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FACTS & STATS: Site: Bulldog Stadium (41,031) -- Fresno, California. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Ole Miss 1-2, Fresno State 1-0. Away Record: Ole Miss 0-1, Fresno State 1-1. Neutral Record: Ole Miss 0-0, Fresno State 0-1. Conference Record: Ole Miss 0-2, Fresno State 1-0. Series Record: Ole Miss leads, 1-0.

GAME NOTES: The Ole Miss Rebels of the SEC and the Fresno State Bulldogs of the Western Athletic Conference will collide under the lights in California on Saturday night.

Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt has been rumored to be on the "hot seat" lately, and the chatter didn't quiet at all after last weekend's 27-13 loss to SEC foe Georgia. That setback dropped the Rebels to 1-3, and their only win to date came over an FCS opponent. They are 0-2 in conference and will take on four consecutive SEC foes after this weekend's affair.

Fresno State opened the season with a pair of defeats, but the team has rallied for back-to-back victories. Last weekend, the Bulldogs went on the road and posted a 48-24 decision over Idaho in their WAC opener. Long-time head coach Pat Hill leads Fresno into battle.

These two programs met for the first time last season, and the Rebels won a shootout in a 55-38 final.

The Rebels scored two touchdowns last week against Georgia, but one of those came on an 81-yard punt return. The lone offensive score occurred in the second quarter, as signal caller Randall Mackey tossed a 38-yard strike to Donte Moncrief. Ole Miss was shut out in the second half and finished the game with embarrassing totals of 183 total yards and eight first downs. Both Mackey and Zack Stoudt saw time under center, and both were intercepted.

Georgia compiled over 200 yards both rushing and receiving against the Ole Miss defense last week. The Rebels managed to hold the Bulldogs to 3.7 yards per rushing attempt, but they did surrender 15.8 yards per pass completion.

Overall this season, Ole Miss is generating a low 18.8 ppg and 236.5 total ypg, numbers that simply will not lead to many victories. The Rebels have been unable to generate a consistent ground attack, posting a modest 91.8 ypg and 2.9 ypc. Jeff Scott is the best tailback on the roster, as he has rushed for 212 yards and three scores. The team has already turned the ball over 10 times, including seven interceptions, and six of those picks have been thrown by the ineffective Stoudt. He and Mackey are both inaccurate passers that pose little threat to opposing defenses.

While the offense has clearly struggled, the Ole Miss defense has permitted opponents to gain 399.5 total ypg en route to 23.8 ppg. Foes are rushing for 200.5 ypg at a clip of 4.6 ypc, and five passing scores have been notched. On a positive note, the Rebels have seven interceptions to their credit, three of which have come from Charles Sawyer.

A decade ago, David Carr was setting records as the quarterback for Fresno State en route to being the top pick in the NFL Draft. Now, it is his brother, Derek, who leads the Bulldogs under center as a redshirt sophomore. Carr was sensational last week against Idaho, passing for 371 yards and five touchdowns to overshadow a pair of interceptions. Jalen Saunders was explosive on the outside, hauling in five balls for 142 yards and a pair of scores. As for the ground attack, Robbie Rouse rushed for 112 yards on 25 carries to help the offense compile 513 total yards.

Fresno State is racking up 31.2 ppg and 373.5 total ypg, averages that were obviously improved by last week's effort. Carr has completed 59.4 percent of his attempts for 1,010 yards and nine touchdowns against three interceptions. Sanders has posted 335 yards and four scores on only 11 catches, while Rouse has rushed for 477 yards and three scores. Clearly, there is some serious talent present at the skill positions.

Defensively, the Bulldogs held Idaho to 283 total yards last weekend, including just 44 rushing yards on 24 attempts. Fresno State limited the Vandals to 3-of-14 success on third-down conversion attempts and made a few big plays when necessary.

Opponents are posting 31.0 ppg against Fresno State, which is allowing 365.2 total ypg. The Bulldogs have already yielded 10 rushing touchdowns and are permitting 4.7 yards per rush. Against the pass, they have held opposing QBs under 50 percent completions, but some big plays have been notched through the air against Hill's team.

Ole Miss is not a good football team by any means, and while Fresno State certainly has plenty of room for improvement, it should be able to squeak out a victory at home. The Bulldogs will take an early lead and never relinquish it, beating the first-ever SEC team to visit Bulldog Stadium.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Fresno State 27, Ole Miss 23