Ole Miss Rebels vs Lsu Tigers Picks and Predictions January 11th 2025

o. 23 Ole Miss Eyes 3-0 SEC Start Against Turnover-Prone LSU

No. 23 Ole Miss looks to keep its perfect start to Southeastern Conference play intact when it hosts LSU on Saturday in Oxford, Miss. The Rebels (13-2, 2-0 SEC) aim to extend their winning streak to three games in conference play, while the Tigers (11-4, 0-2 SEC) seek to address glaring issues that have led to back-to-back losses.

Rebels’ Winning Formula

Ole Miss has been steady in its first two SEC contests, defeating Georgia 63-51 at home before earning a gritty 73-66 road win at Arkansas. Head coach Chris Beard praised his team’s effort, emphasizing their focus over 80 minutes of basketball.

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“I think our hearts have been in the right place,” Beard said. “We’re just trying to stay poised and not get too high or too low.”

Rebounding has been a focus for the Rebels, who rank near the bottom of the SEC in rebounding margin (minus-0.4). However, they have shown improvement, outrebounding both Georgia and Arkansas by slim margins.

Malik Dia shone in the victory over Arkansas, scoring a season-high 21 points and grabbing eight rebounds despite limited minutes due to foul trouble. Sean Pedulla (16 points) and Dre Davis (10 points) also made significant contributions.

Ole Miss leads the SEC in turnover margin (plus-6.6), a factor that could prove decisive against LSU’s turnover struggles.

Tigers’ Troubles

LSU has started SEC play with losses to Vanderbilt and Missouri, hampered by turnovers and rebounding deficiencies. Against Vanderbilt, the Tigers committed 11 first-half turnovers and were minus-9 in points off turnovers. The trend continued against Missouri, where they had 10 first-half giveaways and were again minus-9 in points off turnovers.

Head coach Matt McMahon acknowledged the need for adjustments: “We’ve got to figure out a new way to get some solutions to do a better job taking care of the ball against the pressure.”

Freshman point guard Curtis Givens III has been a bright spot, showing leadership in the second halves of both games. Givens scored 10 second-half points against Missouri while limiting turnovers after the break.

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Rebounding remains a critical issue for LSU, which has been outrebounded by an average of nine boards per game in SEC play. Opponents have dominated the Tigers on the offensive glass, leading to a significant deficit in second-chance points (17-6.5 average).

Key Matchup

The Rebels’ aggressive defense, which excels at forcing turnovers, will challenge LSU’s ball security. Ole Miss will also look to exploit its rebounding edge against a Tigers squad that has struggled on the glass.

What’s at Stake

A victory for Ole Miss would solidify its position as a top contender in the SEC, while LSU desperately needs a win to avoid falling further behind in the conference standings.

The Rebels’ ability to force turnovers and control the tempo will likely dictate the outcome against an LSU team still searching for answers in SEC play.