Tennessee @ Ole Miss preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 13, 2010 ) Mississippi 14, Tennessee 52

Third-ranked Mississippi has knocked off a pair of top-25 teams in consecutive weeks and the Rebels look to continue their magical run when Tennessee visits on Saturday. Ole Miss, which can match the 1962 squad for the best start in the program’s history, is led by a high-powered passing attack and a defense that has given up only six touchdowns while scoring four. The Volunteers are eighth in the nation in passing defense and have beaten the Rebels 13 of their last 14 meetings.

Tennessee has lost its first two SEC games for the seventh consecutive season, but gave then-No. 13 Georgia trouble (35-32) and lost only 10-9 to Florida. The Volunteers will face their toughest test yet against Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Bo Wallace, who has completed 68.5 percent of his passes and thrown for 1,700 yards with 15 TDs. Wallace has not turned the ball over in three SEC contests, including wins over Alabama and Texas A&M in the last two.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Mississippi -16.5

ABOUT TENNESSEE (3-3, 0-2 SEC): Quarterback Justin Worley recorded three touchdown passes and a pair of rushing touchdowns in the 45-10 victory over Chattanooga last week and has completed 63.3 percent of his throws. Marquez North (240 yards receiving, 4 TDs) and Pig Howard (219, one TD) are his top targets and freshman running back Jalen Hurd (374 yards rushing) is expected to play after being slowed by a sore shoulder. The Volunteers allowed fewer than 100 yards passing the last two weeks and average 160.2 against.

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI (6-0, 3-0): Laquon Treadwell leads the way with 30 catches and 415 yards while Cody Core (333 yards), Vince Sanders (316) and Evan Engram (264) have contributed. Senquez Golson boasts five interceptions for the Rebels, who are tied for second in the nation with 12, while fellow defensive back Cody Prewitt was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. A photo alleged to show drug use by Robert Nkemdiche surfaced and coach Hugh Freeze told reporters he was aware of it, but did not say whether the standout defensive tackle would be suspended.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Wallace had 10 career 300-yard passing games, tied for the school record with Eli Manning.

2. Tennessee has scored in 253 consecutive games, the fourth-longest active streak in the country.

3. Ole Miss, which has forced a turnover in 29 straight games, is second in the nation in points against (11.8) and fourth in margin of victory (23.9).

PREDICTION: Mississippi 31, Tennessee 13