Ole Miss Football: Five Keys For Rebels Week-One Win Over Texas Tech

OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 14: Wide receiver A.J. Brown
OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 14: Wide receiver A.J. Brown
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LEXINGTON, KY – NOVEMBER 04: Jordan Ta’amu
LEXINGTON, KY – NOVEMBER 04: Jordan Ta’amu

Rebels Need Mistake Free Football

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There is really only one reason why some of the top college football programs play their earlier games against weaker opponents. Coaches and players use these weaker scheduled games is to work out the kinks and fine tune everything before they get to tough in-conference schedules. This allows them to clean up their game before tougher matchups on the schedule and eliminate costly mistakes early in the season. These teams are known as cupcakes.

Texas Tech is definitely NOT a cupcake. The Rebels won’t have the luxury of being able to able to make a few mistakes and it not hurt. The Red Raiders are the kind of team which you can be tied with and five minutes later be down by 2 TDs. Texas Tech will take advantage of mistakes if they are present and the Rebels have to make the most of each drive and not hurt themselves with mistake penalties.

The Red Raiders have a defense returning 10 starters from 2017 which was responsible for 29 takeaways last season. They are very adept at creating turnovers and have an offense, though largely unproven this season, which will attempt to capitalize off Rebels miscues. It is vital the Rebels take care of the ball and avoid turnovers. Ball security by Jordan Ta’amu and the Rebels will go a long way to getting the win in the game by not allowing Tech extra opportunities.