LSU Tigers vs. Ole Miss Rebels Complete Game Preview
Ole Miss will be a road favorite against LSU on Saturday. Three years ago, nobody would have ever expected the Tigers to be a home underdog when facing the Rebels.
LSU destroyed Ole Miss 52-3 on the way to a SEC championship in 2011. The Rebels finished a disastrous 0-8 in conference play, which led to head coach Houston Nutt's exit after the season's end.
Ole Miss has experienced an enormous change for the better with head coach Hugh Freeze since then. The unbeaten Rebels are the No. 3 team in the country heading into Saturday's contest in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They are now the team looking to make a run to a national championship, not 6-2 LSU.
Freeze's best coaching performances prior to 2014 has been against the Tigers. In his first trip to Baton Rouge two years ago, his Rebels were narrowly defeated 41-35 in Tiger Stadium. He was able to break through last season in a surprising upset over the Tigers.
Now Miles has the opportunity to spoil Freeze's party. ESPN's College GameDay will be in Baton Rouge on Saturday for what should be an intense affair.
Here is a preview of this week's matchup.
What You Need to Know
Time: 6:15 p.m. CT
Place: Tiger Stadium; Baton Rouge, Louisiana
TV: ESPN
Spread: Ole Miss by 3; via Oddsshark.com
LSU Keys to the Game
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Win Turnover Battle
Ole Miss has forced three more turnovers than any other team in the SEC. Of the Rebels' 20 takeaways, 15 have been interceptions.
The "Landshark" defense has turnover machines all over the field. Defensive backs Cody Prewitt, Senquez Golson and Tony Conner are dangerous playmakers LSU quarterback Anthony Jennings must locate.
Jennings is a limited quarterback that completes only half of his passes, but the sophomore has yet to throw an interception against conference opposition. He will need to do his best to continue that trend against the Rebels, who have feasted on turnovers in their last three SEC games against Tennessee, Texas A&M and Alabama with a 9-to-1 turnover ratio.
Prevent the Big Play
Ole Miss has speed all over the field on offense. Laquon Treadwell, Cody Core, Evan Engram and Jaylen Walton are few of the playmakers quarterback Bo Wallace has at his disposal. Wallace has led this talented group to the third-best passing offense in the SEC.
LSU's defense played its most dominant football against Kentucky, holding the Wildcats to only three points. The Tigers will need to continue that trend against Ole Miss. The key will be preventing the big plays the Rebels have been accustomed to making all season.
Ole Miss Keys to the Game
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Good Bo
Ole Miss has had the better version of quarterback Bo Wallace in SEC play. Wallace, like Jennings, has yet to throw an interception in four SEC games played. He threw a combined six interceptions in his other three games combined.
Wallace has performed admirably in his two games against LSU. Last season, he was 30 of 39 for 346 yards against the Tigers. In his last visit to Tiger Stadium in 2012, Wallace threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns. But Wallace also tossed two interceptions in that game.
If Wallace performs like he did last season against the Tigers, the Rebels will win big.
Stop the Run
LSU is going to pound the football. Ole Miss is going to load the box to stop it. The victor of this battle will likely be the winner of the game.
The Rebels have the SEC's second-best rushing defense. The Tigers offensive line has played its best in the last two games against Kentucky and Florida.
If Ole Miss can stifle LSU's stable of running backs and force Jennings to beat them through the air, Freeze should like his chances to be victorious.
LSU Players to Watch
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Leonard Fournette
LSU running back Fournette was not at his best against Kentucky, rushing for only 40 yards on 15 carries. While he struggled, Terrence Magee and Darrel Williams combined for 188 yards on 19 carries.
The Rebels have reliable tacklers on all three levels of their defense. Fournette has left plenty to be desired when it comes to making players miss to gain extra yardage.
Fournette must perform like he did in Gainesville, Florida, weeks ago, when he plowed his way to 140 yards and two touchdowns.
Tre'Davious White
LSU cornerback Tre'Davious White will have his hands full on Saturday.
White will square off against the talented receiving corps of Ole Miss, led by 6'2'' deep threat Laquon Treadwell. The sophomore corner and the rest of the secondary must be prepared to face everything that is thrown their way.
White also serves as LSU's punt returner. He broke through with his first touchdown against Kentucky last Saturday. The Rebels have allowed less than four yards per return this season, yet White has speed and elusiveness to break one if given the opportunity.
