INSIDE SLANT

It has been an up-and-down season for Ole Miss fans, many of whom thought their Rebels could be a national title contender if everything fell correctly.

Certainly, they thought, UM would challenge LSU and Alabama for the Western Division title in the Southeastern Conference and a first trip to the SEC Championship Game.

No, on both counts.

But as Ole Miss winds its way toward the end of a season that included some early losses that bumped the Rebels out of the polls, there is light at the end of this winding, curvy tunnel. The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson has reported that UM, especially if it wins out, could be a major player for a Capital One Bowl berth in Orlando on New Year’s Day.

Two straight New Year’s Day bowl berths for Ole Miss? Now there’s something.

Of course, neither win is guaranteed. LSU visits Oxford having lost two games this season—but those came against the top two teams in the nation, according to the BCS standings.

And then there’s Mississippi State, a 4-6 team that will welcome the Rebels to Starkville with a renewed emphasis on the rivalry under new coach Dan Mullen.

But if the Rebels can finish their season strong like they did last year, attaining a high-profile finish to the season could still be in the works.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Ole Miss and LSU will battle for the Magnolia Bowl trophy for the second time. That’s a new twist on an old rivalry that dates to 1894. Ole Miss won the game last year, the first year in which the trophy was awarded, snapping a six-game losing streak to the Tigers.

• The game is UM’s second straight appearance on the SEC’s national television package with CBS and its third of the season.

• The Rebels are receiving votes in this week’s major polls and would likely return to the Top 25 if they beat LSU to improve to 8-3.

• Ole Miss hasn’t beaten LSU in Oxford since it won 37-31 in overtime in 1998.

• Ole Miss is 27-26 against the Eastern Division since the Southeastern Conference split into divisions in 1992.

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

Scouting The Offense:   Does it go beyond senior Dexter McCluster? To illustrate the point of how this season has been a long and winding road for UM fans, they entered the season thinking QB Jevan Snead would be a dark horse Heisman candidate, but he has struggled under center. Meanwhile, in the past three Southeastern Conference games, McCluster is averaging an astounding 197 rushing yards and 262 all-purpose yards. Last time out, he set the school record for both marks.

Scouting The Defense:   Ole Miss held Tennessee to 17 points last week and practically shut down the Vols in the second half, but coach Houston Nutt said there weren’t any adjustments aside from defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix calling for “a little more” zone, Nutt said. Nutt praised his team’s approach to stopping the run first, which will be key this week, even with Charles Scott out at tailback for LSU.

Quote To Note:   “He knows all of them. He has extremely high football intelligence. … You only have to tell him how to adjust something one time. It is amazing. He knows tailback, fullback, H, Z and X receiver positions and Wild Rebel.”—Coach Houston Nutt, when asked how many positions Dexter McCluster knows how to play.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

This Week  ‘S GAME: LSU at Ole Miss, Nov. 21—There’s plenty at stake for both teams in terms of bowl positioning, and the Rebels could overtake over LSU’s slot in pecking order with a win. More than that, though, it’s a home finale for an accomplished senior class and an opportunity to get a second straight win against a team that many Ole Miss fans consider to be their biggest rival.

Keys To The Game:   LSU’s defense might pose a big threat to Dexter McCluster’s running ability Saturday, given the Tigers’ size and speed. But even if McCluster can get most of what he got Saturday at Tennessee, Ole Miss will be happy. The Rebels will be hard to beat if McCluster keeps up his late-season tear. Ole Miss will also need solid offensive line play against an accomplished LSU defensive front.

Players To Watch:  

ATH Dexter McCluster—It’s hard to ask for back-to-back school record-setting games, but the Rebels will take it. As long as McCluster is productive, the Rebels’ offense is as dangerous as any in the SEC.

KR Jesse Grandy—A freshman, he has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns this year. That would be a great way to get fans into the game early and rattle LSU.

WR Pat Patterson—Coach Houston Nutt said Tuesday that Patterson, who has been up-and-down with production, “has been a mystery a little bit to us.” He has 11 catches for 163 yards.

Roster Report:  

• WR Shay Hodge is averaging 105 receiving yards in the past five games.

• DE Greg Hardy is out for the season after undergoing wrist surgery on Nov. 12. He had 6.5 tackles for loss and a team-best five sacks.