ASU, Florida International and Louisiana-Monroe.
Knocking off the Hilltoppers would give the Warhawks a head-to-head tiebreaker.
“It’s still too early in this conference race, because there’s too many good teams, to start talking about the value of this game,” Warhawks Coach Todd Berry said. “Certainly, it’s a big game, because it’s the next game on our schedule.”
No matter the results of this weekend’s Sun Belt games, Malzahn said he understands the value of his team’s game a few days later.
It would give the Red Wolves a three-game winning streak, including two on the road, and confidence for the closing stretch.
“We’re going to need it,” Malzahn said. “We played well the last time we were on the road and we’re going to have to do it again.”
TODAY’S GAME All times Central La.-Lafayette at North Texas, 8 p.m.
SATURDAY’S GAMES Fla. International at Troy, noon La.-Monroe at W. Kentucky, 3 p.m.
Middle Tenn. at Mississippi St., 6 p.m.
Florida Atlantic at So. Alabama, 2:30 p.m.
Sports, Pages 22 on 10/16/2012