Missouri had the week off last week, allowing them to get healthy, get gameplanned and fully prepared for the two biggest games of their season. This is the first -- a road trip to Oxford against a solid Ole Miss team.
How to watch Missouri vs. Ole Miss 2013: Preview, TV schedule, odds and more
Can Missouri win out and take the SEC East?
Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
After three consecutive hiccups against Alabama, Auburn and Texas A&M, the Rebels have begun to ride again, winning four straight since their last loss. They’ll look to make it five with a victory over Missouri and will close the season with a game against in-state rival Mississippi State.
The real key for the Tigers is the health of James Franklin -- although he has been cleared to play, how well he will perform against the Rebels is anyone’s guess. Gary Pinkel has said that Maty Mauk remains in the picture, however.
The numbers
Rankings and records: The No. 8 Tigers have won the last four games in this series, leading the No. 24 Rebels 5-1 all-time, although the last meeting between these two teams occurred in 2007 when Ed Orgeron was still roaming the Ole Miss sideline.
Vegas: Missouri is a three-point road favorite. The over/under is 57 points.
Weather: Weather in Oxford is projected to be cloudy with a high of 51. There will be a 30% chance of showers.
Three names to know
James Franklin (Missouri quarterback) - Missing in action the last month after a shoulder injury, Franklin is back in action for this game against the Rebels. You'll hear his name a lot on Saturday.
Bo Wallace (Ole Miss quarterback) - A favorite here at SB Nation, the man they call Dr. Bo has sliced up SEC defenses to the tune of 17 touchdowns against five interceptions this year, although his other numbers -- completion percentage, YPA, yardage -- look largely the same as last year's.
Michael Sam (Missouri defensive end) - With 16.0 -- SIXTEEN! -- tackles for loss and ten sacks this season, Sam has been nothing less than one of the best defensive ends in college football. Those numbers are good for fifth and sixth in the nation, respectively. Good luck finding the room to operate, Dr. Bo.
Two things at stake
South Carolina has finished their conference schedule at 6-2, while Missouri is 5-1 with two games to play. Thanks to a 27-24 double overtime win last month, the Gamecocks also have the tiebreaker over the Tigers, meaning that Missouri cannot afford to lose a game from here on out if they want to represent the SEC East.
Ole Miss is already out of the picture for the SEC West, but could stand to strengthen their resume for bowl season. Winning would also keep them in the top 25 for another week, while losing would likely take them out of the polls yet again.
How to witness
TV: 7:45 p.m. ET, ESPN
Online streaming: WatchESPN. XFinity subscribers can stream here.
Further reading
Rock M Nation has more on Missouri, who had a bye week last week.
Red Cup Rebellion has what you need to know about Ole Miss, including reactions to the win over Troy and some thoughts about returning to the polls.
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