Auburn-Mississippi Preview Capsule
No. 15 Auburn (5-2, 3-1 SEC) at Mississippi (3-4, 1-3), 7:15 p.m. (SEC Network)
Line: Auburn by 4ˆ½.
Series Record: Auburn leads 29-11.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Auburn is one of the hottest teams in the SEC thanks to a four-game winning streak that includes an especially impressive 56-3 win over Arkansas last weekend. Ole Miss has been trending the opposite direction and badly needs a win to right a once-promising season.
KEY MATCHUP
Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly vs. Auburn's defense. Kelly had a solid game in last year's Ole Miss win over Auburn, throwing for 381 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He'll likely need similar success this season considering the Rebels' defense figures to struggle against Auburn's potent running game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Auburn: RB Kerryon Johnson. The tailback returns from an ankle injury that sidelined him against Arkansas and most of the Mississippi State game, when he was hurt early. He should form a formidable duo with Kamryn Pettway, who has played well in Johnson's absence. The two have combined for more than 1,200 yards rushing.
Ole Miss: LT Greg Little. The 6-foot-6, 332-pound freshman was one of the Rebels' prized recruits and has quickly earned a role as a backup. His role protecting Kelly's blind side might increase on Saturday because starting LT Rod Taylor has an injured ankle.
FACTS & FIGURES
The 15th-ranked Tigers represent the sixth Top-25 opponent Ole Miss has played in eight games this season. The Rebels are 1-4 in the first five games. ... The Rebels have just a 3-4 record this season despite never trailing at halftime. ... Ole Miss is second in the SEC in scoring at 37 points per game and first in passing yards with 305.4 per game. ... Auburn has won five of the last seven games against Ole Miss, including a 35-31 win in 2014 in Oxford. That was the game that Ole Miss star receiver Laquon Treadwell - who is now in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings - suffered a gruesome broken ankle while trying to score a touchdown late in the game.