Ole Miss is coming off an old-fashioned shootout against Texas Tech - one in which they lost 49-45.
The game took a toll on the Rebels.
Starting center Chris Spencer, who doubles as the No. 1 guard, is doubtful for Saturday's game.,
"We're going to work him, but that'll be a day-to-day thing and it doesn't look good," coach David Cutcliffe said. "At this time, we're pretty bumped and bruised."
What the Rebels have is senior quarterback Eli Manning, who has Ole Miss sitting atop the list in passing offense in the SEC (averaging 340.8 yards per game). Manning needs just 168 yards to break into the SEC's Top 10 passing list.
But there's a flip side and it's not good: the defense. Ole Miss is last in the league in passing defense and second to last in scoring defense, allowing opponents an average of 413 yards and 32 points per game. What opponents can't seem to do is run on the Rebels - they are second in the league in rushing defense, allowing just 74.8 yards per game.
No lead is safe with the Rebels. Both of Mississippi's losses have come when it held double-digit leads in the fourth quarter.
GOT A MINUTE: Tavares Washington
He is the only Gator from the state of Mississippi. A first-team junior college All-American, Washington hails from Greenville, Miss., but doesn't miss it very much these days. Here, Washington talks about why he left the state and his feelings for Ole Miss.
AE: Did you ever consider attending Ole Miss?
TW: Yes, out of high school they were the first decision I had. But instead of going there, I went to junior college, because I wanted to see how many more options I could get open by being at a junior college.
AE: So you didn't really want to go to Ole Miss after all?
TW: I did, but I wanted to see how many more options I could get, then if it didn't go well, I was going to go there right after junior college.
AE: Lots of people from other states have an image of Mississippi that's, well, not that flattering. Here's your chance to represent. Tell me some good things about Mississippi.
TW: Well, there are not too many good things I can tell you about Mississippi.
AE: What does that mean?
TW: Mississippi is just like what they say. It's really just where they grow cotton. You go there and all you see is cotton and corn. It's just a cotton and corn production state. There is one thing: If you're there, you're going to get good down-home South cooking. That's about the best thing we do there.
AE: So it's safe to say you like Florida?
TW: So far it's everything I expected it to be: sunshine, nice women, everything.
AE: Will it be a little strange lining up across from Ole Miss players Saturday?
TW: Yeah, it'll be interesting. But they didn't do anything really wrong to me, so I can't talk bad about them.
OFFBEAT
At the end of last season, Florida coach Ron Zook said one of his biggest regrets was that he didn't use more of his young players. Whatever happens, he won't have that problem this season: The 2003 roster features 52 freshmen.
Here's a look at how the freshmen have performed five games into the season:
- A freshman leads UF in the following statistical categories: rushing ( DeShawn Wynn); passing ( Chris Leak); kickoff returns ( Andre Caldwell) and punting ( Eric Wilbur).
- Freshmen have accounted for 52.5 percent of the total offense (1,135 of 2,160), 56.7 percent of rushing yards (458 of 808), 51.6 percent of passing yards (698 of 1,352) and 30.8 percent of scoring (60 of 95).
- Florida started two freshmen linebackers, Earl Everett and Channing Crowder, against Kentucky for the first time in school history.
- Leak became just the fourth freshman QB in school history to start on the road for the Gators when he took over at Kentucky. Crowder's next start at linebacker (his fifth) will mark the most ever by a true freshman linebacker at UF.
- Redshirt freshman Ray McDonald has started all five games at defensive tackle. Only five freshmen DL have started more than five games in a season in school history.
QUOTABLE:
"That gives us a little bit of confidence, that if Texas Tech can do it so can we."
- Carlos Perez, Florida receiver on the possibility of having a big day passing against Mississippi, which gave up 661 yards against Texas Tech last week.
BOWL METER
Perspective is an interesting thing. Is the glass half empty or half full? Did Florida beat Kentucky last week or did the Wildcats give the game away? Whatever your take, the Gators are still a work with much progress needed, and a tough stretch of the schedule begins next week with consecutive road games against LSU and Arkansas. But with last week's come-from-behind conference win, Florida holds for now at the Peach Bowl.
