BATON ROUGE — Bouncing back is the top priority for LSU football this week.

The No. 19 Tigers (0-1) dropped seven spots in this week's LBM Coaches Poll after suffering yet another season-opening loss Sunday, this one at the gut-wrenching hands of USC, who edged LSU in the waning seconds 27-20 at the Vegas Kickoff Classic in Las Vegas.

LSU will look to rebound, welcoming instate FCS foe Nicholls State (0-1) to Tiger Stadium for its 2024 home opener Saturday night (6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+). It'll mark the first meeting between the two Louisiana teams.

Here's what you should know about the Tigers' contest with the Colonels:

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There were times against USC that John Emery looked like he was back to his old self. He led LSU's rushing attack with 10 runs for 61 yards, including a game-best 39-yard run in the third quarter that led to a touchdown that gave the Tigers their first lead of the game in the third quarter.

But Emery tore his ACL during the team's practice Tuesday, an injury expected to end the sixth-year senior's season.

He was the third running back to see the field Sunday, but took most advantage of his opportunities when he was in the game.

Senior Josh Williams and sophomore Kaleb Jackson will continue to lead the Tigers on the ground but improvement will be needed from the duo, which mustered just 51 yards on 15 carries. Freshman Caden Durham will likely see some action to help spell the thin stable of LSU backs.

Can LSU's vaunted offensive line, led by stars Will Campbell, Emery Jones Jr., get going?

Much was made in the preseason about LSU's star-studded offensive line, anchored on both sides by junior left tackle Will Campbell and junior right tackle Emery Jones Jr. While the group's pass protection held up against USC's front, its run blocking left plenty to be desired.

"We didn't execute to the level we can execute (in the run game against USC) and our O-line knows that," LSU football coach Brian Kelly said Tuesday. "I think there's some things we'd like to do better, schematically, up front and they'll be better for it."

LSU managed just 117 yards on the ground against the Trojans on Sunday, averaging just 4.5 yards per attempt.

What to know about Nicholls State

"We're very familiar with Nicholls State. They're a team that wins," Kelly said about the Colonels.

Nicholls returns 17 starters from last year's team that won the Southland Conference and lost in the first round of the FCS playoffs. Quarterback Pat McQuaide is back after throwing for more than 2,000 yards and 13 scores in 2023

Defensive lineman Rasheed Lovelace had a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown in Nicholls' opener at Louisiana Tech last week that gave his team a 7-2 lead in the first quarter. The Colonels lost 25-17 in Ruston.

LSU football vs Nicholls score prediction

LSU 49, Nicholls 9: Tigers ravage the Colonels to get in the win column for the first time this season. Offensive balance leads the way while the defense causes a couple of turnovers.

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Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU football vs Nicholls: Score prediction, scouting report