Ole Miss is hosting LSU on Saturday afternoon of Week 5. The game will take place at 3:30 p.m. ET in Oxford, Mississippi.
The Rebels are 1.5-point home favorites in this game on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at 55.5 points. This is a preview, prediction and pick for this LSU vs. Ole Miss SEC conference matchup.
LSU vs. Ole Miss prediction, preview
LSU Preview
This game will be LSU’s biggest test of the season so far, as they have their sights set on an SEC championship and the College Football Playoff. The Tigers entered the season with high expectations and have already passed multiple tests against Clemson and Florida. Both of those opponents entered the season with high expectations, but have been incredibly disappointing. That begs the question: Is LSU impressive for beating Clemson and Florida, or is only scoring a combined 37 points against those two struggling teams a warning sign for the Tigers? The Tigers are no doubt loaded with talent, particularly on defense. They have struggled on that side of the ball in recent years, but they are only allowing 9.3 points per game through four games this season. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier hasn’t quite lived up to expectations yet this season, but he has a high ceiling with loads of experience.
Ole Miss Preview
Ole Miss had had an interesting season. After losing Jaxson Dart and so many other stars to the NFL from last season’s team, they were expected to take a step back. However, they have already played two SEC games this season, and they picked up good wins over Kentucky and Arkansas. They started the season with Austin Simmons at quarterback, but turned to Ferris State transfer Trinidad Chambliss when Simmons went down with an injury. Chambliss led them to victory over Arkansas and has played great so far. However, this LSU defense will be a different level of competition than he has seen thus far. Ignoring the family pride that is now on the line, this is a huge game for Lane Kiffin as he looks to get over the hump and finally lead a team to the College Football Playoff.
LSU vs. Ole Miss pick, best bet
My best bet for this game is for LSU to win outright. I am backing the Tigers as a short Moneyline underdog on the road in Oxford because of their defense. While DJ Lagway and Cade Klubnik have both struggled this season in general, LSU completely shut them down. Trinidad Chambliss has looked sharp thus far, but Arkansas has one of the worst defenses in the country. LSU ranks 15th in the nation in defensive EPA/rush and should force Chambliss to throw if Ole Miss wants to move the ball. While it helps to be at home, the level of defensive talent could overwhelm Chamliss in this game. LSU has struggled to run the ball so far this season, but this Ole Miss defensive line does not stack up against the likes of Clemson and Florida’s defensive lines. The Rebels rank 123rd in the nation in defensive EPA/rush, so this could be the game that LSU’s run offense gets going. LSU has won seven of the last nine matchups in the Magnolia Bowl, including last season, and should continue its excellent start to 2025 with a huge road win over Ole Miss.
