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SEC Football: 10 best games to watch in 2016

By Hunter Kinniburgh

Dec 5, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tight end Michael Nysewander (46) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Florida Gators in the 2015 SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Alabama won 29-15. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tight end Michael Nysewander (46) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Florida Gators in the 2015 SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Alabama won 29-15. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 19, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Quincy Adeboyejo (8) runs for a touchdown at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Rebels defeated the Tide 43-37. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Quincy Adeboyejo (8) runs for a touchdown at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Rebels defeated the Tide 43-37. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Alabama at Ole Miss 

Sept. 17 – Vaught Hemingway Stadium

Only one team has beaten Alabama in the regular season in the last two seasons and that team is Ole Miss. Alabama wanted revenge last year and they were denied. They will surely want revenge again this season.

With this game being in Oxford, Ole Miss has definite home field advantage and many of players on the Alabama team will not have forgotten their last trip to Oxford. Chad Kelly was stellar last season against Alabama and will look to continue to be stellar against the Tide this season.

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Ole Miss should be more balanced on offense against Alabama this year; the last two seasons the games were won through the passing game and timely defensive plays. Running backs Jordan Wilkins and Akeem Judd, both bigger backs than Hugh Freeze has had in Oxford since he arrived in 2012, should be able to keep the Tide defense honest. If they can’t then Kelly will resort to using his legs in addition to his arm.

Alabama better hope that Cooper Bateman is ready for the Ole Miss defense this year; because last year he got hit by a freight train. Bateman was promptly yanked by Nick Saban last season and Jake Coker was inserted and never left the starting position for the rest of the season.

If Bateman has developed enough then the Tide can not only make it a game but they could finally end their losing streak to the Rebels. If Bateman does not progress then the game falls on the shoulders of Bo Scarbrough and the Crimson Tide defense. Alabama’s defense cannot afford to let the Ole Miss offense go up and down the field, their offense would never catch up to the better and more efficient Ole Miss offense.

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Prediction: Ole Miss once again finds itself in a game with talented team. It also finds itself with the better quarterback. The Rebels need a win against the Tide to begin to make their way towards their first ever SEC Championship Game. Revenge may be on the mind of the Crimson Tide but Ole Miss has the confidence and talent to win this game for a third season in a row. Just no reason to tear the goal posts down this time.

Score: 42-24 Ole Miss wins 

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