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His problem, though, is that he has thrown as many interceptions as TD passes. However, he doesn’t get gun shy if he’s picked and will come right back the next series and attempt the tough throws. If he’s hot, he’s hot. He hasn’t really had a bad game that killed a chance for a win.
You can’t talk about Ole Miss’ offense without talking about their three- headed monster at running back. They run by committee with Bolden, Eason and McCluster. They average 5.4, 4.2 and 6.5 yards per carry, respectively. That’s some pretty respectable numbers. And each can pop one for big yardage if you let them.
This is not a flashy offense. Against the best teams, they’ve done just enough to win or keep them in the game until the end. They can move the ball on Alabama and they will. They can score against us and they will. The Tide had better respect this offense and put them away Georgia- and Clemson-style to make them irrelevant later in the game.
You can’t talk about Ole Miss’ offense without talking about their three- headed monster at running back. They run by committee with Bolden, Eason and McCluster. They average 5.4, 4.2 and 6.5 yards per carry, respectively. That’s some pretty respectable numbers. And each can pop one for big yardage if you let them.
This is not a flashy offense. Against the best teams, they’ve done just enough to win or keep them in the game until the end. They can move the ball on Alabama and they will. They can score against us and they will. The Tide had better respect this offense and put them away Georgia- and Clemson-style to make them irrelevant later in the game.
Ole Miss Season Overview
They’ve beaten the teams they should have, beaten one they shouldn’t have, and all their losses have been so close, they could have won them all with a break here or there.
MEMPHIS Win 41-24 Should have won and did big
Wake Forest Loss 28-30 Wake beat a hot FSU team
SAMFORD Win 34-10 Should have won and did
VANDERBILT Loss 17-23 Heartbreaking last minute turnover
Florida Won 31-30 Stunned a top 5 team
SOUTH CAROLINA Loss 24-31 2 big fumbles and last drive int
So as you see, if the Rebels can hold onto the ball and not turn it over, they could be a BIG problem for the Tide or ANY team.
MEMPHIS Win 41-24 Should have won and did big
Wake Forest Loss 28-30 Wake beat a hot FSU team
SAMFORD Win 34-10 Should have won and did
VANDERBILT Loss 17-23 Heartbreaking last minute turnover
Florida Won 31-30 Stunned a top 5 team
SOUTH CAROLINA Loss 24-31 2 big fumbles and last drive int
So as you see, if the Rebels can hold onto the ball and not turn it over, they could be a BIG problem for the Tide or ANY team.
How I See It Playing Out
Boy, was I wrong last week, thinking the Tide would cure their up-and-down cycle or at least that John Parker Wilson would. But if you believe in trends, then it’s time for a great showing.
I believe Alabama will come out and try and make a statement that last week's poor showing on offense was an aberration. The defense was solid last week and there’s no reason to think that will change.
The Rebels put up 24 points on one of the best defenses in America, and if not for the turnovers, they may have put up more. So far this year the Rebs average over 29 points a game. The Tide will have to score more than last weeks paltry 17-point output to win this game.
The scariest part to me is that Ole Miss has nothing to lose and will just play lights out and throw all kinds of things at us we didn’t expect. They want respect and they know they’re a much better team than their 3-3 record would suggest.
I think Ole Miss will bypass a lot of “feeling out” and test Bama on some deep balls early hoping to get the Tide flustered early and getting them out of their game plan. Nobody so far has tried to burn Bama deep consistently, and I think Ole Miss is ready to try it. I think the Tide will be up to that challenge.
Bama will come out with their traditional smash-mouth style and seek to dominate early and set a tone. I think the Tide will dominate the first half in perhaps a 17-3 fashion. If history follows suit, the Rebs make a game of it when Alabama seems to let teams back in the game, but trench warfare and strength overall win out and Alabama finally wears them out.
The scariest part to me is that Ole Miss has nothing to lose and will just play lights out and throw all kinds of things at us we didn’t expect. They want respect and they know they’re a much better team than their 3-3 record would suggest.
I think Ole Miss will bypass a lot of “feeling out” and test Bama on some deep balls early hoping to get the Tide flustered early and getting them out of their game plan. Nobody so far has tried to burn Bama deep consistently, and I think Ole Miss is ready to try it. I think the Tide will be up to that challenge.
Bama will come out with their traditional smash-mouth style and seek to dominate early and set a tone. I think the Tide will dominate the first half in perhaps a 17-3 fashion. If history follows suit, the Rebs make a game of it when Alabama seems to let teams back in the game, but trench warfare and strength overall win out and Alabama finally wears them out.
Speaking of cycles, this is the game that JPW is supposed to be on, and he will be. In a way, this will only frustrate the fans even more wondering why he can’t be that way EVERY game.
The game ends with another long Alabama drive putting the final score somewhere around the 31–17 range.
The game ends with another long Alabama drive putting the final score somewhere around the 31–17 range.
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