Ole Miss @ California preview

The scoreboard operator figures to be busy Saturday as California faces visiting Ole Miss in a matchup of two explosive offensive units. Cal has averaged 34 points in victories over North Carolina and Weber State while Ole Miss quarterback Shea Patterson has thrown for 918 yards and nine touchdowns in wins over South Alabama and UT-Martin.

Patterson was 32-of-43 passing for five touchdowns and a single-game school record of 489 yards in last Saturday’s 45-23 win over UT-Martin as the Rebels scored on five consecutive drives between the second and third quarters. Patterson could be in line for another big game against Cal, which defeated Weber State 33-20 but allowed Wildcats quarterback Stefan Cantwell to throw for 431 yards. The Bears played without three injured regulars on defense and also lost senior tailback Tre Watson for the season with an unspecified leg injury in the second quarter. Watson entered the season as the Bears’ active leader in career total yards and will be replaced by former walk-on Patrick Laird, who caught a 54-yard touchdown pass in the season-opening win over North Carolina and ran for 191 yards and three touchdowns against Weber State.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Ole Miss -3.5

ABOUT OLE MISS (2-0): After UT-Martin rushed for 219 yards and averaged five yards per attempt, the Rebels are focusing on stopping Laird and the Cal running attack this week. Linebacker DeMarquis Gates had a team-high nine tackles against UT-Martin while fellow linebacker Detric Bing-Dukes made a case for increased playing time with five tackles off the bench. The Rebels have the weapons to keep pace with Cal, led by Patterson and receivers DaMarkus Lodge, D.K. Metcalf and A.J. Brown, an emerging star who has 16 catches for 389 yards and two TDs.

ABOUT CAL (2-0): Quarterback Ross Bowers threw four scoring passes in his first career start at North Carolina but was a quiet 20-for-28 for 200 yards and no TDs last week against Weber State. Bowers has a plethora of solid options in the receiving game, including junior Vic Wharton III, who has 10 catches for 202 yards and a touchdown. The defense has enjoyed mixed results early this season, but senior linebackers Raymond Davison III and Devante Downs have impressed with a combined total of 35 tackles and four forced fumbles.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Cal owns a 4-10 all-time record against SEC schools, with the last matchup coming in 2007 against Tennessee.

2. Ole Miss is 115-39-6 all-time against non-conference foes in the month of September.

3. The Bears are tied for third in the nation in turnovers gained with six.

PREDICTION: Ole Miss 41, Cal 35