Alabama's Offense vs. Ole Miss' Defense Won't Be the Determining Factor

When No. 3 Alabama walks into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi, on Saturday afternoon to take on No. 11 Ole Miss, it will be power vs. power in one of the biggest SEC games of the season.

Alabama's offense currently ranks fourth in the nation in yards per game (594.3) and fifth in yards per play (7.62). Quarterback Blake Sims and that crew will be going up against the fourth-best defense in the country (248.0 YPG and 3.74 yards per play).

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

The Rebels have notched nine interceptions in just four games, so while Sims has looked great all year long—particularly two weeks ago when he tossed for 445 yards and four touchdowns against Florida—this will be, by far, his toughest test of the year. 

Ole Miss safety Cody Prewitt is excited about facing off against the Tide offense, saying, per Fox Sports' Brandon Speck that "we don't really think Bama is as good as they have been."

The matchup between Ole Miss' defense and Alabama's offense won't be what decides the game, though. Ole Miss' offense vs. Alabama's front seven is the most important matchup of the game.

It'll be no contest, as SEC Network's Paul Finebaum explained to The Opening Drive on WJOX 94.5 in Birmingham.

"

Finebaum: I just don’t think Ole Miss is ready to beat Alabama. The sideshows (Gameday...etc) aren’t going to help them.

— Opening Drive (@openingdrive) September 29, 2014"

Alabama has made an effort to be faster in its front seven over the last few years, with fast and physical players like defensive end Jonathan Allen and linebacker Rashaan Evans. Those kinds of players—Allen, in particular—will be a huge factor on Saturday afternoon in Oxford.

Ole Miss' offensive line has been a sore spot this year. The Rebels have given up 29 tackles for loss this season—tied for the second-worst mark in the SEC. That inconsistency up front is a big reason why quarterback Bo Wallace has been mistake-prone.

Wallace has thrown an SEC-worst six interceptions, including two last week against Memphis in addition to fumbling once. He and Ole Miss' offensive line haven't seen anything like what's coming at them this weekend. 

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

The Crimson Tide front seven gets after the quarterback, thrives off mistakes generated with pressure and will put Sims and that offense in position to capitalize.

How do you slow down a pass rush?

A consistent running game would help, and Ole Miss' running game has been far from consistent this year.

The Rebs are averaging just 160.75 yards per game on the ground and just 3.99 yards per carry—the third-worst mark in the conference. If they have a strength on the ground, it's off the edge, where smaller running backs I'Tavius Mathers and Jaylen Walton have done the most damage.

Guys like Allen can track down even the fastest running backs, as he proved last year in the highlight above, chasing down Heisman Trophy finalist Tre Mason from behind.

If Ole Miss can protect Wallace and prevent him from taking risks against Alabama's defense, it will go a long way toward springing the upset. Doing that, however, probably requires establishing a strong and consistent running game, and against this Alabama defense, that's no easy task.

Bama's offense vs. Ole Miss' defense is going to be a wildly fascinating chess match, with both teams earning their fair share of praise. 

It will be a decidedly one-sided affair when Ole Miss has the ball, though.

The Tide will be all over the Rebels from the get-go, force mistakes by the dozen and lead the Crimson Tide to a big victory on the road in Oxford.

Barrett Sallee is the Lead SEC college football writer and video analyst for Bleacher Report, as well as a co-host of the CFB Hangover on Bleacher Report Radio (Sundays, 9-11 a.m. ET) on Sirius 93, XM 208.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.