The headline matchup in Week 3 brings together two top-10 SEC teams, and LSU vs. Ole Miss has the feel of a game that can reshape the conference race almost immediately.
LSU has opened the season with back-to-back wins over Clemson and Louisiana Tech, and the Tigers have looked sharp doing it. Ole Miss, meanwhile, survived a tight one against Louisville before handling Charlotte in a 41-9 win. Now both teams step into SEC play against each other, with the outcome carrying major weight for how the league unfolds.
One of the biggest names to know is Trinidad Chambliss. He enters Week 3 tied for fifth on the Heisman Trophy odds list at +1200, and he’s already made a strong early case.
Through two games, Chambliss has completed 71% of his passes for five touchdowns, while also adding 62 rushing yards and a score on the ground. He also has history against LSU, having carved them up for 314 passing yards and 71 rushing yards in a 24-19 Ole Miss win last season.
Ole Miss has enough offense to stay in the fight, but this matchup comes down to defense. The Rebels have given up 5.9 yards per play over their first two games. LSU has been on a completely different level, allowing just 2.5 yards per play, the best mark in the country.
That defensive edge is why LSU is the pick here, and why the Tigers are expected to win with room to spare.
In Other News...
LSU Just Exposed A Problem That Could Cost Them At Ole Miss
LSU got the result it wanted against Louisiana Tech, but the tape offered a less comfortable message heading into a much bigger test. The Tigers scored 45 points and controlled the game on the scoreboard, yet the offensive line had real trouble creating push in the middle of the run game and keeping the quarterback clean, a combination that led to five sacks and too many negative plays.
Those issues matter a lot more with Ole Miss next on the schedule. Pro Football Focus grading backed up what showed up on the field, with only two LSU starters on the offensive line finishing above a 70, and the weakest spots coming at guard and tackle. Before a trip to face a defense that can turn pressure into momentum quickly, LSU has some obvious fixing to do up front, and the margin for error only gets thinner from here. [Read more 🡒]
Ed Orgeron Is Back Around LSU But One Ole Miss Question Looms
Ed Orgeron is back around LSU, easing into his role as a special assistant for recruiting and defense after a health issue kept him away from preseason practices and the first two games of the season. Lane Kiffin said Orgeron is doing better and has been spending parts of his weekdays at the football operations building, a welcome sign for a program that has clearly missed his presence in the building.
What remains unsettled is whether Orgeron will be with the Tigers when they head to Ole Miss this week. Kiffin has not confirmed that travel plans yet, and he also did not spell out the nature of the health issue, leaving LSU with a little uncertainty even as one of its most recognizable voices gets back into the routine. [Read more 🡒]
LSU May Have Found The Mismatch This Offense Needed
For a Tigers offense still looking for a steady rhythm early in the season, LSUs 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech offered a promising answer in Trey'Dez Green. The tight end was featured more heavily in the game plan, and it showed in a performance that included six catches for 104 yards and a touchdown, giving the offense a different kind of problem for defenses to sort out.
Lane Kiffin made it clear before the season that Green could be more than a complementary piece, and LSU finally leaned into that versatility in a way that mattered. If this becomes a regular part of the offense, the Tigers may have found a matchup edge that can stress coverages and create room elsewhere, even if the bigger test is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]