The Golden Eagles (6-3) have won three of their last four games and can win the C-USA title outright by winning at Louisville next weekend. But that game must wait seven days because this week's challenge is the Ragin' Cajuns (1-8).

Any way one looks at it, this game is a mismatch. The Cajuns do not have the defense to stop the Golden Eagles, who are averaging 25.8 points on the season and 27.8 in their last four victories.

"Southern Mississippi has always been balanced in terms of run and pass," said Cajuns coach Jerry Baldwin, who is a native of Natchez, Mississippi.

That balance is weighted towards Derrick Nix, who has rushed for 896 yards and five touchdowns to become a star in his sophomore season. Behind center, Jeff Kelly has completed 59 percent of his passes for 1,717 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Besides concerning himself with the Golden Eagles, Baldwin must be worried about his team, which has lost five straight but did have a week off after suffering a 31-27 loss at Arkansas State.

"For us, it was back to the basics," Baldwin said of the time off. "We went back to fundamentals. The biggest thing for us was being able to rest and heal up some bumps and bruises. I think we had an opportunity to get a head start on the game plan for Southern Mississippi."

The game plan just needs to be revised, as these teams are quite familiar with each other. Southern Mississippi leads the all-time series, 35-11-1, and has won three straight since its last loss to the Cajuns in 1993.

This game highlights the 63rd homecoming weekend in Southern Mississippi history.

LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE Season schedule and results	SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI Season schedule and results
Sep. 4 @Oklahoma State L 7-24 Sep. 11 Texas Tech L 17-38 Sep. 18 @Houston L 0-45 Sep. 25 Middle Tennessee State W 45-31 Oct. 2 Louisiana Tech L 31-41 Oct. 9 @Washington State L 0-44 Oct. 16 @Tulane L 32-48 Oct. 23 Louisiana Monroe L 7-31 Oct. 30 @Arkansas State L 27-31 Nov. 13 @Southern Mississippi 3:00pm ET Nov. 20 Wofford 5:00pm ET	Sep. 6 Tulane W 48-14 Sep. 11 Northwestern St W 40-6 Sep. 18 @Nebraska L 13-20 Sep. 25 @Texas A&M L 6-23 Oct. 9 @East Carolina W 39-22 Oct. 16 Army W 24-0 Oct. 23 Cincinnati W 28-20 Oct. 30 @Alabama L 14-35 Nov. 6 @Memphis W 20-5 Nov. 13 Louisiana Lafayette 3:00pm ET Nov. 20 @Louisville 4:00pm ET