NASHVILLE – Two offenses that have combined to score just two touchdowns in three SEC games will try to correct that problem today.

No. 21 Ole Miss seeks to distance itself from a painful conference-opening defeat at South Carolina and in the process regain the SEC momentum with which it closed the 2008 season.

Vanderbilt has been a thorn in the Rebels’ side of late, winning three of the last four in the series.

Kickoff at Vanderbilt Stadium is 6 p.m., and the game will be televised on ESPNU.

The Rebels (2-1, 0-1 SEC) will look for more production from the offense overall, the offensive line in particular, where sophomore Bradley Sowell, in his first start against a BCS conference opponent, was educated on life in the SEC by South Carolina linebacker Eric Norwood.

Ole Miss had scored at least 45 points in four consecutive games before the Gamecocks held the Rebels to 248 yards and 10 points.

“It’s tough not to be down,” says Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead, a one-time Heisman Trophy darkhorse, who is completing just 49.3 percent of his passes. “I feel like we’ll respond and do what we need to do. We’re working as hard as we can to not let it happen again.”

Vanderbilt (2-2, 0-2 SEC) is working too, with sophomore quarterback Larry Smith in his first season as the starter.

Smith appeared in only two games last season but started the Music City Bowl passing 10-for-17 for 121 yards. He’s completed just 56-of-115 passes this season for 633 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.

Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson likes Smith’s running ability as a threat in the Commodores’ spread offense, but Smith has averaged just 9.5 rushing yards per game.

“They have a good athlete at quarterback with an outstanding arm,” Ole Miss defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix said. “They’re averaging about 200 yards a game on the ground, so they like to run it more than they throw it. They’re looking at a lot of rushing yards … like every team in the SEC.”

The Commodores’ 201 rushing yards a game ranks fourth in the SEC. They’ve gotten a lot of production from freshmen Warren Norman and Zac Stacey, though Stacey is banged up, and his availability for tonight’s game is unclear. Vanderbilt benefited last week by the return of senior tailback Jared Hawkins, who had 61 yards on 11 carries in a 36-17 win at Rice. Hawkins had 72 yards on 17 carries and caught a 9-yard touchdown pass against Ole Miss last year.

Johnson would like to see his team get in the end zone more. Vanderbilt scored 45 in its opener against Western Carolina and put up 36 at Rice, though the game was 13-10 with less than two minutes left in the third quarter.

“We had several opportunities to hit open receivers, make more plays and block the right people to keep a drive alive. We were given several short fields to work because of a stop by our defense, so we have learn to execute better on the offensive end, especially when we are playing someone like Ole Miss,” he said.

Contact: parrish.alford@djournal.com or 678-1600.

Today’s game at a glance

- Where: Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville

- Kickoff: 6 p.m.

- Television: ESPNU

- Radio: Ole Miss network; XM channel 199; Sirius channel 214

- Records: Ole Miss 2-1, 0-1 SEC, Vanderbilt 2-2, 0-2 SEC

- Series: Ole Miss leads 46-35-2

- Coaches - Vanderbilt: Bobby Johnson 89-94 (16h year); Ole Miss Houston Nutt 122-75 (17th year)

- Statistical leaders - Vanderbilt: QB Larry Smith 56-115-1 633 yards, 1 TD passing; RB Warren Norman 36-250 3 TDs rushing; WR John Cole 12-119 0 TDs receiving; LB Chris Marve 35 tackles, 1 sack. Ole Miss: QB Jevan Snead 35-71-2 491 yards, 6 Tds passing; RB Brandon Bolden 32-208 1 TD rushing; WR Shay Hodge 9-147 1 TD receiving; SS Johnny Brown 26 tackles, 1 INT.

Trends: Vanderbilt has won three of the last four in the series. … Ole Miss hasn’t won in Nashville since 2003.

- Notes: Ole Miss TE Gerald Harris is expected to play today. He’s been out with a hamstring since reinjuring it against Memphis. … Fullback Andy Hartmann (knee) will not play, missing his second straight game. … A win would give Ole Miss its first 3-1 start since 2002.

- Summing it up: “I would say I have an advantage. I hide behind those linemen, and I tell them all the time, if you don’t block them just get in the way of them. I don’t care how small the hole is, I’m going to hit it. I tell them just to be on their toes when I’m back there, because sometimes even I don’t know what’s about to happen.” - Ole Miss’ Dexter McCluster on playing tailback

Prediction: Ole Miss 26-19

For more on College Football read GameDay in today's NEMS Daily Journal newspaper.