LSU @ Ole Miss preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 25, 2014 ) Mississippi 7, Louisiana State 10

The pressure is mounting in Baton Rouge as LSU has tumbled out of both playoff and SEC title contention with back-to-back losses. The Tigers will try to avoid their first three-game losing streak in 16 years when they visit Ole Miss on Saturday in the 104th edition of the rivalry.

"It's a time where, as a coach, you just bury your head and you go to work and you coach like there's no tomorrow and it's time to step up," Tigers coach Les Miles said in his weekly press conference. "I think our guys understand that. They understand crisis." LSU is in crisis mode after double-digit losses at Alabama and at home against Arkansas, which has sent Miles' team tumbling to 15th in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Rebels, who are mired in a three-way tie with the Tigers and Razorbacks for second in the SEC West, can still claim the division if they win out and Alabama loses its finale at Auburn. Ole Miss has had two weeks to digest a 53-52 overtime loss to Arkansas at home.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Ole Miss -4

ABOUT LSU (7-2, 4-2 SEC): The Tigers fell behind 10-0 at Alabama and were down 21-0 to Arkansas, deficits that proved difficult to overcome with an offense that has suddenly hit a wall, a scenario Miles attributes - in part - to the offensive line. "I've not seen offensive lines that were as good as this one go into slumps, but I think there's ... certainly in this season, this has been a flat spot." Leonard Fournette's Heisman Trophy aspirations have taken a hit with a total of 122 rushing yards on 38 carries over the two losses, while quarterback Brandon Harris has thrown his first two interceptions of the season.

ABOUT OLE MISS (7-3, 4-2): Hugh Freeze's squad is on pace to lead the SEC in scoring for the first time since 2003 behind a quarterback in Chad Kelly that could set numerous single-season records, but stopping opponents has been the primary issue in all three losses. "I wish I knew," Freeze told reporters this week when asked the cause of the defensive issues. "We obviously feel good about a plan when we put it in place. You hope your kids can execute it." Kelly accounted for 478 total yards and six touchdowns against the Razorbacks, but Ole Miss allowed 605 yards and held the ball for just over 30 percent of the time.

EXTRA POINTS

1. LSU has won 11 of the last 14 meetings.

2. Kelly needs 377 passing yards to eclipse Eli Manning's school record (3,600) set in 2003.

3. Fournette had 113 rushing yards and 41 receiving in last season's 10-7 win over the Rebels.

PREDICTION: Ole Miss 27, LSU 23