Here’s everything you need to know about Saturday’s showdown between No. 14/15 Ole Miss and UL Lafayette in Oxford.

When: Saturday
Where: Oxford, Mississippi
Game Time: 4 PM ET
TV: SEC Network
Current Line: Ole Miss (-28.5)

Game Buzz: Ole Miss will make its 2014 home debut Saturday against the Ragin’ Cajuns one week removed from a 41-3 rout of SEC rival Vanderbilt in Nashville. The Rebels are heavily favored over ULL, who beat Southern University by 39 in week 1 then lost to Louisiana Tech by 28 last week. Bo Wallace has remained turnover-free since halftime of the Boise State game, and the Ole Miss defense has allowed just 16 points in two games so far this season.

SATURDAY DOWN SOUTH PREVIEWS

OLE MISS REBELS

Players to watch:

  • QB Bo Wallace
  • WR Laquon Treadwell
  • WR Cody Core
  • DT Robert Nkemdiche
  • LB Deterrian Shackelford
  • LB Serderius Bryant
  • CB Senquez Golson
  • S Cody Prewitt

Keys for Ole Miss:

  • Spread the ball around. Bo Wallace looked comfortable commanding the offense against Vanderbilt, taking what the defense gave him rather than forcing the ball into bad places. The Rebels are deep with talented pass-catchers, and as Wallace involves more players in the offense, opposing defenses will have to use fewer defenders to slow down Ole Miss’ most dynamic playmaker in Laquon Treadwell. Cody Core and Evan Engram have established themselves as consistent receivers with big-play abilities, and Quincy Adeboyejo and Vince Sanders are more than capable in the passing game as well. Wallace cannot focus on just one player Saturday, and must use all the weapons in his arsenal to overwhelm the Ragin’ Cajuns defense.
  • Contain ULL quarterback Terrance Broadway. The Ragin’ Cajuns dual-threat quarterback has been solid as both a passer and a runner during his career, and if he begins making plays with his legs, it could open up more opportunities for ULL through the air. The Rebels’ defense is among the best in the nation, and forcing Broadway to play as a more traditional quarterback could spoil the Ragin’ Cajuns gameplan against Ole Miss. Look for the Ole Miss defensive line to set a tone in the trenches early in the game, and expect at least one linebacker to remain occupied with Broadway’s escapability on each and every play.

Rebels’ glaring weakness to watch: To say the Ole Miss offensive line is a glaring weakness would probably be an overstatement, but it has certainly left room for improvement two weeks into the season. The Rebels have allowed five sacks and 19 tackles for loss, worst among the SEC’s 14 teams in both categories, and have committed 19 penalties, a number of which have been false starts up front. The Rebels must improve up front against ULL, allowing Wallace time to find his playmakers in the passing game. Ole Miss improved in the run game last week, but can still improve more in that area as well. Look for the Ole Miss line to take a big step forward in this weekend’s contest.

Most interesting part of the game: The Rebels will play at home in Oxford for the first time in 2014 already three weeks into the new season. The atmosphere should be electric at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, and it will be interesting to see how the Ole Miss players react to the home crowd. Normally the atmosphere of a home opener will lift the home team, but sometimes players will get too excited and make sloppy mistakes early in the game. The Rebels are a heavy favorite in this game and simply need to execute their gameplan to come away with a victory. Ideally, the home crowd makes that task easier, not harder.

Team Buzz: Ole Miss has something to play for against ULL, now knowing it’ll almost certainly host College Gameday for the first time on October 4 when Alabama comes to town if both teams are still unbeaten. The Rebels will play ULL followed by a showdown with Memphis before the Alabama game, and it cannot afford to look past either team in pursuit of an epic showdown with the Crimson Tide. Expect Ole Miss to take care of business early in this game to ensure there will be no upset to spoil the chances Gameday finally comes to the Grove.

ULL RAGIN’ CAJUNS

Players to watch:

  • QB Terrance Broadway
  • RB Alonzo Harris
  • RB Elijah McGuire
  • WR Jamal Robinson
  • LB Trae Johnson
  • LB Boris Anyama

Keys for ULL:

  • Take a few chances and try to capitalize on them. The Rebels have the toughest defense ULL will face all season, and a lot of teams with better offenses than the Ragin’ Cajuns will struggle to score on Ole Miss this season. All UL Lafayette can do is try and take care of the football, avoid turnovers and penalties, and take a few shots at a big play throughout the game. These can be trick plays, play-action bombs, reverses, anything the coaching staff can come up with. If even one of these plays comes through for ULL, it could be a game-changer. The same can be said on defense, considering Wallace’s propensity for throwing interceptions. The Ragin’ Cajuns should take a few chances on defense in hopes of forcing a turnover that swings momentum in their favor. ULL has very little to lose, and taking a few risks might be its best bet.
  • Let Broadway run loose. The Ragin’ Cajuns need Broadway to establish himself as a threat both through the air and on the ground, putting a talented Ole Miss defense in conflict on every snap. ULL needs to make Ole Miss contain Broadway rather than containing him itself through bland, conservative play-calling. The dual-threat quarterback is an exciting athlete, and even a few modest runs could force the Rebels to watch for it all night.

Ragin’ Cajuns’ glaring weakness to watch: The Ragin’ Cajuns are tied for 121st among 127 FBS teams with a -5 turnover margin (two interceptions and three fumbles lost). This weakness is two-fold, as ULL is both committing turnovers and failing to force them on defense. If the Ragin’ Cajuns commit turnovers in taking risks on offense, those could be considered excusable. However, ULL would then need to make up for those turnovers by forcing a few on defense, or it will be virtually impossible to hang with the Rebels. ULL must play aggressive in this game, but it cannot afford to be sloppy.

Most interesting part of the game: UL Lafayette has looked like two different teams in its first two games, winning by 39 in week 1 before losing by 28 last week. Neither of ULL’s previous opponents (Southern or Louisiana Tech) is anywhere near the caliber of Ole Miss, but it will be interesting to see which ULL team shows up for Saturday’s game. Many expect the bad-side of the Ragin’ Cajuns to be on display in a road contest against a ranked SEC foe, but if ULL can find the magic it used to win its season opener, anything is possible against the Rebels.

Team Buzz: The Ragin’ Cajuns have nothing to lose and everything to gain from this game, which is a unique circumstance from every other game they’ll play this season. ULL is not scared of Ole Miss, and it will go into this game believing it has every chance to shock the college football world. This will be a test for ULL, but the Ragin’ Cajuns will be prepared when they arrive in Oxford. The disparity in talent may be obvious, but there will be no disparity in effort when ULL takes the field inside Vaught-Hemingway this weekend.