"The Death Valley voo doo is alive! Tre'Davious White takes the punt 67-yards for a Tiger TOUCHDOWN. #UKvsLSU http://t.co/fhRxB5uXXh
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 19, 2014"
LSU has quite the history with punts returned for touchdowns against Ole Miss, as noted by Deadspin.com. White should get a few opportunities to keep that tradition alive.
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Ole Miss Players to Watch
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Marquis Haynes
Ole Miss defensive end Marquis Haynes was ranked as the 37th-best defensive end prospect in the 2013 class. Now Haynes, as a redshirt freshman, leads a talented Ole Miss defense in sacks with 6.5, which is 4.5 more than any other Rebel.
Haynes is not the only player who can get after the quarterback. Deterrian Shackelford and Robert Nkemdiche are menaces on 3rd-and-long. The LSU offensive line must play fast against a vaunted pass rush that has helped lead to Rebels turnovers.
Jaylen Walton
Walton leads the Rebels in rushing with 347 yards and four touchdowns. He has also accumulated 119 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
Walton rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns against LSU last season, which is surprisingly the only time he has cracked the century mark in a single game on the ground or through the air in his career.
"Give it to 6 & that's what you'll get. @Jaylen_Walton excellent game. https://t.co/4JYQLYyYnI #SEC
— TreadwellStillOpen (@OleMiss_18) October 20, 2013"
Walton will likely get more carries this week to test the middle of LSU's run defense, which showed vast improvement last week against Kentucky. The Tigers must slow down Walton and Wallace on the ground if they want to win the game.
What They Are Saying
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LSU head coach Les Miles said at his weekly press conference that he has been impressed with the improved offensive line play, per Ross Dellenger of The Advocate:
"Miles on O-line: "I think they're absolutely improving. They're one of the best fivesoms in our league if not CFB." #Fivesomes #LSU
— Ross Dellenger (@DellengerAdv) October 20, 2014"
Miles understands the challenge that lies ahead against Ole Miss, per James Moran of Tiger Rag:
"Les on Ole Miss: Maybe as talented a group as we'll face #LSU #OleMiss
— James Moran (@SmartestMoran) October 20, 2014"
Freeze said at his weekly press conference said LSU has made some changes since its slow start to the season, per Hugh Kellenberger of The Clarion-Ledger:
"Freeze says LSU has gone back to being physical, controlling the clock and playing ground football.
— Hugh Kellenberger (@HKellenbergerCL) October 20, 2014"
"Defensively they've changed the last few weeks, are becoming much more multiple and using odd fronts.
— Hugh Kellenberger (@HKellenbergerCL) October 20, 2014"
Freeze has been impressed with LSU's freshman class, per Davis Potter of The Oxford Eagle:
"Freeze on LSU's freshmen: "Really quality players that are coming in their own." Recruited the likes of Malachi Dupre, Davon Godchaux.
— Davis Potter (@DPotterOE) October 20, 2014"
Prediction
6 of 6Ole Miss is a well-deserved favorite over the Tigers. The Rebels have played the most dominant football in the SEC over the last two weeks and have remained relatively healthy. But maintaining an elite level of play over the course of a season is tough, especially considering the depth of the SEC West.
LSU's defense has gradually gotten better, but it helped the Tigers faced Florida and Kentucky. Now they welcome an Ole Miss team featuring a wide arsenal of weapons playing at a high level.
Wallace is superb on the read-option, but he is not as dangerous as Mississippi State's Dak Prescott and Auburn's Nick Marshall. The Tigers are more experienced defending it as well. But even if LSU can slow down Ole Miss on the ground, the secondary must still shut down the Rebels' gifted receiving corps.
Miles said he has seen improvement with Jennings' accuracy despite his paltry 50 percent completion percentage, per The Daily Reveille. The sophomore will need to continue his steady play against the ferocious Landshark defense. There will be a few times where Miles will need him to make a special play to keep drives alive.
Special teams will also play a critical factor in this game. Ole Miss kickers Andrew Fletcher and Gary Wunderlich are a combined 6 of 10 on field goals, while LSU's Colby Delahoussaye is a perfect 7 of 7. Punters Will Gleeson and Jamie Keehn have Ole Miss and LSU respectively place in the top five in punting, averaging over 45 yards per boot.
LSU will be playing in front of an energetic home crowd on Saturday night. Unfortunately for the Tigers, that will not be enough. The Rebels are the more talented and experienced team led by a coach with a good history against Miles. They will remain unbeaten in a closely contested game.
Score: Ole Miss 28 - LSU 20
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