Rebs/Vols Preview

Well the Rebs have a big game this weekend in O-town with the Vols. Historically, the Vols have the Rebs number and like I said earlier, I just don't see us pulling this one out. I hope like hell the Rebs can get a win and build some momentum going into the last two conference games and put themselves in position for a nice bowl game. I really do, but the Rebs have not been to impressive against conference foes when the competition is tough. Here is to hoping and wishing....and proving me wrong.

Ole Miss (6-3, 2-3) vs. Tennessee (5-4, 2-3)

TIME: November 14, 2009, 11 a.m. CT

TV: CBS (Craig Bolerjack, play-by-play; Steve Beuerlein, analyst).

SERIES INFO: This game will mark the 63rd meeting between the Rebels and Volunteers dating back to 1902. Tennessee holds a 43-18-1 advantage in the series and has won 12 straight in the series since a 41-17 win in 1984 and 14 of the last 15 dating back to 1981. The two teams last met in 2005, as the Vols won 27-10 in Knoxville. Tennessee is 3-0 when taking on the Rebels in Oxford.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Rebels are seeking to become bowl eligible for the second straight year ... Ole Miss is off to its best start since 2003 ... Shay Hodge has posted back-to-back 100-yard receiving games ... Ole Miss ranks top 16 in the nation in scoring defense, pass efficiency defense and sacks ... Four members of the Tennessee staff previously served at Ole Miss, including former head coach Ed Orgeron ... The Rebels are making their 21st all-time appearance on CBS ... During pre-game ceremonies, Ole Miss will be honoring the 1969 team, which knocked off No. 3 Tennessee en route to an 8-3 record and a Sugar Bowl win over Arkansas.

TENNESSEE SCOUTING REPORT: The Volunteers are riding a two-game win streak following Saturday’s 56-28 home win over Memphis. The UT offense is led by senior QB Jonathan Crompton, who ranks third in the SEC in passing at 216.4 ypg and boasts a league-high 21 TDs with 10 interceptions. Senior RB Montario Hardesty is rushing for 100.1 ypg with eight TDs. Tennessee is third in the SEC in total defense, allowing just 295.1 ypg. All-American safety Eric Berry has notched team highs of six pass break-ups and two interceptions and is second on the team in tackles at 6.9 per game. Senior LB Rico McCoy is the Vols’ tackles leader with 76, while junior DE Chris Walker has totaled 7.0 TFLs, including 5.5 sacks.

OLE MISS VS. SEC EAST • Since the SEC started divisional play in 1992, Ole Miss is 27-26 versus the SEC Eastern Division. • Ole Miss is 0-4 during this time against Tennessee.• In 2003, the Rebels recorded their first three-game sweep of their SEC East opponents with wins over Vanderbilt, Florida and South Carolina.

REBEL NOTEBOOK• Ole Miss is seeking bowl eligibility for the second straight year ... The Rebels prevously made consecutive bowl games in 2002 and 2003 ... Ole Miss ranks 17th all-time in bowl appearances (32) and 12th in wins (20).• Ole Miss is off to its best start since 2003, when the team opened at 7-2 overall ... The Rebels were 5-4 at this point a year ago.• Ole Miss has opened SEC play 2-3 for the second straight year.• The Rebels are the second-least penalized team in the SEC, having committed only 44 penalties for an average of 40.2 yards per game.• The South Carolina loss snapped an eight-game win streak, which was the Rebels' longest streak since reeling off 10 consecutive triumphs during the 1971-72 seasons ... It was the second-longest win streak in the nation ... Ole Miss' previous loss was the 24-20 setback at No. 2 Alabama last year.

STINGY DEFENSE• Ole Miss ranks 12 in the nation and 4th in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing just 15.8 ppg this year.• Dating back to last season, the Rebels are holding opponents to just 14.3 points over the last 13 games ... The Rebel defense has posted two shutouts in this span.• Ole Miss has held the opposition under 300 yards of total offense four times this year, including three SEC games, and eight times under head coach Houston Nutt ... The Rebels limited Arkansas to 299 yards (45 rushing), Vanderbilt to 240 yards (69 passing) and South Carolina to 285 (65 rushing).• Ole Miss is No. 1 in the SEC in third down defense, holding the opposition to just a 26.4-percent success rate ... Southeastern Louisiana was limited to 0-for-14 on third down, while Alabama was just 4-of-20.• The Rebels have allowed only six points in the first quarter this year off field goals against Alabama and Auburn.

REB ZONE: Ole Miss has been near perfect in the red zone thus far this season, ranking second in the SEC in red zone offense and third in red zone defense. In their 27 offensive trips inside the 20 yard line, the Rebels have scored 26 times, totaling 21 touchdowns and five field goals. Of the 21 TDs, 12 were passing and nine rushing. In 31 red zone opportunities for the opposition, the Rebels have surrendered just nine TDs, held the foe to a field goal 13 times and forced four turnovers.