#1 LSU Tigers (10-0, 6-0 SEC) vs Mississippi Rebels (2-8, 0-6 SEC)
This is the Tigers’ last tune-up game before a big end of season showdown with #6 Arkansas. Perhaps that takes some of the mystique away from this game preview, but with all due respect to Ole Miss, that’s really the only way you can look at this game.
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford MS
Saturday, Nov. 19, 7:00 pm EST
NCAA Odds from Sportsbook.com:
MoneyLine: OFF
Spread: LSU -30.5, Ole Miss +30.5
Over/Under: 46
Louisiana State is the very best the SEC has to offer, and Ole Miss is the very worst. The Tigers should come into this northern Mississippi town with the lively pre-game atmosphere (“The Grove”) and make its fans wish that the entire game was the pre-game cocktail party. LSU’s defense is simply swarming and the offense does enough to wrest victories in style – and that’s against much better competition than the Rebels. It likely won’t be a celebratory atmosphere in Oxford come kickoff time.
The home side will have its hands full containing RBs Spencer Ware and Michael Ford in the backfield. If that weren’t enough, LSU also rotates its QBs – starter Jarrett Lee and change-of-pace guy Jordan Jefferson both offer a different and vexing look for an opposing defense. What those four don’t start on offense, WR Reuben Randle can finish up, with his big-play ability. While LSU doesn’t feature the offense of an Oklahoma or Oklahoma State, they present enough different looks to confound an opponent.
It won’t be any easier for Ole Miss, as it is missing starters on defense in CB Marcus Temple and DE Wayne Dorsey. This is on a unit that’s already ranked just 87th in the country in points against; the worst news is that the “D” is the bright spot for Ole Miss football this season. Yikes. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Rebels are so bad, in fact, they are coming off a loss to WAC opponent Louisiana Tech. An SEC outfit losing to a four-loss WAC team is akin to when Michigan got upset by FCS team Appalachian State a few years back. Simply put, the sputtering Rebs’ offense won’t be able to generate anything against the talented and hungry LSU defenders.
How hungry, do you ask? LSU has the 2nd-ranked defense in the FBS and it is a unit chock-full of future NFL stars. Linebacker Ryan Baker, and an unmatched secondary featuring stars like Brandon Taylor, Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne stand out on a National Title-worthy defense. Unfortunately, Ole Miss has scuffled on offense against opposing defenses that are a tenth as good as LSU. The Tigers could probably play their backups at every defensive position and still handle Ole Miss without issue.
As the news is out that head coach Houston Nutt will not be retained at Ole Miss, the Rebels are essentially playing out the string in 2011. They do have a big game next week, with the Egg Bowl against in-state rival Mississippi State, but enough people both in and out of the program at Ole Miss probably just want a fresh slate in ’12. Unless the students and fans spike the visiting Tigers’ pre-game punch in The Grove, there is virtually no chance for Ole Miss to win this game on Saturday night. If the Rebels can keep the game even slightly close, they should consider that a sizable personal victory as well as some momentum to carry forward to the season finale versus MSU.
Score Prediction: LSU 35, Ole Miss 7
Over/Under Prediction: 42
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One reply on “#1 LSU Tigers vs. Ole Miss Rebels Game Preview”
With one week to go in the regular season, it appears we will have three teams not only from the same conference, but the same division occupying the top three BCS slots. If Arkansas beats LSU next week, then we’re really going to have some chaos. Alabama vs. Va. Tech NC game?