Mississippi @ Alabama preview
Bryant-Denny Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 4, 2014 ) Alabama 17, Mississippi 23
Ole Miss is putting up eye-popping offensive numbers through two games, but the 11th-ranked Rebels will face a stiffer test when they travel to No. 2 Alabama for an SEC West showdown on Saturday. The Crimson Tide have never lost back-to-back games in the series and are 25-1 at home against the Rebels.
Last year’s 23-17 home win over top-ranked Alabama marked Ole Miss’ first in the long-running series since 2003. A repeat performance would validate the Rebels’ red-hot start – they’ve outscored their first two opponents 149-24 – and perhaps make them the favorites in the SEC West. Alabama quietly dispatched Wisconsin 35-17 in its opener before cruising to a 37-10 win over Middle Tennessee last week and will have a raucous home crowd fueled by the hype of hosting ESPN’s College GameDay. The Crimson Tide have won 17 consecutive home games, tied with Baylor for the longest active streak in the nation.
TV: 9:15 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Alabama -6.5.
ABOUT OLE MISS (2-0, 0-0 SEC): The Rebels returned most of the key parts from last year’s outstanding defense, but the offense was something of a question. Quarterback Chad Kelly (557 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT) has provided a resounding answer, and the Rebels have surrounded him with numerous weapons. The outrageous offensive output has overshadowed the defense, which has lived up to expectations thus far by holding opponents to 303 yards per game even with reserves getting plenty of playing time during mop-up duty.
ABOUT ALABAMA (2-0, 0-0): The Crimson Tide have held their first two opponents under 300 total yards and have been especially stingy against the run, allowing 63 yards per game on the ground. Alabama has enjoyed the luxury of being rather one-dimensional on offense with Derrick Henry (243 yards, 6 TDs) and Kenyan Drake (117 yards, 1 TD) carrying the load. Quarterback Jake Coker (427 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) might be asked to do more in order to keep pace with Ole Miss’ high-powered attack.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Alabama has won 32 consecutive games in August and September dating to 2007.
2. Ole Miss DT Robert Nkemdiche has scored two offensive TDs (one rush, one receiving) and FS Trae Elston has returned two interceptions for scores among the Rebels’ three defensive TDs.
3. Alabama has scored in the first half of 105 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the nation, and has gone 185 consecutive games without being shut out.
PREDICTION: Alabama 33, Ole Miss 30