INSIDE SLANT

With conference hopes long gone, LSU now looks at its two remaining games as an opportunity to define its season.

With their upcoming game at Ole Miss and the regular-season finale at Arkansas, the Tigers can get to the 10-win level for the fourth time in coach Les Miles’ five seasons if they win out.

Such a finish likely would land the Tigers in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla., against an opponent from the Big Ten. Lose to the Rebels, and the Tigers likely would end up in the Cotton or Outback Bowl, depending on how they would fare against the Razorbacks.

The Tigers aren’t talking specific bowl scenarios at this point, however. They just want to go out strong.

“The finish that we’d all like is to be a team ranked five and above and to be an elite team in this conference,” Miles said. “That’s how we see ourselves. That’s how we’ll play. That’s how we want to play in big games.

“With two games remaining and two quality opponents in conference, that’s the goal that lies before us. That’s a pretty strong goal.”

The Tigers are coming off an unimpressive 24-16 win over Louisiana Tech, a game in which they struggled to gain consistency on offense with starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson on the sidelines because of an ankle injury.

Jarrett Lee took over for Jefferson and completed only seven passes. There were a couple of close calls, but he avoided throwing an interception.

Jefferson is expected back for the Ole Miss game.

“I think that being on the sideline for him is an uncomfortable position,” Miles said of Jefferson. “I think that he hates missing a game, and he is looking forward to getting back. He took some snaps in the pre-game and threw the ball pretty well. I kind of look forward to him getting back, too.”

NOTES, QUOTES

• LSU hasn’t allowed a touchdown in the first quarter of the last six games. The last time a team scored in the opening quarter was on Sept. 26, when Mississippi State scored to tie the game at 7 in an eventual 30-26 LSU win.

• The win over Louisiana Tech gave coach Les Miles his 50th victory with the Tigers, making him the fastest LSU coach to get to that number. In his fifth season in Baton Rouge, he is 50-13 overall.

Series History:   LSU leads Ole Miss 55-38-4 (last meeting, 2008, 31-13 Ole Miss).

Scouting The Offense:   The Tigers struggled offensively in the win over Louisiana Tech but likely will welcome back starting QB Jordan Jefferson. TB Keiland Williams had a big game (116 yards rushing) against the Bulldogs in taking over for the injured Charles Scott. WRs Brandon LaFell and Terrance Toliver are both big-play threats on the edges and are the most productive receiving tandem in the league (85 catches for 1,107 yards).

Scouting The Defense:   The defense showed a tendency to give up yards on the ground against Louisiana Tech, which ran for 218 yards. That’s not a good sign with Ole Miss (191 yards a game rushing) coming up. Kelvin Sheppard, Perry Riley, Harry Coleman and Jacob Cutrera form a solid linebacker corps, and CB Patrick Peterson is one of the best cover corners in the country.

Quote To Note:   “I’m glad that it’s not boos on one of our players.”—Coach Les Miles, when it was suggested that the booing by the fans in the win over Louisiana Tech was directed at the play-calling, not necessarily at QB Jarrett Lee.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

This Week  ‘S GAME: LSU at Ole Miss, Nov. 21—This and the Arkansas game to follow will determine how the Tigers faithful view this season. A win over the Rebels erases the memory of last year’s late-season collapse and assures the Tigers of a second-place finish in the SEC Western Division.

Keys To The Game:   The Tigers are going to have to get more out of their passing game than they got from Jarrett Lee (105 yards) in the win over Louisiana Tech. The defense needs to keep the Rebels’ all-purpose Dexter McCluster in check.

Players To Watch:  

CB Patrick Peterson—Peterson faces a challenge from Ole Miss WR Shay Hodge, the SEC’s second-leading receiver. Peterson is third in the league in passes defended with two interceptions and 11 breakups.

TB Keiland Williams—The senior stepped into the starting lineup in place of the injured Charles Scott and had a solid night (116 yards rushing) against Louisiana Tech. He needs to show he can do it on a consistent basis, however. His output against the Bulldogs was more than he had run for in his previous seven games combined.

WR Brandon LaFell—LaFell ranks fourth in the SEC in receptions (4.3 a game) and is eighth in receiving yardage (56.0). With 23 career touchdown receptions, he needs just four more to become the school’s all-time leading receiver in that department.

Roster Report:  

• QB Jordan Jefferson (ankle), C T-Bob Hebert (knee), and TE Richard Dickson (thigh) have returned to practice and should be able to play against Ole Miss. All three missed the win over Louisiana Tech.

• WR Terrance Toliver took a big hit in the Louisiana Tech game and was shaken up, but he is expected to be ready.

• RB Charles Scott (clavicle) is out for the season.