The 7-0 Ole Miss Rebels look to keep their unbeaten start going when they play a dangerous (5-2) LSU Tigers squad in Baton Rouge on Saturday.
By Steve Wright
Follow @14powerscom
Here are the three keys to an Ole Miss victory over LSU:
Run the Ball
Ole Miss has blasted to a 7-0 start, but the whispers about a soft schedule (especially compared to other SEC teams) won’t go away. Interestingly, the Tennessee offense’s strength has allowed Ole Miss’s work to go under the radar because this team is doing a stunning job of moving the ball with balance. What keys this attack is the running game. The Rebels are third in the country in rushing yards per game, hitting at over 270 yards each time. Only Air Force and Army do it better. They also go for 5.76 yards per rush, making this a team great on third down (No. 3 in the country) and capable of sustaining drives when they aren’t scoring in a flash.
Stop Jayden Daniels
Everything that LSU does well is something through quarterback Jayden Daniels. His 1,500 yards with 10 touchdowns to one pick is impressive, as is his efficiency in completing passes at a 70% clip. What makes Daniels so dangerous, however, is his mobility as a dual threat. Daniels is also the Tigers’ No. 1 rusher on the year, and he has 32% of their rushing scores. When Daniels breaks contain, it is hard to know if he is looking to tuck and run or to pass the ball. Take Daniels’ running game away, and this becomes an easier game to win.
Win on Third Down
I mentioned above that Ole Miss is No. 3 in the country regarding converting on third down. The Rebels, however, are not the only team in this game with third-down conversions as a specialty. LSU converts third downs at a rate of 48%, often using the legs of Daniels to find creases or extend plays. The Ole Miss defense has been throttling opponents on third down this year, with only Kentucky (42%) able to break 40% on third down against them. In a game that will be close, the third down battle is pivotal.
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