Brigham Young @ Mississippi preview

THE STORY: Brigham Young begins life as an independent Saturday, traveling to Ole Miss for the season opener. The Cougars, who left the Mountain West Conference after 11 seasons, hope for a better start than they got in 2010. BYU lost five of its first six games, but played better down the stretch and returns 19 starters. Ole Miss also stumbled out of the gate last season. The Rebels lost at home to Jacksonville State in last year’s opener, setting the tone for a season in which the Rebels finished last in the SEC West. Ole Miss returns 14 starters, nine on offense.

TV: ESPN, ESPN3.com. LINE: BYU -1.

ABOUT BYU (2010: 7-6, 5-3 Mountain West): Sophomore quarterback Jake Heaps struggled early last season, but found his rhythm in the final six games, leading the Cougars to five victories. Heaps, who passed for 2,316 yards and 11 touchdowns, leads an offense that averaged 44.2 points per game in its final five victories. Offensive lineman Matt Reynolds is an All-America candidate. Defensively, nine starters return on a unit that finished 24th in overall defense last season.

ABOUT OLE MISS (2010: 4-8, 1-7 SEC): The Rebels turn to sophomore transfer Barry Brunetti at quarterback for the opener, after junior Randall Mackey was suspended for one game following his arrest for disorderly conduct. Senior running back Brandon Bolden ranks second in school history in touchdowns (28) and rushed for 976 yards last season. Shoring up the defense is a must: the Rebels allowed 35.2 points per game in 2010, ranking 107th nationally.

EXTRA POINTS

1. BYU faces a tough schedule in its first season as an independent, including matchups with No. 24 Texas, Utah, No. 15 Texas Christian and Central Florida.

2. Mississippi head coach Houston Nutt has said junior quarterback Zack Stoudt also will play against the Cougars.

3. Heaps won MVP honors in the New Mexico Bowl, going 25-of-34 for 264 yards as the Cougars thrashed UTEP 52-24.

PREDICTION: BYU 31, Ole Miss 17 – The Cougars start their independent era with a win as their superior offense makes the difference.