Ole Miss baseball vs. LSU 2018: TV info, game times, streaming info, and preview

Coming off of an unfriendly road trip that saw the Rebels lose 2-of-3 to in-state rival Mississippi State and then to Vanderbilt in Music City, the Ole Miss Rebels responded in good form by going 3-1 against Arkansas State and UGA last week and climbing back into the top 10. And despite losing a tough non-conference loss in the midweek to Mississippi State in Pearl, Miss., everything is still out in front for the No. 6 Rebs (32-10, 10-8).

As life goes in the SEC, there is no down time and the coming weekend also looms large for the Rebs. The good guys have an enormous chance to stabilize itself as, yes, a national seed contender and keep their perch nice and tidy atop the SEC West, as (usual) perennial powerhouse LSU comes to Oxford for Double Decker Weekend.

As it stands, Ole Miss is still in “pretty” good shape for the aforementioned national seed with a 32 wins, a No. 6 RPI, a 22-2 non-conference record (including 11-1 in the midweek), and what appears to be the toughest part of the schedule behind it. Moreover, this LSU is not the LSU of old. The Bayou Bengals hold an unassuming 24-17 record (just 9-9 in the SEC) and are just 2-10 away from the friendly confines of Alex Box Stadium.

Furthermore, LSU does not perform in any area particularly well. The Tigers rank in the middle of the SEC in virtually every offensive category besides triples (2nd). Here is where they are in all major offensive categories in conference:

• 5th average
• 6th slugging
• 6th on-base %
• 6th in total bases
• 6th in hits
• 6th in RBI
• 6th in doubles
• 7th in total bases
• 8th in hit by pitch
• 8th in home runs
• 8th in runs scored
• 12th in walks
• 14th in Strikeouts (Rebs are 13th) – (this is actually a good stat, LSU has the least amount of strikeouts of anyone in the SEC and over ONE HUNDRED less than Vanderbilt)

As “mediocre” as LSU has been on offense, it is even worse on the mound. The Tigers sport the second highest ERA in the Conference and have struck out 31 less batters than the Rebels (Ole Miss is 2nd, LSU is 9th, respectively). LSU is dead last in saves, but also 4th in losses.

In other words, not only do LSU’s starters lose a lot of games, but when they do provide a save opportunity, the bullpen struggles to shut the door. I know you’re thinking “but, Ben, Ole Miss’ bullpen is struggling as well” to which I would reply “but, reader of the Cup, Ole Miss is still first in the SEC in saves.”

Prediction of the week: Will Golsan continues his heater (never leave a hot table, fellow gamblers) and bats .500 with 4 extra base hits and leads Ole Miss to a series win over LSU.

The numbers

Complete Ole Miss stats | Complete LSU stats

How to watch

Thursday

First pitch: 7 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network
Online streaming: SECN+
Game-time weather: 63°, rain, 80% chance of rain
Projected pitchers
Ole Miss: LHP Ryan Rolison (5-3, 3.19 ERA)
LSU: RHP Zack Hess (6-4, 3.79 ERA)

Friday

First pitch: 6:30 p.m. CT
TV: NONE
Online streaming: SECN+
Game-time weather: 72°, partly cloudy, 10% chance of rain
Projected pitchers
Ole Miss: RHP Brady Feigl (7-2, 3.30 ERA)
LSU: RHP Ma’Khail Hilliard (7-3, 3.12 ERA)

Saturday

First pitch: 3 p.m. CT
TV: ESPNU
Online streaming: SECN+
Game-time weather: 74°, sunny, 10% chance of rain
Projected pitchers
Ole Miss: RHP James McArthur (5-0, 3.17 ERA)
LSU: TBA