Ole Miss football 2024 game-by-game predictions
Starting next weekend, we will be 14 Saturdays away from discovering if all the hype around Ole Miss was accurate. Nearly every media analyst believes the Rebels will make the college football playoffs, with Lane Kiffin labeling it all "rat poison." Perhaps he will label my precautions the same if he sees them.
Week 1: Ole Miss 56, Furman 10
No disrespect to Furman, but it's a nice game to start the season for Ole Miss. The Paladins play in the FCS but are one of the better teams, reaching the quarter-finals of the FCS Championship. The Rebels fly out the blocks, up by five touchdowns at the half. Lane Kiffin will start switching out the starters late in the third quarter, with the scoring slowing down. Tre Harris will repeat his week 1 performance we saw in 2023, over 100 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Week 2: Ole Miss 48, Middle Tennessee 14
Back in Oxford for week 2, and another game that the Rebels mark in the win column. The Blue Raiders finished 4-8 last season, losing heavily to Alabama but only going down by four points against Missouri, so the Rebels stay vigilante. After a close first half, Ole Miss will pull away with four second-half touchdowns to the opponent's zero. Tre Harris takes his tally to six touchdowns in two games while running back Rashad Amos gets his first touchdown.
Week 3: Wake Forest 10, Ole Miss 41
The first road game of the season comes against ACC team Wake Forest, who are set to finish in the bottom half of their conference. Wake Forest will look to test the Ole Miss defensive front with their run game, which they will have to rely on heavily this season. They will find success early, but Walter Nolen and Co. shut them down, with the Rebels dominating after the 1st quarter. Antwane Wells announces himself in this game with three touchdowns.
Week 4: Ole Miss 38, Georgia Southern 7
The Rebels' final non-conference game is against Sun-Belt Conference side Georgia Southern. As expected, Ole Miss come out of this unscathed in the first four games. Ole Miss will put together its best defensive performance, totaling five sacks and two interceptions, with the Eagles' touchdown coming in the fourth quarter. Jaxson Dart has three passing touchdowns and two on the ground.