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The University of Mississippi Athletics
GAMEDAY PREVIEW: Ole Miss vs. Louisiana
11/6/2010 | Football
Nov. 6, 2010
Gameday Central | Scouting Report
Homecoming Festivities | Alumni Hall of Fame
TV: ESPNU | Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network (Sirius 219, XM 200)
WEB: Video: ESPN3.com | Audio: RebelVision
OXFORD, Miss. - After a difficult stretch against three nationally ranked division foes, Ole Miss will host a non-conference game against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for today's homecoming matchup.
All Rebel fans are asked to wear red for the game, which gets underway at 6 p.m. at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. It will be televised by ESPNU and can also be seen on ESPN3.com. Fans can hear the game on the Ole Miss Radio Network, Sirius 219, XM 200 or OleMissSports.com via RebelVision.
The South parking lot off Old Taylor Road opens at noon. The team will walk through The Grove at 3:40 p.m.
Today's game is the 83rd homecoming game at Ole Miss since 1924. The Rebels are 66-14-2 all-time in homecoming games and have won 12 of their last 13. Last year's game was a 48-13 rout of UAB.
"We are excited about homecoming week," head coach Houston Nutt said. "We need our crowd back in there again. I cannot tell you how important great atmosphere is. We couldn't have planned it any better to score first this past weekend. We have to build on that and get better."
The Rebels have suffered consecutive losses to Alabama, Arkansas and Auburn - all nationally ranked SEC West rivals - to drop to 3-5 on the year (1-4 in conference). Auburn came into Oxford as the No. 1 team in the BCS rankings and handed the Rebels a 51-31 defeat.
Ole Miss was without the services of starting safety Damien Jackson against the Tigers, in addition to several other players who missed part or all of the game due to injury. Senior team captain Kentrell Lockett has been out for the past four games after a season-ending knee injury.
"We never expected to be in this position in November," Nutt said. "We had different plans. One thing you can't control is injuries. Now we have to look at young guys and tell them its time to play. I'm not trying to make excuses, but the message to our players and coaches now is to realize that we have a chance."
Ole Miss will look to its offense - among the best in the league - to get back on the winning track. The Rebels average 31.4 points and 409.9 total yards of offense per game, while leading the SEC in fewest sacks allowed with seven. They are in the top 20 in the nation with 212 rushing yards per game.
Jeremiah Masoli is one of only four quarterbacks in the country that average at least 50 rushing yards and 180 passing yards per game. Running back Brandon Bolden ranks ninth in the SEC with 73.9 rushing yards per game and leads the team with seven touchdowns. True freshman running back Jeff Scott broke loose for 134 yards against Auburn, including an 83-yard touchdown run.
Louisiana (2-6, 2-3 Sun Belt) has had some success on offense as well, averaging 349.6 yards per outing. But the Ragin' Cajun defense is giving up 416.2 yards and 39.6 points per contest to opponents.
Chris Masson leads Louisiana with 1512 passing yards, completing 127-of-237 attempts with nine touchdowns and five picks. The top playmaker is receiver Ladarius Green, who has 25 catches for 437 yards and four touchdowns.
Ole Miss leads the all-time series 2-0 in a pair of games during the mid-1980s when the Ragin' Cajuns were known as Southwestern Louisiana.
