Ole Miss ties LSU in the SEC West by winning 63

The inputs to the 10,000 simulations of these games are based on a rigorous analysis of each team that considers strength-of-schedule-adjusted team and player ratings and then makes modifications for injuries and depth at each position. To see other picks like our Upset and Locks of the Week, as well as our season-to-date performance, click here Game of the Week: No 18 LSU 17 No. 24 Mississippi 23The Southeastern Conference championship game is set, but there is still some meaningful football to be played in the conference The rest of the SEC race is anybody's guess. The West Division picture should get a little clearer this weekend as two top 25 teams in our most recent power rankingsOle Miss and LSUmeet in a battle of teams that were considered contenders to fight for spots in that title game at the start of the year.

They've lost two of their last five games, with both of those losses coming against unbeaten teams (Florida and Alabama), but have suffered at different times during the season from unexpectedly close victories. LSU relies on a balanced offense and has scored 14 touchdowns through the air and 14 on the ground. The Tigers' rushing attack hasn't opened any eyes as they average less than four yards per carry. They'll again be without starter Charles Scott, who broke his collarbone, but Keiland Williams filled in well against Louisiana Tech and is averaging more than five yards per carry this season.The Tigers' passing offense has been even more mediocre. They rank outside the top 100 in passing yards per game and average less than seven yards per attempt.LSU hasn't said yet whether quarterback Jordan Jefferson, who also missed Saturdays game but did practice some last week, will return. Through the air, they allow just 5.78 yards per attempt and have picked off more passes (12) than they've allowed to find the end zone (10). LSU ranks 13th in the country, allowing less than 4.5 yards per play.

After making an abundance of noise to start the season, Mississippi fell out of the national picture with a loss to South Carolina and a drubbing by Alabama. The Rebels average 7.27 yards per pass attempt, but Snead has thrown 14 interceptions on the year and completes just over 52 percent of his passes.But it's the Rebels offense that has exploded onto the scene. The Rebels aren't far behind the Tigers in terms of rushing defense, allowing less than 3.8 yards per carry. Both teams have been especially stout against the run at the goal line. LSU has allowed an amazingly low three rushing touchdowns while opponents have found the end zone on the ground against Ole Miss just eight times.The Rebels are equally good against the pass, allowing just seven passing touchdowns and just 5.76 yards per passing attempt. Either way, the game should stay close with two teams that are giving up less than 16 points per game, each ranking in the top 12 in the nation in scoring defense.

Our computers expect at least one team to eclipse 20 points and it's the home team pulling off a minor upset. In 10,0000 computer simulations, McCluster and the Rebels finally put together an official winning streak with a 23-17 victory over the Tigers.Ole Miss ties LSU in the SEC West by winning 63.7 percent of the time. Other Notable Games in Week 12With the season winding down, many of the top conference races are all but over at the top (see Ohio State, the SEC title game and Texas just waiting to pounce on whoever comes out of the Big 12 North).The Pac-10 belonged in that category about this time every year as well...until now.USC's back-to-back blowouts have the conference race fairly wide open heading into the final few weeks. Stanford continues its hot run 70.6 percent of the time against Cal, winning 38-28. And Oregon State remains in the hunt 95 percent of the time at Washington State. The Big East remains exciting as well, though not so much this week. Both 10-0 Cincinnati and 9-1 Pittsburgh have this week off and then will play one more game before meeting up in what could be a monumental season finale.