Ole Miss vs. LSU: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More

This SEC showdown featuring No. 3 Ole Miss and No. 24 LSU has plenty of postseason implications. The Rebels are one of the last remaining undefeated teams and are deeply entrenched in a battle for a berth in the College Football Playoff. The Tigers may be out of the playoff picture, but winning out could produce a spot in a prestigious bowl game.

Week 9 will certainly be a tough win for LSU, but the Tigers are getting Ole Miss at the right time. After all, confidence is high after an impressive 41-3 drubbing of Kentucky in Week 8. Although, the Rebels are coming off a nice win of their own, defeating Tennessee 34-3 after a stellar defensive showing.

Neither of these teams is accustomed to giving up many points, so we should expect an all-out battle in the trenches as the Tigers and Rebels fight for field position. We'll soon find out if Ole Miss can remain among the nation's elite or if LSU can ride home-field advantage all the way to an enormous upset.

Defense Wins Championships

USA TODAY Sports

This may not be a championship game, but with so much on the line for each team, it may be played like one. Both of these teams feature some of the best defenses in the nation, and we should be expecting to see some aggressive play from each unit.

LSU enters the game ranked eighth in the nation, allowing 17.0 points per game. That number is impressive; however, it's been a roller-coaster ride to get there, as the Tigers defense has been a little inconsistent. Here's a look at points allowed per game this season:

Week	Opponent	Points Allowed
1	Wisconsin	24
2	Sam Houston	0
3	UL Monroe	0
4	Mississippi State	34
5	New Mexico State	7
6	Auburn	41
7	Florida	27
8	Kentucky	3

The Tigers have allowed 136 total points this season. Only 10 of those points were allowed in four games; however, the other 126 were allowed in the other four.

LSU hasn't been a sack machine this season, totaling 13 through eight games, but it has been phenomenal against the pass anyway, allowing an average of just 156.3 yards per game, ranking fourth in the nation. That could be a huge benefit against the inconsistent Bo Wallace.

Ole Miss has been great on the defensive side of the ball this season. The team is ranked first in the nation, allowing an average of just 10.6 points per game. In fact, the Rebels didn't allow more than 20 points in any of their previous seven contests.

This is a very balanced defense, ranking 20th against the pass and sixth against the run while accumulating 18 sacks on the year. LSU has displayed its ability to get points on the scoreboard this season, but it hasn't faced a defense quite like this just yet.

Offensive Strengths

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

LSU doesn't have much of a passing game to speak of. After struggling in that department earlier in the season, this team has created a very run-oriented scheme. Quarterback Anthony Jennings only attempted 14 passes—completing seven of them for 120 yards and a score—against Kentucky. Meanwhile, the team ran the ball a total of 51 times.

While the Tigers' rushing attack was very efficient, racking up 303 yards and three touchdowns, the team simply can't expect that same result against the Ole Miss defense. Yes, LSU should continue to stick with what works, but the team will need some more balance to compete with the Rebels.

We'll see what Jennings, the sophomore signal-caller, is truly made of against Ole Miss, as the offense won't have the privilege of running 51 times.

Wallace continues to be the focal point of the Ole Miss offense, but if this team is truly ready to take down its remaining SEC opponents, the quarterback will need more consistent performances. Here's a look at his 2014 game log:

Opponent	Yds	Comp %	TD	INT
Boise State	387	69.4	4	3
Vanderbilt	320	76.7	1	0
Louisiana-Lafayette	316	82.1	4	1
Memphis	248	59.5	2	2
Alabama	251	58.1	3	0
Texas A&M	178	68.4	1	0
Tennessee	199	46.4	2	0

That's quite a variation in efficiency from week to week.

Ole Miss' running game only averaged 3.8 yards per carry against Tennessee in Week 8. In an effort to see more consistent play from Wallace, this offense must get Jaylen Walton going on the ground. A balanced offensive attack will be the way to get past a stingy LSU pass defense.

When: Saturday, October 25

Time: 7:15 p.m. ET

Where: Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Channel: ESPN

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Betting Lines (Odds Shark):

• Over/Under: 44.5
• Spread: Ole Miss -4

Team Injury Reports

Player	Pos.	Date	Status	Injury
Anthony Alford	S	10/01/2014	Out	personal
Chief Brown	DB	08/03/2014	Out	Achilles
Matt Brown	TE	09/08/2014	Out	leg
Carlos Davis	CB	08/15/2014	Out	knee
Collins Moore	WR	10/22/2014	Out	knee
Tee Shepard	CB	08/15/2014	Out	toe

Player	Pos.	Date	Status	Injury
Jared Foster	QB	09/06/2014	Out	foot
Trey Lealaimatafao	DT	08/02/2014	Out	arm
Dwayne Thomas	CB	09/29/2014	Out	knee
Travonte Valentine	DT	09/10/2014	Out	eligibility

Injury reports per Sports Network, via USA Today.

Prediction

We should be expecting a highly competitive defensive struggle in this one. The offense that can create a balanced attack to keep the opposing defense on its heels will have a huge advantage in the battle for field position and, ultimately, the game's outcome.

Due to an LSU passing game that hasn't been effective this season, the Tigers may have some difficulty establishing that balance against one of the nation's most talented defenses. Although, if Wallace can't get into a groove, the Rebels may not be able to take full advantage and pull away.

This one will remain close for the bulk of the game, but the Rebels are the more well rounded of these two teams, and that will be good enough to squeeze out a close win.

Prediction: Ole Miss 23, LSU 17