Texas A&M @ Ole Miss preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 11, 2014 ) Mississippi 35, Texas A&M 20

Holes in the run defense and a trio of crushing turnovers ended Texas A&M’s dreams of an undefeated season last week, but SEC West supremacy remains a legitimate goal. The Aggies will try to bounce back quickly when they host another team bidding for an SEC West title in Ole Miss on Saturday.

Texas A&M quarterback Kyle Allen had three interceptions run back for touchdowns in a 41-23 home loss to Alabama last week and Kyler Murray added another pick. “No doubt that we need to play better at the (quarterback) position,” Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin told reporters. “Those guys will be the first to tell you that.” Those quarterbacks will be going up against a Rebels secondary that has 10 interceptions on the season but was carved up for 384 passing yards in a 37-24 loss at Memphis last week. “Defensively, I have evaluated every one of them,” Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze told reporters. “It is very frustrating. Like I’ve told our coaching staff, it really doesn’t matter what you know, it matters what your kids know.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Ole Miss -6

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (5-1, 2-1 SEC): Allen threw for 13 touchdowns and two interceptions while guiding the Aggies to a 5-0 start but is suddenly unsure of his job security after the disaster against Alabama last week. The sophomore sat in favor of true freshman Murray for a pair of possessions, though Murray did little in the short stint to distinguish himself. Allen took over the position from former Aggies player Kenny Hill due to the latter’s tendency to turn the ball over last season, including a pair of picks by Hill in a 35-20 home loss to Ole Miss.

ABOUT OLE MISS (5-2, 2-1): The Rebels' defense has allowed at least 37 points in three of the last five games and could be without its biggest weapon in defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche, who suffered a concussion while playing offense last week. Nkemdiche joins a long list of injured Ole Miss defenders that also includes key defensive back Trae Elston. “As far as Robert (Nkemdiche), you just don’t know,” Freeze told reporters of Nkemdiche’s potential availability for Saturday. “I know he loves to play the game. I am not in charge of protocols but I know he loves the game and wants to play. We have to make sure he is safe and ready to play.”

EXTRA POINTS

1. Texas A&M LB Otaro Alaka (shoulder) will miss the remainder of the season.

2. Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly leads the SEC in passing (319.1 yards, 16 TDs).

3. The Aggies own a 6-1 lead in the all-time series, with the lone setback coming last season.

PREDICTION: Ole Miss 38, Texas A&M 35