The Ole Miss Rebels are a team that definitely comes across as one with a higher ceiling than in the past, but not without the real possibility of facing a very severe fall, one that could send this program crashing to the floor. Few SEC programs have more at stake this season than the Rebels, who need to show that their hopes are legitimate by finishing no worse than third in the SEC West.
Strengths
The Rebels have a talented veteran quarterback, Bo Wallace, but for all the potential Wallace brings, he’s only a moderate strength, not a complete one. Wallace still commits too many turnovers to be considered a great player. He’s only a good player.
A bigger team strength than Wallace for this team is its defense. The Rebels did not lose any defensive player who is considered central to the team’s goals. Mississippi has great depth throughout its defensive roster, giving this team a chance to compete in road games against good teams. If you have a good offense but a bad defense, it’s hard to go into a really strong opponent’s stadium and win, because defenses are what enable teams to handle adversity and stay in a game when a lot of other things aren’t going right. Ole Miss, though, has a defense that might turn into one of the standout units in the SEC. This is a great source of hope entering the season.
Weaknesses
The Rebels lack experience along their offensive line. Center Evan Swindall, lineman Jared Duke, and fellow lineman Pierce Burton all depart from the 2013 roster. Losing three starters out of five on the offensive front means that the Rebels have to replace a majority of their line. Even if Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze thinks he’s found solid replacements for those three players, what’s still true is that the Rebels face a large-scale transition on their line. They might fix everything by the end of the season, but what about the beginning of the season? There are likely to be some real growing pains, ones that could hurt the team in an important circumstance.
Schedule
The Rebels play a neutral-site game in Atlanta against Boise State, which they should expect to win. Then Ole Miss immediately dives into the SEC schedule by visiting Vanderbilt for the second straight season. Ole Miss’ biggest games are both at home, versus Alabama and Auburn, four weeks apart, in the middle section of the season. If Ole Miss can just win one of those two games, it could shake things up in the SEC West and create a different season from the one many are expecting. Winning at LSU and at Texas A&M won’t be easy. The Rebels should feel confident about winning at A&M. LSU is a much tougher team than A&M this season, or at least, that’s the early read.
Outlook
There are enough easy win opportunities on the schedule for Ole Miss to glide to eight wins, with an outside chance at nine. Arkansas, Mississippi State, Memphis, Louisiana-Lafayette, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Presbyterian, and Texas A&M should be the eight wins for this team. Take the over.
Pick: Over 7.5 at -180
