re: Coming to Baton Rouge for the UCLA game, advice please

At least in L.A. there is a reason for the traffic (sheer numbers)

You’ll find that BR’s traffic problem is based around stupid people doing inexplicable things and very poorly planned infrastructure/construction projects. But even then it shouldn’t take you more than an hour and a half at worst from MSY. Once you get into BR proper, abandon the interstate as quickly as you can before you get to the I10/12 split. It’s a hellscape from there to the Mississippi River bridge downtown.

Eta: if you’ve already done NOLA before, I’d drive up to BR as early as your flights allow on Friday. It only gets worse as you get towards evening rush hour.