Alabama-Texas A&M Highlights Vegas SEC Predictions Week 8
Saturday Blitz Vegas SEC Predictions Week 8
Tennessee Volunteers at No. 3 Ole Miss Rebels
Line: Ole Miss by 16
Are we going to pick against a Mississippi school again? The Ole Miss Rebels have earned their Top 5 rankings and have a case for being No. 1. This defense is loaded, particularly in the secondary. But it’s going to be the front line that needs to step up for the Rebels Saturday. The Vols have an extremely young offensive line right now, and it has cost them all of their losses. Ole Miss should exploit that. If the front four gets pressure, it almost assures some mistakes by Worley with Senquez Golson and Cody Prewitt in the secondary. Meanwhile, Bo Wallace doesn’t have to play as great as he has bee playing. In fact, Hugh Freeze shouldn’t take any chances. Take the ball out of his hands and run it heavily, and the Rebels should pull out the win on defense.
Tennessee, meanwhile, is stocked with talent but it’s incredibly young. So what’s the key for the Vols? The skill players on offense. Butch Jones and the coaching staff need to design quick plays to get the ball to the receivers, particularly Marquez North, who will likely face 1-on-1 coverage all game. If he does that, and if he allows Jalen Hurd and Marlin Lane (if he plays) to add balance to the offense, the group should be able to score points without horrific turnovers. Then, on defense, the secondary needs to step up and force Bo Wallace into making mistakes. He can do that. The defense simply needs to force it.
Prediction
Hugh Freeze isn’t stupid. He has to know that there is no reason to give Bo Wallace a chance to have a bad game and lose it for the Rebels. He’ll stick to the run game, and the Ole Miss defense will force the Vols into making mistakes all game so they get a comfortable win. Ole Miss wins solidly at home.
Ole Miss: 27 Tennessee; 13