Paschall's Picks: Improving LSU hosts Ole Miss

OTHER PICKSVirginia Tech 28, Miami 23Virginia 25, North Carolina 22Boston Coll. 24, W. Forest 17Clemson 27, Syracuse 16East Carolina 34, UConn 15Oregon 37, California 28Kansas State 24, Texas 19Nebraska 41, Rutgers 20UCLA 38, Colorado 29Michigan St. 27, Michigan 6TCU 44, Texas Tech 17Arizona 23, Washington St. 22Ohio State 24, Penn State 13Southern Cal 28, Utah 21Arizona St. 31, Washington 28Oklahoma St. 34, W. Virginia 31Wisconsin 30, Maryland 20

LSU is looking more like LSU again, and just in time for a visit from No. 3 Ole Miss.

Les Miles and his No. 24 Tigers looked like a lower-echelon member of the competitive SEC West when they weren't competitive in a 41-7 loss at Auburn on Oct. 4. They regrouped a bit the following week to post a wacky 30-27 win at Florida before strengthening further last Saturday in a 41-3 dismantling of Kentucky.

"What we do offensively versus defensively allows us to come of age quickly," Miles said Wednesday on the SEC teleconference. "I'm not going to point at a specific area, but it's a maturity issue. It's when the team realizes that all three phases complement one another and how that's the best recipe for victory, and I think that is coming."

LSU and Ole Miss have split the past six meetings in a rivalry Rebels coach Hugh Freeze believes is tops among "the more mature Ole Miss fans -- the ones who've been around longer." Four of the past five games have been decided by a touchdown or less.

"Their young kids are maturing," Freeze said. "They are playing quite a few talented kids, and the more they get on the field in these environments, the better they're going to be."

The Tigers have settled on sophomore Anthony Jennings at quarterback. After replacing freshman Brandon Harris, who started and struggled at Auburn, Jennings has been turnover-free the past two weeks.

"It's more or less the evolution of the position and him understanding competition and understanding what all needs to be done at the quarterback spot," Miles said.

Pasquali's Pix:

Mercer at UTC: This is a revenge game for the Bears, who lost 40-13 when these two last played in 1941. Mocs 35, Bears 13.

UAB at Arkansas: So much for the SEC Network enhancing the noon selections of league games, but at least this one will top the intrigue of South Carolina-Furman last week. Razorbacks 42, Blazers 28.

Mississippi State at Kentucky: A former Jefferson Pilot staple makes its way to CBS. Bulldogs 34, Wildcats 23.

Georgia Tech at Pittsburgh: Yellow Jackets quarterback Justin Thomas has three 100-yard rushing games this season, but Panthers counterpart and former Cleveland High standout Chad Voytik has two. Yellow Jackets 23, Panthers 20.

Vanderbilt at Missouri: The Tigers seem to play better on the road, so the Commodores have that going for them this week. Tigers 23, Commodores 9.

Ole Miss at LSU: This is the first meeting in which both teams are ranked since 2003, and it's the first time since 1961 in which the Rebels enter with a higher ranking than the Tigers. Rebels 31, Tigers 24.

South Carolina at Auburn: Steve Spurrier has lost six straight games to the Tigers, a streak that began in 2001 when Damon Duval's 44-yard field goal stunned the top-ranked Gators 23-20. Tigers 37, Gamecocks 24.

Alabama at Tennessee: Nick Saban is hoping to remain undefeated as Alabama's coach against the Volunteers, just like Bill Curry. Crimson Tide 33, Volunteers 10.

Last week:

Winners......................18

Sumlins/Muschamps...7

Pasquali is 161-39 overall (80.5 percent) this season.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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