Mississippi-LSU Preview Capsule

No. 23 Mississippi (3-3, 1-2 SEC) at No. 25 LSU (4-2, 2-1), 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Line: LSU by 6.

Series Record: LSU leads 59-41-4.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

LSU, which has next week off before hosting unbeaten Alabama on Nov. 5, can move right into the thick of the SEC West title race with a victory, but would fade to long-shot status with a loss. Ole Miss cannot afford another divisional loss if the Rebels hope to retain even remote hopes of sneaking back into the divisional race.

KEY MATCHUP

LSU's resurgent offense, which has scored 87 points — including seven TDs of 20 or more yards — in its last two outings, against the Mississippi's shaky defense, which has given up 28 or more points four times this season, including 48 in a loss to Alabama, 45 in a loss to Florida State, and 34 in a loss last weekend to Arkansas.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mississippi: QB Chad Kelly, who has a TD pass in 19 straight games, leads the SEC with 343.7 total yards per game and 308.2 yards passing per game.

LSU: WR D.J. Chark turned a medium curl route into an 80-yard TD and also had a 19-yard TD rushing last week. With his long TD reception, Chark became the only player in LSU history have scored TDs of 75 yards or more both rushing and receiving in his career, having run for a 79-yard score in last season's Texas Bowl.

FACTS & FIGURES

These old rivals, whose 104 previous meetings date back to 1894, have played for the Magnolia Bowl trophy since 2008, splitting their eight meetings since then. ... Ole Miss is 1-3 against ranked teams this season. ... The Rebels are the only team in the AP Top 25 that does not have a winning record. ... Mississippi has not won in Tiger Stadium since 2008. ... LSU RB Leonard Fournette, who has missed three of LSU's six games this season, practiced this week and is expected to play. ... LSU's defense has allowed only six touchdowns this season. ... LSU interim head coach Ed Orgeron was Ole Miss head coach for three seasons from 2005-2007, never having a winning season with the Rebels.

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AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org