Vanderbilt @ Ole Miss preview
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 6, 2014 ) Mississippi 41, Vanderbilt 3
Ole Miss arrived on the national scene last season when it led the nation in scoring defense, and now the fifth-ranked Rebels have an offense to match. The Rebels look to build off last week’s huge win at Alabama and remain unbeaten when they host Vanderbilt for an SEC matchup on Saturday.
The Rebels lead the nation in scoring (64 points per game) and rank among the top 10 in total offense (567.3) and passing (352.3), and they have not trailed yet this season. After averaging 74.5 points in their first two games, they proved the explosiveness was no fluke in a 43-37 road win over the Crimson Tide a week ago to vault into the top five. The Commodores are facing their second top-10 opponent in three weeks after opening SEC play with a 31-14 home loss to Georgia on Sept. 12. Vanderbilt has not defeated a ranked opponent in its last six tries dating to a 31-27 victory over Georgia on Oct. 19, 2013. The Rebels have won the past two meetings – including a 41-3 rout last year in Nashville – after losing five of the previous six.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Ole Miss -24.5.
ABOUT VANDERBILT (1-2, 0-1 SEC): The Commodores have shown tremendous statistical improvement from a year ago, though those numbers are skewed by facing two FCS opponents in their first three games. Vanderbilt found success through the air in a 47-7 rout of FCS member Austin Peay last week, as quarterback Johnny McCrary rolled up 368 passing yards and Trent Sherfield caught 16 passes for a school-record 240 yards. The defense also has been much improved, holding opponents to 17.3 points and 270.7 total yards per game, but will face its biggest test yet against the Rebels’ potent attack.
ABOUT OLE MISS (3-0, 1-0): The Rebels have scored at least 43 points in three straight games for the first time in program history with quarterback Chad Kelly leading the powerful attack. The former Clemson and East Mississippi CC quarterback leads the SEC in numerous categories, including pass efficiency (205.7) and passing TDs (9), and has rolled up 898 passing yards with only one interception. The defense continues to force turnovers at an impressive clip, having produced a nation-best 10 takeaways after leading the SEC with 34 a year ago.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Vanderbilt has not forced a turnover in its first three games and is minus-7 in turnover margin – last in the SEC and 124th in the nation.
2. Ole Miss has had 14 players score touchdowns – 12 on offense and two on defense.
3. The Rebels have produced points on all 15 of their red-zone trips this season – 12 touchdowns – while the Commodores have scored only nine times in 16 trips inside the 20.
PREDICTION: Ole Miss 47, Vanderbilt 20