LSU football vs. Ole Miss is just hours away, as game time is set for 5:00 p.m. CST. Early on, it looks like things could turn into a high-scoring, closely contested matchup, which coach Brian Kelly and his squad slightly favored. Here are our predictions for how the 2023 edition will turn out, including a good showing from the Tiger defense.
Four predictions ahead of LSU football vs. Ole Miss
1. The Tiger defense forces two turnovers
So far through 2023, the Tiger defense has been largely unimpressive, allowing nearly 30 points per game. However, with the amount of talent on roster, it feels like it’s just a matter of time for them.
With a stellar Ole Miss offense awaiting them, this could be the game to step it up.
With players like linebacker Harold Perkins Jr, defensive tackle Maason Smith and cornerback Denver Harris, there’s plenty of talent to make something happen. All three of those players are former five-stars and have the athleticism to make big plays all over the field.
While the Rebel offense will likely find some decent success this evening, a turnover or two could be the difference for coach Brian Kelly and the Tigers.
2. Jayden Daniels throws three passing touchdowns
Quarterback Jayden Daniels is in the midst of his fifth season of college football, and he has never thrown for more than 3,000 yards in a season.
However, with that being said, he’s well on track to change that in a big way this season. So far in 2023, Daniels has thrown the ball for 1,296 yards and 12 touchdowns while completing 72.6 percent of his passes.
If he continues at the rate he’s been going, he’s on track to reach 3,888 yards and 36 touchdowns. Whether he succeeds in doing that or not is yet to be seen, but he looks well on his way to continuing his success heading into week five.
I expect the senior quarterback to keep up his efforts vs. Ole Miss and throw the ball for at least three touchdowns.
3. Ole Miss doesn’t hit 100 yards rushing for the third time this season
One of the biggest surprises of the 2023 Ole Miss offense has been its running game. Now sophomore running back Quinshon Judkins started his college career with a bang in 2022, running for 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns.
However, it’s been a different story in 2023. Through four games, he’s carried the ball 57 times for 201 yards and four touchdowns, averaging just 3.5 yards per carry.
This has taken a toll on the Rebel rushing game overall. So far, they’ve reached 100 yards rushing in just half of their games.
With LSU’s big bodies up front defense, I’d be surprised to see this change today. Additionally, when speaking to the media earlier this week, coach Brian Kelly emphasized rushing defense heading into Saturday.
Look for the Tigers to zero in on the Ole Miss running backs this evening, holding the Rebels running game below 100 yards for the third time in 2023.
4. Final score prediction
Heading into this evening, LSU football is just a 2.5-point favorite vs. Ole Miss, leading one to believe this should be a close matchup. However, while it could be tight early on, the Tiger defense could end up being a game-changer in this one.
With Jayden Daniels leading the offense and an athletic defense causing havoc, I expect the Tigers to come out on top for their fourth win of the season, leaving Oxford, MS, with a 41-24 victory.
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