Ole Miss Football: Can The Ole Miss Rebels Top The Tide?
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Ole Miss football. Underdog against Alabama is nothing new for the Rebels and lately Ole Miss has played the part well.
No team wants to be the underdog, however Ole Miss football has played the part remarkably well in recent years against Bama. In 2014 Ole Miss was ranked 11th in the nation as they took on 3rd ranked Alabama in Oxford. Of course they were the underdog with Bama ranked No.1 in some polls. However, Ole Miss shocked the college football word with a 23-17 win over the Tide.
Once again, in 2015, the Rebels were ranked 15th as they traveled to T-town to take on the Tide in Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Tide was ranked No.2 in the nation. However, home field advantage was nonexistent as the Tide was plagued throughout the game by turnovers and big offensive plays by the Rebels. Ole Miss won the game 43-37 in front of what was left of a sparse crimson crowd.
Ole Miss Rebels Football
In 2016 in Oxford, Ole Miss football once again dominated the game for the first half. Of course,it’s No.1 Bama and they had a helluva second half to come back and beat the 19th ranked Rebels by the score of 48-43.
Underdog doesn’t mean much when it comes to this Ole Miss football team. After all they’ve been thru as a team, Bama really is just another obstacle in this young season. Of course, the Alabama Crimson Tide is once again ranked 1st in the nation. They should be after dismantling Vandy and the Mason coached defense.
What Does Vegas Know?
Naturally, the Vegas odds-makers don’t have much faith in Ole Miss. After the offensive meltdown we witnessed against Cal from the PAC-12, it’s easy to see why. Vegas has Alabama favored in the game and have set the line at -28.
Of course, the line is apt to change before game time. However, it probably won’t change much in favor for the Rebels. However, the Rebels have done well by Vegas standards over the past ten years. As reported by BleacherReport.com,
"The Alabama Crimson Tide own a significant lead in the rivalry with the Ole Miss Rebels, winning 49 of 60 meetings all-time. But the Rebels have won two of the last three meetings, and they’re 7-3 against the spread over the last 10. ~BleacherReport.com"
I seriously doubt Bama beats the spread in the game. However I seriously doubted they would cover the spread against Vandy. Instead Bama nuked the spread with a 59-0 win over the Dores.
I Like Our Chances
As many of you already know, this is the game I circle on the schedule every season. Because of friends and family this is what has become a rivalry game of sorts for me. No I’m not a glutton for punishment, however I’d rather go after a steak than a cupcake.
Of course, every game is important. Every win is special and every loss devastatingly bad. However, a win over Bama is worth everything else we’ve had to endure as team during this past incredibly brutal off-season.
There’s no doubt a win over a No.1 ranked Bama this Saturday would be huge. Honestly I believe this is the Ole Miss team to do it. The pundits will disagree of course. However, Ole Miss has a really good team. Sure, we tanked at Cal but that loss could have made the difference in a win or loss at Bama.
Right now, we have an SEC leader at quarterback in Shea Patterson and one of the best offenses we may ever see at Ole Miss. The wide receiver corp is the best in the SEC if not the nation. This team is going to be ok this season and it will begin with the game against Bama. Coach Matt Luke realizes what’s at stake and what a win over Bama would do to remove the interim status from in front of his name.
Could this be the game when we see the Ole Miss defense step-up? I think coaches Wesley McGriff and Freddie Roach will have the defense ready and up to the task. We don’t have to wait for long to find out. The Ole Miss Rebels will take the field this Saturday in Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. Kickoff from Bryant-Denny Stadium is set for 8pm CT. The game will be televised on ESPN. Hotty Toddy!