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Ole Miss Football: 2017 Ole Miss Rebels Season Predictions

By Daniel Skipper

OXFORD, MS - NOVEMBER 01: Fans support the Mississippi Rebels as they take the field to face the Auburn Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 1, 2014 in Oxford, Mississippi. Auburn defeated Mississippi 35-31. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - NOVEMBER 01: Fans support the Mississippi Rebels as they take the field to face the Auburn Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 1, 2014 in Oxford, Mississippi. Auburn defeated Mississippi 35-31. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
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California Bears

Saturday September 16, 2017 the Ole Miss Rebels (2-0) will travel to Berkeley, California to take on the Cal Bears from the Pac12 conference. California is also coming off a dismal 2016 season which saw them go 5-7 overall and finishing 4th in the Pac12 North. The Bears picked up wins over Hawaii, Texas, Utah, Oregon and UCLA.

First year head coach Justin Wilcox took over the helm with the departure of Sonny Dykes. Wilcox is a defensive coach by nature so Ole Miss fans can expect to see a much improved Bears defense.

The questions for the bears exist around their offense. How much of Dykes ‘Air Raid’ offense will still exist remains to be seen. However, they do have the talent to make a statement within the Pac12. Of course, they will open their season with a trip to Chapel Hill to take on a stingy TarHeels team. The Bears will face Weber State in week 2. This is when we’ll know what to expect from the Cal Bears offense.

Offensively they do have weapons in many talented players. There has been no official word on which QB Wilcox will start. However, both of Cal’s front-runners for the position had their time under center for the spring game. Ross Bowers had a great game going 18 of 29 for 168 yards and 3 TDs. Chase Forrest went 15 of 29 for 189 yards and a TD while throwing 2 INTs.

Of course, Cal has a variety of skill players who can break open at any moment. Kanawai Noa had a huge showing the spring game with 8 receptions for 112 yards to lead all receivers. According to CalBears.com, 14 different receivers caught passes in the spring game.

Prediction

This game scares me plain and simple. I believe it has the potential to be a 4th quarter shootout. The Rebels will be fired up and ready to compete hard we know. However, the question for the Rebels will be how much improvement Crimedawg’s defense will have made by week 3. Even though it is a night game there will also be a question of defensive depth in the humid California heat for both teams. The defense which shows up late in the 4th wins this game.

Offensively Shea Patterson and Co should be able to put up good numbers. However, this will be the game where the ‘Landshark D’ finally reemerged. This game ends on a late blocked FG attempt by Cal which would send the game to OT.

Ole Miss 38

California 35

Ole Miss Rebels (3-0)

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