.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
GAME PREVIEW: Ole Miss vs. LSU
11/16/2009 | Football
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss football team looks for its third straight win on Saturday when the Rebels host the No. 8 LSU Tigers for the last home game of the season at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium at 2:30 p.m. CT. CBS will televise the encounter.
The bowl-eligible Rebels (7-3, 3-3 SEC), following a 42-17 victory over Tennessee, are feeding off of the offensive power of Dexter McCluster, who posted school records of 282 rushing yards and 324 all-purpose yards against Tennessee. Sophomore running back Brandon Bolden notched a career-high two rushing TDs against the Volunteers.
"We have the combination of Dexter and Brandon, basically two good tailbacks that help one another," Ole Miss Head Coach Houston Nutt said. "You aren't afraid to throw them the ball, and Brandon is unselfish enough to go block for his teammate."
Defensively, senior safety Kendrick Lewis has notched his first two career double-digit tackle performances and added a field goal block in each of the last two games. Lewis leads the team in tackles (67) and forced fumbles (2) and is second in pass break-ups (8).
For LSU (8-2, 4-2), sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson is averaging 170.6 passing yards per game and has totaled 12 TDs and four interceptions. Among his targets are Brandon LaFell (43-560-9) and Terrance Toliver (42-547-3).
Defensively, LSU ranks third in the SEC in scoring defense (13.7 ppg) and fourth in total defense (311.8 ypg). Junior LB Kelvin Sheppard is the team leader in tackles with 87, including 8.0 TFLs.
"They are very talented and probably have one of the best defenses we will face," Nutt said. "Offensively, they are very athletic and have two of the tallest and quickest receivers we will face. Their running backs run hard. We have to be ready to go. We have to have a good plan."
With the win over Tennessee, Nutt earned his 50th career coaching victory in SEC play (50-46). Nutt is just the 14th conference coach all-time to reach that mark and only the third current coach, joining South Carolina's Steve Spurrier (105) and Georgia's Mark Richt (52).
Ole Miss hopes to retain the Magnolia Bowl title over the Tigers for the second year in a row, prevailing 31-13 in last year's face-off at LSU. The Magnolia Bowl was created last year by both the LSU and Ole Miss student governments to enhance the spirit of the schools' rivalry. The winning team's student body president will present the team with the Magnolia Bowl trophy at the conclusion of the game.
The Ole Miss Rebels and LSU Tigers will be facing off for the 98th time on Saturday, with games dating back to 1894. LSU is Ole Miss' second-most played opponent besides Mississippi State, whom the Rebels will play for the 106th time on November 28. LSU holds a 55-38-4 advantage in the series.
The Rebels ended a six-game skid in the series with last year's 31-13 victory at Tiger Stadium. LSU has still won four straight at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and enjoys and 8-4-1 all-time edge in Oxford.
