LSU @ Ole Miss preview
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 22, 2016 ) Mississippi 21, Louisiana State 38
No. 25 LSU could be accused of playing to the level of its competition, given its two straight wins over ranked opponents following a stunning home loss to Troy. What that translates to on Saturday might depend on which Ole Miss team shows up to host the Tigers.
The Rebels had lost three straight before last week’s 57-35 home win over Vanderbilt, but the offense that has flourished versus weaker opponents has struggled against tougher competition. It’s a homecoming of sorts for LSU coach Ed Orgeron, whose first head-coaching position was at Ole Miss from 2005-07, but he says he has long since moved on and doesn’t see his return to Oxford playing a big role on Saturday. "I used to stop at the Exxon and get a chicken-on-a-stick, and they were fantastic,” Orgeron told reporters. “I hope that cook is still there, and I can stop and say hello to her. That's about all I remember.” The Rebels are facing their third ranked opponent in four weeks after losing to top-ranked Alabama (66-3) and then-No. 13 Auburn (44-23) in the two games prior to Saturday’s win over Vanderbilt.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: LSU -7
ABOUT LSU (5-2, 2-1 SEC): The Tigers are tough on defense - especially against the pass, as they have allowed just 170.6 yards per game to rank 14th in the nation. LSU has allowed only 28 points in the fourth quarter this season and shut out both Florida and Auburn in the final period in its last two contests. The question with the Tigers tends to be whether they can produce enough offense, but they’ve achieved a nice balance this season with quarterback Danny Etling and running back Derrius Guice leading the charge.
ABOUT OLE MISS (3-3, 1-2): The Rebels lead the SEC in passing (357.2 yards per game) by a wide margin and rank ninth nationally with quarterback Shea Patterson spreading the ball around to a talented receiving corps. That group includes the SEC’s leading receiver A.J. Brown, who averages 113 yards per game and has topped 100 four times. The defense hasn’t been as impressive, allowing 37 points per contest, but defensive end Marquis Haynes is a dominant pass rusher who last week broke the school’s career records for tackles for loss and sacks.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The home team has won each of the last five meetings in the series.
2. LSU has won 11 straight games in October dating to 2014.
3. Ole Miss RB Jordan Wilkins has topped 100 scrimmage yards in three straight games and gone over 100 rushing yards in two of his last three contests.
PREDICTION: LSU 31, Ole Miss 23