WHAT: Troy (3-7, 2-4 Sun Belt) at Louisiana (8-2, 5-1)

WHEN: 4 p.m., Saturday

WHERE: Cajun Field, Lafayette, La.

SERIES: Louisiana leads 13-11

TV: None (ESPN+)

LINE: Louisiana by 10.5

THIS GAME WILL DETERMINE IF: Troy can pick up a third straight win and knock Louisiana out of sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt West.

RELATED: ‘We’re going to Buc-ee’s’: Troy might just be turning corner late in season

THREE THINGS TO LOOK FOR

1. Can Troy continue its late-season surge?

The Trojans won’t make a bowl game this season, but have finally begun to put things together under first-year coach Gerad Parker in the last three weeks. Since halftime of a 34-31 loss to Arkansas State, Troy has outscored its opponents 94-55, including wins over Coastal Carolina and Georgia Southern. Could the Ragin’ Cajuns be their latest unsuspecting victim?

2. Can Matthew Caldwell play another clean game on the road?

Caldwell had easily the best game of his short Troy career against Georgia Southern, completing 26 of 32 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for a pair of scores. He’s now gone back-to-back games without throwing an interception after accounting for five in losses to Arkansas State and South Alabama. If the Gardner-Webb transfer can take care of the ball and avoid big mistakes, he gives his team a chance to win.

3. Will Louisiana reassert itself after a stunning upset?

The Ragin’ Cajuns had everything going for them this time a week ago, needing only a win over South Alabama to secure the Sun Belt West title and a likely spot in the national Top 25 rankings. Instead, they lost 24-22 on their home field after falling behind by three touchdowns in the first half. Louisiana is still in the driver’s seat for the division championship, but suddenly appears vulnerable.

KEY MATCHUP

Louisiana QB Chander Fields vs. Troy LB Kaleb Jackson

Fields replaced injured starter Ben Wooldridge in the second half vs. South Alabama and nearly led an historic comeback. Fields is arguably more mobile than Wooldridge, so Jackson and the Troy front seven will need to keep him in the pocket and unable to improvise.

BY THE NUMBERS

9.4 — Troy’s points per quarter since halftime of its Oct. 26 game vs. Arkansas State, a 10-quarter span. In the previous 30 quarters this season, the Trojans had averaged 4.5 points.