Mississippi Rebels

4-8 (1-7)

Week 1: September 3rd vs. BYU - BYU has gone independent and they have a pretty good team to start out with. They have a young QB who is supposed to be the next great BYU quarterback and he has 10 starters back on offense including himself. BYU went 6-7 last year, but Ole Miss went 4-8. There will be a lot of pressure on Ole Miss to win this game considering last year's debacle on the first game of the year to Division 1-AA Jacksonville State. I'm not so sure Ole Miss can win this game even at home. All of BYU's attention this offseason will be paid two their first two games against Ole Miss and Texas...and I think they will have plenty of things up their sleeve and win the game.

Week 2: September 10th vs. Southern Illinois - Ole Miss did lose for a FCS opponent last year, but it won't happen again, they get on the board with a win in this one.

Week 3: Sept. 17th at Vanderbilt - The Rebs first road test is in Nashville, where they will try to avenge their 2-touchdown loss to the Commodores last year. Vandy has actually won 3 of the last 4 in this series and 4 of the last 6! There won't be a lot of high flying in this game, as both offenses strength is the running game, behind veteran offensive lines. I don't expect much this season out of either defense, especially Ole Miss'...this game will be determined by which team's D-line can reek havoc on the other's backfield. With Kendrell Lockett I give the advantage to Ole Miss as the rest of the D-line for both teams is near the bottom of the league. It should be a good game, and as much as I want Vandy to win, I'm picking Ole Miss.

Week 4: September 24th vs. Georgia - This is a big time game for both of these coaches. There is a chance Ole Miss is 3-0 and maybe even Georgia is 3-0 or 2-1 and the pressure is off both of them but I have a feeling they will both be uncomfortable as far as job security coming into the game. I think UGA will win the battle up front with their O-line being able to perform well against Ole Miss' D-line, and the Dawgs defensive line should be good enough to keep Ole Miss' and their O-line and backfield from running all over the place. Ole Miss QB situation will be interesting, UGA does have some talented DBs who could force some turnovers if the Rebs have to start throwing a lot. I think this will be a close game but Georgia pulls it out.

Week 5: October 1st at Fresno State - Looking at this game I would think Ole Miss would struggle having to fly all the way out to Fresno, California. I'm not so sure they will though. Fresno St. has 10 returning starters, 5 on offense and 5 on defense from a team that was very inconsistent last year and lost to Ole Miss in Oxford 55-38. I think Ole Miss gets a win here to go to 3-2.

Week 6: Bye - This is a great time for a bye for Ole Miss. The five previous games are all winnable for a team that is the consensus pick to finish last in the SEC West. If they could finish that stretch with a 5-0 or 4-1 record they could be on their way to restoring themselves from last year, but if they can't it will be a tough road to hoe in the 2nd half. But they do have this bye week to prepare for a home game with Alabama, a possible chance at a huge upset.

Week 7: October 15th vs. Alabama - Ole Miss has played Alabama tough in the past, and most of the time this game ends up being closer than people think. This game is in Oxford and Ole Miss has a week off before the game. If Bama was playing Florida instead of Vandy before this I might be inclined to pick Ole Miss despite how little I think of them. But Saban should have his guys ready for whatever Nutt throws their way, and they'll be able to handle the Rebs.

Week 8: October 22nd vs. Arkansas - The Rebels are coming off a game against Alabama and the Razorbacks are coming off a bye. Ole Miss will stick around for 3 quarters as they are at home, but they are not deep enough to beat Arkansas a week after playing Bama.

Week 9: October 29th at Auburn - This game could determine which team finished 5th in the West (stays out of the cellar) and which team goes to a bowl game. Auburn has been quietly dominating this series over the last 6-7 years. Unfortunately for Ole Miss, they are catching Auburn later in the season, when I think their young, talented players will have gained a lot of experience and played in a lot of big games. With this game in Auburn, I'm going to go with the Tigers.

Week 10: November 5th at Kentucky - Ole Miss' previous 3 games were against Alabama, Arkansas, and Auburn, and they will probably come away from those games with a number of injuries. If my predictions are correct, they will be teetering near the edge of a failed season and Houston Nutt will be feeling a lot of pressure for another poor year...making this game a must win. Kentucky does not have much offensive explosiveness coming back from 2010 but Joker Philips has proven to be a good offensive coach, and he will probably be able to find some plays against a poor Ole Miss D. I think Kentucky's defense will have enough strength to hold off Ole Miss and they will win the game at home.

Week 11: November 12th vs. Louisiana Tech - By this point in the year I have predicted Ole Miss to be 3-6, having lost four in a row. So they would have to run the table to make a bowl game and it starts with this game. Coming back home I think Ole Miss will be motivated by that and win this one easily.

Week 12: November 19th vs. LSU - Ole Miss takes this game very seriously and they have won 2 of the last 3 in the series. By this point of the season one or both of these coaches will probably be on the hot seat...most likely Houston Nutt. If Jordan Jefferson or whoever plays QB for LSU is not able to put it all together by late November this could present an opportunity for Ole Miss' poor defense. At home, in a rivalry setting, if the Rebs can be opportunistic in this game and can get their play makers in open space they've got a great shot. I don't think they will, however, and the Tigers will win the game.

Week 13: November 26th at Mississippi State - This is an underrated rivalry, but I can't say you can throw out the record books as the best team usually wins. I've got MSU ranked higher in 6 out of 7 units and this game is played in Starkville. If Ole Miss is playing for their 6th win and bowl-eligibility this could get a lot more interesting. But I'm going with the Dawgs to make Dan Mullen 3-0 in the Egg Bowl.


JB