LSU-MISSISSIPPI
WHEN: 6:15 P.M. SATURDAY. WHERE: VAUGHT-HEMINGWAY STADIUM; OXFORD, MISS. TV: ESPN. | RADIO: NONE.
Tigers seek to sustain momentum after big comeback victory.
Records: No. 24 LSU 5-2, 2-1 SEC; Ole Miss 3-3, 1-2. Series history: LSU leads 60-41-4. Key players: LSU — QB Danny Etling, RB Derrius Guice, LB Devin White; Mississippi — QB Shea Patterson, RB Jordan Wilkins, WR A.J. Brown.
Who has the edge
Offense — Mississippi. The Rebels are an SECbest ninth in passing (357.2) and 29th in total offense (462.5). They exploded for 57 points last week, the second-most they’ve ever scored in SEC play. The Rebels also had a 300-yard passer, 100yard rusher and 100-yard receiver in a game for the first time in two years. Patterson is completing 65.8 percent of his passes (156-of-237) for 2,143 yards, 17 TDs and six INTs.
Defense — LSU. The Tigers are 22nd in total defense (315.3), while Ole Miss is way down the list at 110th (449.7). LSU opponents average 4.2 yards per rush and 10.8 yards per completion while converting only 36 percent of third downs (35-of-97), but the Tigers have only six takeaways in seven games. The Tigers are 11th in sacks with 23, led by NT Greg Gilmore (4.5). Special teams — LSU. The Tigers upended Auburn on the strength of their special-teams play. D.J. Clark returned one 75 yards for a score in the fourth, and then K Connor Culp hit two FGs (42, 36 yards) to lift LSU to an upset win. Ole Miss K Gary Wunderlich, who wasn’t active last week, snapping his streak of 16 games with a made FG, is 6-of-9 on the season.
Notable: Ole Miss jumped out 24-0 en route to an historic 38-17 upset of LSU for its fourth Magnolia Bowl trophy two years ago, surpassing singleseason school records for points, passing yards and TDs. But the Tigers won 38-21 last year in Baton Rouge, La., behind RBs Leonard Fournette (16284, three TDs rushing) and Guice (16-57, one TD).
About LSU: The Tigers posted the biggest comeback win over an SEC opponent at home in school history last week, rallying from a 20-0 deficit to stun Auburn 27-23. It was their second straight win over a top 25 team as an unranked opponent after edging Florida 17-16. The win vaulted LSU back into the AP top 25, making them favorites this week. About Mississippi: The Rebels were rejuvenated in their first home game in more than a month, rolling over Vanderbilt 57-35. Patterson threw for 351 yards and four TDs and ran for another score in the win, and Wilkins rushed for 113 yards and one TD and Brown bagged eight balls for 174 yards and two TDs, helping Ole Miss snap a three-game losing streak.