With week-one of the 2018 Ole Miss football season behind us, week-two will see the Rebels hosting the Southern Illinois Salukis in Oxford.
The 2018 Ole Miss football season is now one week old and the Rebels (1-0) are 1-0 coming off a huge 47-27 win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders (0-1). Ole Miss returns to Oxford this Saturday for the Rebels home opener in which they will host the Salukis of Southern Illinois (1-0). The Salukis will enter the Vaught Saturday coming off a 49-10 season opening win over Murray State.
The Southern Illinois Salukis out of Carbondale hail from the FCS division and are members of the Missouri Valley Conference. Head coach Nick Hill is in his 3rd season and has compiled an overall record of 9-14 while there. The Salukis finished 4-7 in 2017 with wins coming over Miss Valley State, Southeast Missouri, Illinois State and Indiana State. The Salukis played on the road at Memphis in a 44-31 loss.
Yes, the Salukis may be a FCS team but Ole Miss cannot afford to overlook them. Many of us were there in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium when Jacksonville State shocked the Rebels during the Houston Nutt era. The Salukis have a very well coached and talented team which would love to build on last weeks win by knocking off an SEC team. The Salukis looked good against Murray State.
Salukis Season Stats
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Against Murray State in the season opener Southern Illinois put up 451 yards of total offense. The Salukis pounded the ball 65 times on the ground to the tune of 300 yards and added 151 passing yards. SIU scored 4 offensive TDs, 2 passing and 2 rushing.
While the Salukis have a good offense the defense is also good. The Salukis defense scored 3 TDs on turnovers against Murray State while allowing only 290 yards of total offense giving up 198 yards thru the air and only 92 yards on the ground.
Some Salukis To Watch
Southern Illinois is loaded with very well coached and talented athletes who will show up and play hard for Nick Hill this Saturday. Of course there are Salukis players OHT believes will make an impact Saturday and we will take a look at a few of those here.
The Salukis are led by senior QB Sam Straub who was 16 of 29 for 107 yards and 1 TD with 1 INT. Straub also had 5 carries for 12 yards. Also on the offensive side of the ball are RBs junior DJ Davis and senior Jonathan Mixon. Davis had 19 carries for 133 yards and Mixon had 11 carries for 56 yards and 1 TD against Murray State. Also watch for senior WR Darrell James who had 3 receptions for 29 yards and 1 TD.
On the defensive side of the ball there is junior safety Jeremy Chinn who had 7 tackles and 2 forced fumbles against the Racers. Also watch for junior OLB Cody Crider who had 6 tackles and 1 forced fumble. The Salukis also have junior DT Malik Haynes and sophomore DE Anthony Knighton. Haynes had 4 tackles, 1.5 TFL and .5 sack against the Murray State while Knighton had 3 tackles, 1.5 TFL and .5 sack.
OHT’s Final Forecast
Despite this being a huge game for the Salukis it should be business as usual for the Rebels this Saturday. Expect to see the Salukis do what every team does against Ole Miss and thats try to run the ball. OHT sees a huge game for the Rebels on both sides of the ball with gaudy numbers when all the dust settles on a Rebels blowout of SIU.
OHT’s Week-Two Final:
Ole Miss Rebels 63
Southern Illinois 10
Ole Miss football looks to go to 2-0 with a win this weekend. The Rebels will host the Southern Illinois Salukis in Oxford this Saturday. Kickoff from Vaught-Hemingway Stadium is set for 3pm CT and the game will be televised via SEC Network. Good luck to coach Matt Luke and the Rebels. BEAT SIU! Hotty Toddy!