Total Offense: Ole' Miss #13 in the nation w/ 459 yds/game and scoring 42 tds on the season; LSU #24 w/ 432 yds/game and 47 tds. Scoring Offense: Ole' Miss #11 in the nation w/ 36.6 pts/game; LSU #15 w/ 34.8 pts/game. Rushing Offense: LSU #38 in the nation w/ 175 yds/game and 18 tds; Ole' Miss #56 w/ 160 yds/game and 15 tds. Passing Offense: Ole' Miss #11 in the nation w/ 299 yds/game and 25 tds; LSU #32 w/ 258 yds/game and 23 tds. Passing Efficiency: LSU #9 in the nation w/ 154.69 rating; Ole' Miss #10 w/ 153.09. Total Defense: LSU #4 in the nation allowing 259 yds/game and have allowed 11 tds; Ole' Miss #77 allowing 397 yds/game and have allowed 32 tds. Scoring Defense: LSU #1 in the nation allowing 8.9 pts/game; Ole' Miss #54 allowing 24 pts/game. Pass Defense: LSU #32 in the nation allowing 198 yds/game & have allowed 8 tds on the season w/ 13 ints; Ole' Miss #116 out of 117 allowing 300 yds/game and having allowed 23 tds w/ 11 ints. Rushing Defense: LSU #2 in the nation allowing 60 yds/game and have allowed 2 tds on the season; Ole' Miss #14 allowing 96 yds/game and have allowed 8 tds on the season. Pass Efficiency Defense: LSU #4 in the nation w/ 94.11 rating; Ole' Miss #96 w/ 141.28 rating. Eli, meet the immovable object that is the LSU defense.
Also Special Teams rankings: Net punting: LSU #8 -- Miss #15 Punt returns: LSU #2 -- Miss #83 Kick returns: LSU #19 -- Miss #9 Meet Skyler Green, the nations #1 punt returner.
To be more specific Red55: Net punting: LSU #12 in the nation w/ 41.9 yd/avg., 39.57 net avg.; Ole' Miss #16 43.28 yd/avg., 39.3 net avg. Punt returns: LSU #2 in the nation w/ 15.91 yd/avg.; Ole' Miss #83 w/ 8.08 yd/avg. Kickoff returns: Ole' Miss #9 in the nation w/ 24.41 yd/avg.; LSU #19 w/ 23.6 yd/avg. In all, I'd say the difference is clear.
I think our defense is going to decide the game. Our offenses are nearly even, although Ole Miss, by the stats you've shown, does hold the edge. Going to be one hell of a game.
The way I see it, we have Ole Miss outmanned at every position on the field except QB. In fact, I would wager that most of our entire 2 deep is superior to their starters. I know they have a few good skill guys, but otherwise its a complete mismatch. Having said all that, I do think Eli is good enough to overcome those kinds of odds, and he has done it time and time again. I just dont think he can win a shootout even if he does shred our defense (wont happen).
The thing with Ole Miss is . . . unlike Auburn and Alabama, Ole Miss can come back from behind with a passing game. The Tigers cannot have a slack second-half game that is not their best effort.
I don't think the difference between Manning and Mauck is night and day, though. Mauck has shown that he clearly can make the right decision. Plus, with our line, he has more time to make those decisions. Manning better be working on his quick-decision skills this week. He'll need them.
Maybe the difference in desicion making isnt night and day, but physical talent may be another story. Eli has an absolutely phenominal arm, and he can launch 'em like they were coming out of a cannon. Not to take anything away from Matt, Im as big a MM fan as any. Overall, though, we have the better offense, and Mauck is a major reason for that.
