Ole Miss Football: Preview, prediction, live stream vs. LSU in Week 8

LSU and Ole Miss football renew their rivalry this weekend in Oxford in the 2017 edition of the Magnolia Bowl. Here is our preview of the game.

Ole Miss is coming off of a much needed victory over Vanderbilt last week. The Rebels had perhaps their best team performance of the year in the win. The offense could not be stopped all game. Shea Patterson, AJ Brown and Jordan Wilkins were the catalysts for the offensive explosion in the game.

The defense was attacking and while they may have given up 35 points to the Commodores, still got 7 sacks, an interception and 2 forced fumbles in the contest. Needless to say Ole Miss seems to have found its groove at the right time of the season. Against LSU, the Rebels will have to prove that they can have a ‘Vanderbilt type game’ performance against a more talented team.

LSU was left all but dead after their loss to Troy but the Tigers have responded since, with back to back wins. LSU went down to the Swamp and got a win over the Florida Gators two weeks ago. Then the Tigers followed that up with a come from behind upset win over Auburn in Baton Rouge. LSU will need their defense to step up again in the game against Ole Miss.

The Tigers allowed Auburn to jump to a 20-point lead but responded by only allowing three more points in the rest of the game. The Tigers defense will have to bring that type of effort if they hope to slow the streaking Rebel offense.

Here is all of the information you need to watch this rivalry game:

Date: Saturday, Oct. 21
Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
Location: Oxford, Miss.
Venue: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN 

Keys to Victory

Ole Miss has to carry over and build on its defensive effort from last week in order to win this game. The offense will take care of itself; LSU has been sporadic at best on defense this season.

With the multiple weapons that Ole Miss has, as well as the running game finding its legs (no pun intended) the Rebels will be able to move the ball on and score in this game. Marquis Haynes and Breeland Speaks have to come up big in this game and get LSU quarterback Danny Etling rattled early. Along with that, Ole Miss has to contain Derrius Guice and not let him be an impact in the way that Kerryon Johnson and Ralph Webb did against the Rebels in the last two games.

Should Ole Miss do well on defense again, they’ll be able to upset the Tigers.

LSU, much like Ole Miss, has to have their best defensive game of the season to win. Shea Patterson and AJ Brown are next to impossible to stop but the Bayou Bengals will have to do their best. The LSU defense has struggled against dynamic offenses this season. Mississippi State had their way with the Tigers and Auburn was on fire early on in that game last week.

Ole Miss has the capability to damage this defense at will. Should LSU adapt and get off the field on third down, then they just might be able to slow down the Rebels. Derrius Guice will be counted on to provide the offense in this game. Ole Miss is bad against the run and LSU has to capitalize on that with big plays on the ground.

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Prediction

LSU and Ole Miss always provide a great game (not 2011) in which records don’t matter. These are two teams that have a long history of not liking each other. This year is no different, and there is added intrigue in that this is the first game for Ed Orgeron to return to Oxford, as a head coach, since he was the head coach of the Rebels from 2005-2007.

Both teams are hot right now but I give the advantage to Ole Miss since the game is at home and I think the Rebel offense won’t be slowed. Ole Miss may give up a lot on the ground to LSU, but I don’t see the Tigers young defense getting enough stops.

Final Score: Ole Miss 35, LSU 24