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The University of Mississippi Athletics
GAMEDAY PREVIEW: No. 15 Ole Miss at Vanderbilt
9/6/2014 | Football
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TV Network: ESPN | Ole Miss Radio Network: (Sirius 134, XM 201)
Tuesday Blog: Rebels Continue Prep for Vanderbilt
Wednesday Blog: Freeze, Mason Preview SEC Opener
Saturday Blog: Three and Out: Keys to Ole Miss-Vanderbilt
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Ole Miss returns to Tennessee's capital city, where it has enjoyed much recent success, for a matchup with Vanderbilt in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams from LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans.
A year later, after a 35-13 win over Boise State in the season opener at the Georgia Dome, the Rebels (1-0) are ranked No. 15 in the Associated Press poll, their highest ranking since 2009.
"We're thrilled to be 1-0 and to come out with a victory against the team that has had the No. 1 winning percentage in America the last 10 years," head coach Hugh Freeze said. "Having not played extremely well, on one side of the ball especially, and come away with the win, I was really pleased. Obviously a lot of work to get done this week and make sure we're better prepared for Vanderbilt."
Coming off back-to-back nine-win season and bowl appearances, Vanderbilt (0-1) opened the Derek Mason era with a 37-7 loss at home to Temple. The Commodores could not overcome seven turnovers that directly led to 27 Temple points.
"I don't expect us to go in there and get seven turnovers from them," Freeze said. "I'm sure they are making corrections, and I expect it to be an SEC fight like all are. Our kids have to be prepared to go to Nashville and hopefully get a second road win of the year."
Behind the arm of senior quarterback Bo Wallace, Ole Miss scored 28 points in the fourth quarter to pull away from Boise State. Wallace completed 25-of-36 passes for 387 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions, throwing for 175 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in the fourth quarter.
"In big-time games like we're about to get into, especially SEC games, you throw three (interceptions) in the first half and you're probably down by three scores," Wallace said. "I've just got to get better at that. In the second half, I was just taking what they game me. We started scoring points once that started happening."
Defensively, Ole Miss forced four turnovers - all interceptions - and recorded three sacks and eight tackles for loss in the season opener against Boise State. That side of the ball will also be bolstered by the return of junior linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche and expected return of junior defensive tackle Issac Gross, who missed the season opener with a neck strain.
"Last year, after the knee injury and surgery after the Vanderbilt game, I don't know that he ever recovered," said Freeze of Nkemdiche, a two-time All-SEC performer. "He always had a little gimp in his leg, and I don't see that during fall camp. I see a kid who is hungry to play and hungry to prove himself again. He has gone through everything with us, and he's ready to play."
This marks the 89th meeting between the two teams, who have played every year since 1970. Ole Miss leads the series 48-38-2 and has won 14 of the last 21 meetings since 1992, including last year's 39-35 thriller in Nashville.
