Vanderbilt @ Ole Miss preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 19, 2016 ) Mississippi 17, Vanderbilt 38

There has been little to celebrate for Ole Miss this season entering Saturday’s home contest with Vanderbilt, but the play of quarterback Shea Patterson is one bright spot for the Rebels. Patterson starts the weekend tops in the SEC and ninth in the nation with 1,792 passing yards, fueling a Rebels’ passing attack that ranks eighth nationally coming into a matchup of two teams looking for their first SEC victory.

Patterson pointed to the Rebels’ 20 points after halftime in last week’s 44-23 loss at Auburn as a positive, telling reporters afterward, “I think we feel a lot better than we did last week coming out of the second half. So we’ll look to build on that momentum.” The Commodores also seek a better showing after being blasted 45-14 at home against Georgia last week. “It’s not the first time this team has seen adversity,” Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason told reporters Tuesday. “The confidence comes back quick with great leadership, which we have.” Since winning its first three games of the season, Vanderbilt has been outscored 142-38.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network. LINE: Ole Miss -3

ABOUT VANDERBILT (3-3, 0-3 SEC): Quarterback Kyle Shurmur has passed for 12 touchdowns, but the Commodores are last in the SEC and 126th nationally in total offense, averaging just 277 yards per game. Running back Ralph Webb, the school’s all-time leading rusher, has just 245 yards rushing (2.8 per carry) after finishing with 1,283 yards (5.1 per attempt) a season ago. The Commodores allow just 140.3 yards per game passing, but were gashed for 423 rushing yards last week against Georgia.

ABOUT OLE MISS (2-3, 0-2): Patterson passed for two touchdowns and 346 yards last week against Auburn and leads the conference in touchdowns (13) and passing yards per game (358.4). Receiver A.J. Brown averages 18.7 yards per catch and is tied for the team in receiving touchdowns (four), but the Rebels rank last in the SEC in rushing offense and next-to-last in time of possession. The Ole Miss defense has struggled, giving up 456.2 yards per contest (13th in the SEC; 110th nationally).

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Commodores average 76.7 rushing yards per game, while the Rebels average 76 per contest.

2. Ole Miss RB Jordan Wilkins finished with more than 100 yards of total offense for the second consecutive game against Auburn, recording 66 yards receiving and 65 yards rushing..

3. Vanderbilt broke a three-game losing streak in the series last season, scoring 31 unanswered points in a 38-17 home victory.

PREDICTION: Ole Miss 21, Vanderbilt 16