Despite the fact Ole Miss has one win over Kentucky in Southeastern Conference play this season and that LSU only has one loss the entire season, the Rebels still pose a threat for the Tigers and their ultimate goal – a berth to the SEC Championship game Dec. 4.
Since the win over Alabama and topping the SEC West, coach Les Miles said the team is more careful now that there is something to lose.
“I can tell you the next games we play will be the most important,” Miles said. “I think that our football team has to understand how our opponent sees us. They are going to take their best opportunity to compete and win. We have to make sure we’re ready to play.”
The team has agreed the season has now been broken down into two one-game seasons. The mindset will shift players to not focus on what has been accomplished in the past to what needs to be done in future games.
“I think we said that with three games left,” said senior defensive lineman Kyle Williams. “Now we probably are going to be favored in those games. Our mental concentration has to go up and not get lackadaisical thinking we’re going to beat them and we’re going to walk to the championship game.”
Williams, along with the rest of the senior class, has never lost to Ole Miss. Although their record stands at 3-0, the combined points over the three-year span only puts LSU up by seven. The Tigers have only beaten Ole Miss 14-13 in 2002, 17-14 in 2003 and 27-24 last year in Tiger Stadium.
Two of the three years, Ole Miss was not ranked but still put up a tough effort against LSU, who was ranked No. 3 in 2003.
“Ole Miss has always been a tough and heated ballgame for us,” said senior offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth. “It’s one we’re going to have to be prepared for. We have to prepare for these guys just like we did Alabama last week. We have to devote ourselves every day of the week to this game, and that’s our job.”
Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron will decide between two quarterbacks to lead the Rebels.
Senior Michael Spurlock has seen the most action play calling in nine games. Spurlock has 122 completions on 230 attempts for 1498 yards.
With potential starting quarterback Robert Lane shifted to fullback, junior Ethan Flatt has been taking reps and has seen playing time in two games this season.
“[Spurlock] can throw the ball,” Miles said. “He’s a very talented, very mobile guy. Both are very capable guys. We’ll prepare for their best.”
LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell will make his 10th consecutive start Saturday in Oxford. In his first complete season as a starter, Russell has thrown 151 completions in 241 attempts for 1,988 yards.
“I feel like our quarterback is maturing,” Miles said. “He is a guy in key games you can rely on and count on to make good plays. He is coming to that maturity. I think you’ll see it the rest of the way out.”
Kickoff is set for 6:45 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.