No. 16 Ole Miss looked like it turned the corner last week against Georgia. The Rebels get Memphis on Saturday night at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, then a week off before road games at Arkansas and LSU.

There are 128 teams in the FBS. Entering the season, Ole Miss had the second-highest strength of schedule. Memphis was 73rd, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. Memphis handed the Rebels one of their three losses last season but are a 14-point underdog with no Paxton Lynch making this trip.

WHEN OLE MISS HAS THE BALL

Chad Kelly vs. Memphis pass defense: Memphis has been good against the pass, giving up an average of 179.7 yards per game – against three teams with a combined 3-8 record. It is Memphis’ first challenge, and it comes against the SEC’s No. 2-ranked passing team but arguably the best. Ole Miss is throwing for 326.5 yards per game and is in the top two in the SEC in plays of 15 and 25 or more yards.

Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Chad Kelly played turnover-free against Georgia and is completing 65.4 percent of his passes for 1,235 yards, 12 touchdowns and 3 picks. His QBR is 171.0 to lead the SEC and rank fifth in the country.

EDGE: Ole Miss

Ole Miss running backs vs. Memphis run defense: Memphis ranks second in the American Athletic Conference in rush defense. Ole Miss ranks next to last in the SEC in rushing offense. The Rebels looked pretty good against Georgia with 180 yards on 31 attempts. Chad Kelly had 53 of the yards, but freshman D’Vaughn Pennamon averaged 6.2 yards on six carries. Pennamon could be key to the Rebels getting some needed balance. Until then…

EDGE: Memphis

Ole Miss receivers vs. Memphis secondary: The Rebels have a stable of receivers who are making one-on-one coverage impossible. Memphis has seven interceptions but not against a group of catchers like this one. From physical freshman A.J. Brown to go-and-grab-it Damore’ea Stringfellow, it’s an elite receiving unit.

EDGE: Ole Miss

WHEN MEMPHIS HAS THE BALL

Riley Ferguson vs. Ole Miss pass defense: Ferguson is completing 67 percent of his passes and has thrown for 843 yards and 11 touchdowns. Ole Miss is third in the SEC in pass defense, allowing less than 204 yards per game.

Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Memphis is second in the AAC in passing, but the Rebels get a lot of pressure up front and got to Jacob Eason last week with four-man rushes. They’ll come after Ferguson.

EDGE: Ole Miss

Memphis running backs vs. Ole Miss run defense: Ole Miss has not been very good against the run, but a lot of the damage has been done by quarterbacks Deondre Francois and Jalen Hurts. The Rebels held Dalvin Cook under 100 yards, and Nick Chubb left the game last week in the first half. The Rebels are allowing 239 yards per game, but Memphis is only eighth in the AAC with 185 yards per game against less-than-top-notch opponents.

EDGE: Ole Miss

Memphis receivers vs. Ole Miss secondary: Only Anthony Miller has double-digit catches (17). Ole Miss didn’t allow a 100-yard game against Alabama or Georgia and has given up only two passing touchdowns all season, tied for the fewest in the SEC. The Rebels have only one pick (Derrick Jones’ pick-six last week) but are third in the SEC by allowing only 203.8 yards per game.

EDGE: Ole Miss