| LSU and Ole Miss have played a lot of lower-scoring basketball games than last year's 55-49 football victory by the Rebels over the Tigers. Defense was an afterthought in that game as both offenses went up and down the field with little resistence from the other team. This year looks to be different. LSU's defense is making progress over last year's historically abysmal numbers, while the Ole Miss defense has put up numbers that are among the best in the nation. "I would say if you look at their team last year to this year, they're just playing great defense," LSU coach Brian Kelly said Monday at his weekly news conference to preview Saturday's game with the Rebels in Tiger Stadium. Ole Miss is allowing only 7.5 points per game. It surrendered just one touchdown in its opening four games and has held opposing offenses to 1.8 yards per rush through six contests. On the flip side, the Rebels have not faced an offense as potentially explosive as LSU's. Which will win out? We'll find out Saturday in what should be a sold-out Tiger Stadium. Defense, with the goal toward playing what Kelly calls complimentary football between offense and defense, is also the subject of my column this week. From my view, how well LSU plays defense will be the key in this one. Kelly also spoke briefly Monday of the practice availability of three potential starters: running back Caden Durham, receiver CJ Daniels and cornerback Zy Alexander. We've also got your odds and ends on the game, ends being the TV info. And finally, we end this newsletter with the ever popular Wilson Alexander mailbag full of pressing questions on Saturday's game. That's all for now, folks. Please follow us all week as we bring you up to kickoff and after with the most comprehensive coverage of LSU athletics anywhere. Until next time, Scott Rabalais | 
