Ole Miss Football: 2017 season preview, predictions
2017 Schedule
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION |
| 1 | Sept. 2 | vs. South Alabama | Oxford, Miss. |
| 2 | Sept. 9 | vs. UT-Martin | Oxford, Miss. |
| 3 | Sept. 16 | at California | Berkeley, Calif. |
| 4 | Sept. 23 | BYE WEEK | |
| 5 | Sept. 30 | at Alabama | Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
| 6 | Oct. 7 | at Auburn | Auburn, Ala. |
| 7 | Oct. 14 | vs. Vanderbilt | Oxford, Miss. |
| 8 | Oct. 21 | vs. LSU | Oxford, Miss. |
| 9 | Oct. 28 | vs. Arkansas | Oxford, Miss. |
| 10 | Nov. 4 | at Kentucky | Lexington, Ky. |
| 11 | Nov. 11 | vs. UL-Lafayette | Oxford, Miss. |
| 12 | Nov. 18 | vs. Texas A&M | Oxford, Miss. |
| 13 | Nov. 23 | at Mississippi State | Starkville, Miss. |
The biggest thing Ole Miss needs to start 2017 is momentum. This seasons schedule sets up well for that with presumably easy games against South Alabama and UT-Martin. Then the Rebels trip to Berkeley for a game against Cal which should be a winnable game. Ole Miss could easily be 3-0 headed into its bye week before it makes the trip to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama.
The rest of the schedule is manageable as the Rebels face the typical SEC West schedule and get Vanderbilt and Kentucky in the east along with a non-conference game against UL-Lafayette.
Looking at what Ole Miss has faced going into this season it is easy to write the Rebels off. However, don’t count out the ability for a team to galvanize and overcome the adversity they have faced. Think 2011 USC, which went 10-2 during a season in which they were not allowed to play in a bowl. Ole Miss has the talent and coaching staff to win games.
Next: College Football: Top 50 breakout candidates for 2017
Prediction: 9-3 (5-3 SEC)
You can call me crazy if you want. This season is a true toss up, 2017 could easily go the other way. Yet the schedule sets up well for Ole Miss to establish themselves early. I tend to think Ole Miss, with all of the talent it has, will make a statement in 2017, and set itself up well for 2018. Shea Patterson should prove to be an elite quarterback and the defense should make marked improvement over last season. If the Rebels do this well, expect Matt Luke to become the permanent head football coach.