Taking a position-by-position look at LSU at Ole Miss, here’s who has the edge in Saturday’s showdown between the Tigers and Rebels:
QUARTERBACK — Ole Miss: Chad Kelly can be a little loose with the football at times, but the reward covers the risk more often than not. The junior leads the conference by a wide margin in passing yards and ranks second in passing efficiency in his first season as a starter at the FBS level.
LSU’s Brandon Harris has struggled with accuracy this season, but has shown a strong arm, sound decision-making and good athleticism. Not surprisingly, the sophomore is at his best when the running game is clicking.
RUNNING BACKS — LSU: His Heisman campaign has come crashing down, but Leonard Fournette remains capable of topping 200 yards on any given Saturday. The Tigers are struggling to find their way on the ground in the wake of injuries to two of their top three tight ends and their starting fullback, but when it comes to pure tailback talent, few schools in the country can match LSU.
Jaylen Walton, a 175-pound senior, remains Ole Miss’ go-to ball carrier and is closing in on a career high in rushing yards.
WIDE RECEIVERS, TIGHT END — Ole Miss: The Rebels not only have one of the best individual receivers in the country, they also have one of the deepest and most talented groups in the conference. They don’t get quite the recognition of Texas A&M’s collection of five-star recruits, but the production is there. Six Rebels have caught at least 25 passes this season, while Laquon Treadwell leads the conference in receptions (68) and receiving yards (1,002).
LSU is led by big-play threats Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural. Though not relied on extensively, both are capable weapons at the Tigers’ disposal.
OFFENSIVE LINE — Push: Early in the year, LSU would’ve gotten the edge here by a landslide. In recent weeks, however, circumstances have changed. The return of Laremy Tunsil has stabilized Ole Miss’ once-shaky unit, while LSU seems to have regressed. The Tigers are still leading the way for conference’s leading rushing attack, but the five sacks they gave up against Arkansas last week are troublesome.
DEFENSIVE LINE — Ole Miss: Robert Nkemdiche has the star power, but the Rebels’ junior isn’t alone upfront. Sophomore Marquis Haynes has built on last year’s stellar freshman season with 12.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks this year, making him the team leader in both categories.
LSU has a strong group, led by junior end Lewis Neal and a solid pair of tackles, but there’s not much depth behind the first four.
LINEBACKERS — Push: It’s probably fair to say that both teams have gotten solid if not spectacular play from their linebackers this year. LSU’s Kendell Beckwith isn’t flashy, but he is big, strong and reliable. Ole Miss’ Denzel Nkemdiche is undersized, but he’s also never far from the ball.
SECONDARY — LSU: Ole Miss is having very real issues defending the pass in recent weeks. The Rebels have surrendered at least 300 yards through the air in three of their last four contests, and gave up a season-high 442 to Arkansas in their last game. For the year, Ole Miss ranks 13th in the SEC in passing yards allowed and last in passing touchdowns allowed.
LSU’s talented secondary hasn’t quite lived up to preseason expectations, ranking eighth in the conference in yards allowed through the air this year. But opponents aren’t beating the Tigers with the passing game; in back-to-back weeks, Alabama and Arkansas opted for run-first strategies against the Tigers, rushing 95 times for 549 yards compared to 40 passes for 325 yards.
Brent Holloway is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Georgia, LSU and Mississippi State.
