No. 12 Mississippi (4-1, 0-1 SEC) at South Carolina (3-1, 1-1), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Mississippi by 9 1/2 points.
Series record: Mississippi leads 9-8.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Ole Miss’ path to the College Football Playoff. The Rebels had been in the top 10 almost all of September before a 20-17 loss to Kentucky last week. Another loss to an SEC team the Rebels are supposed to defeat could be damaging to their chances at making the 12-team field given the amount of other highly regarded contenders in the SEC. One of those might be the Gamecocks if they can pull this one off.
KEY MATCHUP
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart against South Carolina’s defensive front. Dart triggers the SEC’s most potent offense and is throwing for 363 yards a game with 13 touchdowns. South Carolina defensive ends Kyle Kennard and Dylan Stewart have combined for 11 tackles for loss and eight of the team’s 14 sacks.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ole Miss: WR Antwane “Juice” Wells is coming back to South Carolina after the playing the past two seasons with the Gamecocks. He finished his South Carolina career with 71 catches for 956 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s had 14 receptions for 278 yards and four touchdowns with the Rebels.
South Carolina: QB LaNorris Sellers had the Gamecocks rolling, up 24-10 right before halftime on LSU three weeks ago before leaving with an ankle injury. Sellers missed the rest of the game with the Tigers (South Carolina lost 36-33) and missed the next contest with Akron. Sellers is expected back as the starter.
FACTS & FIGURES
Florida transfer Princely Umanmielen has five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks over the last two games for the Rebels. He had a sack and two stops behind the line at South Carolina with the Gators last year. … The Gamecocks are looking to start 4-1 for the first time in 11 years. … Ole Miss has held all five opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing, the Rebels’ longest streak since doing so six times to start the 1999 season. … Mississippi WR Tre Harris leads the FBS with 804 receiving yards, 157 more than next best in TCU’s Jack Bech. … South Carolina has lost its past six games against ranked opponents.
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