GAME NOTES: The LSU Tigers are back atop the AP poll, and continue their drive for the national title this weekend when they face SEC foe Ole Miss in Oxford. LSU has already clinched a spot in the SEC Championship Game as the West Division representative, and the team is ranked first in the current BCS standings. Last weekend, the Tigers took a break from league play to crush Louisiana Tech by a 58-10 final. Only a home game with Arkansas next Friday night remains on the regular season schedule for Les Miles' troops. As for Ole Miss, it has had two weeks to prepare for this matchup, and although the 3-7 Rebels won't play in a bowl game, a win over LSU this weekend would do wonders for the program. Last time out, the club knocked off non-conference foe Northwestern State in a 38-31 final, not exactly an impressive showing. The offense has generated only 11 combined points in the last two outings against SEC competition, so it is tough for fans of the program to be optimistic heading into this weekend's clash. LSU owns a 54-37-4 series lead over Ole Miss, and the Tigers won last season's meeting by a final of 23-20 in overtime. Four of the last five games in this series have been decided by three or fewer points.

LSU is averaging 39.3 ppg and 455.3 total ypg this season, impressive numbers for a club with tremendous athletes on the offensive side of the ball. The rushing attack has been superb, accounting for 220.2 ypg and 5.1 ypc. Of the 48 touchdowns scored by the offense this season, 27 have come on the ground. The passing game has yielded a wealth of big plays, as the Tigers are averaging 13.3 yards per completion. Matt Flynn is the starting quarterback for LSU, and he has completed 55.4 percent of his passes for 1,856 yards and 14 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. As for the ground attack, Jacob Hester leads the way with 706 yards and eight touchdowns. The thing that makes LSU so tough to stop is its depth, as there are a number of runners and receivers who have stepped forward with big performances this season. The Tigers had their way against Louisiana Tech last weekend, racking up 595 total yards en route to 58 points. Flynn threw three touchdown passes to offset a pair of interceptions, and Hester ran for 115 yards and a score.

Opponents are scoring 16.7 ppg against LSU, which is surrendering only 236.8 total ypg. The Tigers boast one of the top units against the run in the nation, as foes are gaining just 66.0 rushing ypg on 2.0 ypc. Also, the pass defense has been stellar, as LSU is holding opponents to well below a 50 percent completion rating. Craig Steltz continues to lead the defense with 68 total tackles, and he has registered four interceptions as well. It is big Glenn Dorsey, however, that is considered the best player for the LSU defense. The mammoth tackle has tremendous athleticism for a man of his size, and he has registered 53 tackles this season with 11.5 TFLs and six sacks. Last weekend against Louisiana Tech, the Tigers were dominant as expected. They limited the Bulldogs to 10 points and 256 total yards. Five takeaways and a pair of sacks were registered.

Ole Miss has been a mediocre offensive team at best this season, as the club is averaging 20.3 ppg and 335.8 total ypg. Considering that the Rebels have just six rushing touchdowns all season and are gaining a mere 3.9 ypc on the ground, it is hard to imagine them having much success running the football against the tremendous defensive front of LSU. Seth Adams has taken the majority of the snaps for the offense, and he has thrown three more interceptions (15) than touchdowns (12), a major factor in the struggles of the Rebels. He does have some quality targets on the outside, and Mike Wallace is the best of the bunch with 37 catches for 707 yards and six touchdowns. As for the ground attack, BenJarvus Green-Ellis leads the way with 967 yards and five touchdowns. In the win over Northwestern State last time out, Green-Ellis ran for 120 yards and a career-high three touchdowns.

Defensively, Ole Miss has proven to be weak against both the run and the pass, as foes are gaining 208.0 ypg on the ground and 233.2 ypg through the air. The defense has surrendered 37 total touchdowns, including 21 rushing scores. With only 16 sacks and seven interceptions, there has been a glaring lack of impact plays registered. Ashlee Palmer has been a strong performer for the defense, as he leads the club with 80 tackles to go along with a pair of interceptions. Greg Hardy is tops among the Rebels with 16 TFLs, including eight sacks, but he has been suspended indefinitely. The fact that Ole Miss surrendered 31 points to Northwestern State is troubling, especially considering that the Demons have struggled against teams from their own Football Championship Subdivision, formerly Division I-AA.

LSU is clearly the better team in this matchup and will cruise to victory. If the Tigers can run the table in the regular season and can win the SEC title game, a trip to the national championship contest is a certainty.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: LSU 41, Ole Miss 13