The Ole Miss Rebels will play at home for the first time this season when they host the UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns this afternoon at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

The Rebels are heavy favorites in this game, and they could benefit from a big play early in the first half to ignite a crowd that has waited since last November to see their Rebels play in-person. Only one FBS team has allowed more pass plays of 50-or-more yards than the three ULL has given up through two weeks (Ole Miss fans will be happy to know the only team to allow more long touchdowns than the Ragin’ Cajuns is Mississippi State, which has given up four touchdown passes of 50 yards or more).

Ole Miss will have its opportunities to take shots down the field today, and it should take one of those shots on its first drive of the game. Whether it be a deep play-action pass or a simple go route from Bo Wallace to one of the Rebels’ many big, athletic wideouts, taking a shot at a big play is a low-risk, high-reward proposition for Ole Miss.

If the Rebels connect on the play, picking up a huge gain and perhaps even six points, it would set-off a packed Vaught-Hemingway Stadium looking for any excuse to breaking into a Hotty Toddy chant. And even if the Rebels can’t capitalize on the big play, it is still a heavy favorite against ULL. Just by taking a shot down the field, Ole Miss would put the Ragin’ Cajuns on notice, proving it is not taking the matchup lightly.

The Ragin’ Cajuns’ best-case scenario would be for Ole Miss to play conservative football with a lack of focus from down-to-down. If the Rebels’ took a big shot down the field early, it would put that scenario to bed while making the most of its home field advantage.