GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: When one more touchdown would have made a winning difference, Ole Miss once against struggled to convert in the red zone as it scored just one TD in seven red-zone opportunities against Vanderbilt.
It’s unlikely the Rebels will have seven red-zone opportunities against the Mississippi State defense. They didn’t last year but were able to win the game with big plays for all four of their touchdowns. Jordan Wilkins had touchdown runs of 22 and 46 yards, and Ta’amu threw touchdown passes of 77 yards to Brown and 63 yards to Metcalf.
A healthy Fitzgerald could be a big boost for the Bulldogs. Fitzgerald is the SEC’s fifth-leading rusher at 90.1 yards a game, and he’ll be matched against the Rebels’ porous run defense which allowed 196 yards at Vanderbilt.
It was the seventh time this season an opponent has surpassed 200 rushing yards against Ole Miss. The Rebels are allowing 213.8 rushing yards a game, last in the SEC and No. 113 nationally.
DRAFT SLANT
–WR DaMarkus Lodge continues to grab the attention of scouts at the end of this season. He had nine catches for 117 yards and a touchdown against Vanderbilt, his second-straight 100-yard game. Lodge also had a touchdown taken off the board when it was ruled he stepped out of bounds before breaking the plane. At least one replay left that in doubt.
ROSTER REPORT
–WR A.J. Brown has a chance to reach 3,000 career receiving yards against his hometown school. He needs 77 yards to get there. Brown had six catches for 167 yards against the Bulldogs last year.
–RB Eric Swinney was elevated to No. 2 behind Isaiah Woullard in the absence of Phillips.
–DT Benito Jones had seven tackles and two sacks against the Commodores, giving him nine tackles for loss and three sacks on the season. Defensive coordinator Wesley McGriff has called for more pass rush from his ends, but Jones continues to provide push in the middle.
–WR Miles Battle did not play against Vanderbilt as Ole Miss coaches try to preserve a redshirt year for their freshman split end. Little-used reserves Alex Weber and Floyd Allen saw a good bit of action in Nashville. Battle has appeared in four games and has two catches for 18 yards.
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