Georgia @ Mississippi preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 3, 2012 ) Mississippi 10, Georgia 37

Two losses in the season’s first three games would derail most teams' hopes of reaching the playoffs, but while 21st-ranked Ole Miss can make a case it still is a contender, there is no margin for error starting with Saturday’s home contest with No. 11 Georgia. The focus for the Rebels starts on defense, after blowing a 22-point lead in a loss to Florida State and a 21-point advantage last week to top-ranked Alabama.

“We have a lot of work to do and a long season ahead of us,” Ole Miss tight end Evan Engram told reporters this week, but cleaning up a long list of mental mistakes in the second half of both losses is critical. The Bulldogs won their SEC opener last week in dramatic fashion, as freshman quarterback Jacob Eason navigated Georgia 80 yards and threw the game-winning touchdown in a 28-27 victory at Missouri. Eason passed for 308 yards in his second career start, but the Bulldogs averaged just 2.7 yards per rushing attempt. “We have to run the ball better,” said Georgia first-year coach Kirby Smart, whose Bulldogs have come from behind in all three victories this season.

TV: Noon ET, ESPN. LINE: Ole Miss -7

ABOUT GEORGIA (3-0, 1-0 SEC): The Bulldogs were torched for 376 passing yards last week and face another high-powered passing offense this week, but jump-starting a struggling running game is just as important heading into Saturday. Nick Chubb ranks 13th nationally at 121.7 yards per game but only rushed for 63 yards against Missouri. Eason completed 29-of-55 passes and fired three touchdowns, the most attempts by a Georgia quarterback in 16 years, and receiver Isaiah McKenzie – who caught the game winner – leads the Bulldogs with 18 catches for 305 yards and four scores.

ABOUT OLE MISS (1-2, 0-1 SEC): Quarterback Chip Kelly has plenty of targets, as seven players have caught a touchdown pass through three games and Engram leads the team with 20 receptions and 302 receiving yards. While Kelly has averaged 318 passing yards per contest and threw for a career-high 421 last week, he also has six turnovers. Junior defensive end Marquis Haynes recorded his 19th career sack against Alabama, but the Rebels are 104th nationally in third-down defense and have surrendered 72 first downs in three games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Bulldogs have allowed nine sacks in three games, 12th in the SEC and 102nd in the country.

2. The Rebels rank last in the SEC in turnover margin (minus-5) and surrendered two Alabama defensive touchdowns off turnovers last week.

3. Georgia has won its past 10 meetings against the Rebels dating back to 1996; the two teams have not played since 2012.

PREDICTION: Ole Miss 34, Georgia 30