For any of you who may think the rivalry has dwindled in recent years, make a trip up to Oxford this weekend.
Ole Miss will host No. 1 ranked LSU in its final home game of the season. The Rebels are having another lackluster year posting a record of 3-7, but you can pretty much throw the records out the window when these two teams play.
LSU leads the series 54-37-4 and has won five straight dating back to Eli Manning’s sophomore season with the Rebels. However, four of the last five games between the two squads have been decided by three points or less. Now, that’s a rivalry.
It is truly a match-up between the SEC’s best and the SEC’s worst. LSU is a 17 point favorite on the road. Ole Miss is 0-6 in the SEC. Head Coach Ed Orgeron is 10-23 in his third season at Ole Miss. Head Coach Les Miles is 31-5 in his third at LSU.
Everything points in the favor of the visiting Tigers from Red Stick. But, they do have to play the game.
Ole Miss is still trying to find that signature win under Orgeron. Will this be the weekend? It has been a year of upsets, but this one would top them all.
Last year in Baton Rouge, Ole Miss and LSU went to overtime before the Tigers escaped with a victory. The trend in the series gives the nod to Ole Miss. LSU has not won more than five straight in the series since a streak of eight from 1928-1937.
However, reality in 2007 would point in an overwhelming fashion to the Tigers. LSU gets the edge in every category imaginable. It is truly a David versus Goliath match-up.
The last five meetings in the series usually tell the story on how a game will play out.
Nov. 18, 2006 - LSU 23 OM 20 (OT)
Colt David kicked a 26 -yard field goal in overtime to lift No. 9 LSU to a 23-20 victory. Ole Miss built a 20-7 lead, before Jamarcus Russell tossed two touchdowns in the final 8:46. The final touchdown could have produced an LSU victory but Ole Miss blocked the extra point, sending the game into overtime.
Nov. 19, 2005 - LSU 40 OM 7
LSU dominated from beginning to end holding Ole Miss to just seven yards rushing for the game.
Nov. 20, 2004 - LSU 27 OM 24
Alley Broussard ran for a school record 250 yards with three touchdowns and No. 14 LSU rallied to beat Ole Miss 27-24. The Rebels held a 24-27 third quarter lead after Trumain McBride intercepted a Jamarcus Russell pass and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown. Broussard scored the winning touchdown on a seven yard run with 10:21 left to play.
Nov. 22, 2003 - LSU 17 OM 14
No. 3 LSU held Eli Manning and the Ole Miss offense in check for three quarters, then withstood a fourth quarter rally to win 17-14. Ole Miss place kicker Jonathan Nichols missed a 36 yard field goal that would have tied the game with 4:15 left.
Nov. 22, 2002 LSU 14 OM 13
LSU quarterback Marcus Randall came off the bench to throw two touchdown passes, including a 27 yard strike to Michael Clayton with 6:34 remaining. The victory snapped a three game Tiger Stadium winning streak for Ole Miss.
While the consensus says that Ole Miss will get it handed to them this weekend, the Rebels know they have a shot at the best team in the country. This opportunity only comes around once in a blue moon which should make the game an enjoyable one to watch.
