It's been said that it just means more in the SEC. No. 4 LSU and No. 13 Ole Miss will set out to prove it on Saturday.
The showdown kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC in front of a fired-up crowd at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Mississippi. It’s shaping up to be one of CFB’s marquee Week 5 matchups — and potentially one of the season’s best contests thus far.
Below, we’ll drop some top LSU vs. Ole Miss predictions and picks for Week 5 of the college football slate. Intriguing player projections include picks for LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier and more.
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LSU vs. Ole Miss Prediction, Preview for 9/27
Both clubs come into Saturday’s contest boasting 4-0 records; Ole Miss 2-0 in conference play with victories over Kentucky and Arkansas.
LSU’s first SEC triumph came against Florida in Week 3.
The football powerhouses are also coming off convincing Week 4 performances: This weekend’s hosts took down Tulane 45-10, while the visitors throttled SE Louisiana, 56-10.
LSU Tigers Preview
- In the blink of an eye, year four of the Brian Kelly era is in full swing. Following a 9-4 effort in 2024, LSU is off to a perfect start.
- QB Garrett Nussmeier is back, attempting to boost his stock for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft — and potentially grab a Heisman Trophy.
- Defensive coordinator Blake Baker is earning his keep. According to Game on Paper, his group ranks 14th in total EPA allowed (-46.53) to opposing offenses.
- Turnovers are another key area for the defense; LSU has the second-most INTs among FBS teams already.
- The Tigers were recently dealt a significant blow, however, as DE Gabriel Reliford is out for the year with a torn rotator cuff.
Ole Miss Rebels Preview
- 2024 saw head coach Lane Kiffin’s crew win five of its last six games after a 5-2 start. Ironically, that hot stretch followed a 29-26 overtime loss to this very LSU team.
- As usual, Kiffin and company are leading a top-ranked attack. Mississippi is 23rd nationally in EPA/play.
- Efficiency is the name of Ole Miss’ game. On offense, they hold national rankings of 18th and 21st in third down conversion rate and red zone scoring.
- After Austin Simmons got hurt, Trinidad Chambliss took over as the Rebels’ starting QB. That won’t change in Week 5, as Simmons is “expected to be available” on Saturday, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, but Chambliss will make his third start in a row.
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier: 286.5 Pass Yards
- Last season was the Nussmeier show, for better or worse. He led the SEC in pass attempts and INTs.
- This season, “Nuss” is embracing efficiency. He’s completing a career-best 68.6% of his passes and posting a healthy 47.9% success rate.
- Advanced metrics back up Nussmeier’s improvement. Per Pro Football Focus, his big-time throw rate (4.7% to 7.5%) and turnover-worthy play clip (3.1% to 2.6%) are both better than 2024’s.
- Nussmeier’s season-high yardage mark is 273 passing yards (Week 4). The strength of Ole Miss’ defense is its ability to stop the pass (No. 9 total EPA).
LSU WR Aaron Anderson: 73.5 Receiving Yards
- After an 884-yard sophomore campaign, Anderson is averaging more yards per game (73.3) this year but hasn't found the end zone.
- Anderson’s targets were evenly distributed in 2024, seeing him land between 22.7% and 28.4% at all depths. This year, per PFF, he’s dominated within 0-9 yards of the line of scrimmage (37.9%).
- Of 161 wideouts to record 20-plus targets, Anderson is 16th in yards per route run (3.18).
- Out of 736 pass catchers in the Game on Paper database, Anderson’s 18.97 total EPA ranks 40th.
Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy: 67.5 Rush Yards
- Contrary to his freshman year at Missouri, Lacy has plenty of opportunities at Ole Miss. He leads the SEC in plays from scrimmage (87), rush attempts (79), and rushing TDs (7) through four games.
- Lacy, Chambliss and RBLogan Diggs have made for a lethal rushing attack. Ole Miss ranks 13th in run attempts per game and is T-24th in success rate.
- Just 54 FBS RBs have 50-plus carries. Lacy is in the middle of the pack (25th) in breakaway run rate (36.9%), according to PFF.
- Lacy faces a tall task in achieving success against LSU. The Tigers’ defense ranks 15th in EPA/play allowed on the ground.
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