Ole Miss Football: Game-by-game predictions for Rebels in 2017

The 2017 season is almost here for Ole Miss football. The team is talented, hungry, and led by a great coaching staff so let’s predict each game.

Ole Miss faced an incredibly tough schedule in 2016 and it all began with the opener with Florida State. A game Ole Miss looked like they would win handily until the true face of their 2016 defense showed up. The Rebels begin the 2017 season much more favorably with South Alabama.

New interim head coach Matt Luke knows that Ole Miss essentially has nothing to lose this season, that should make this team fun to watch. Although, Luke will be coaching to keep the job full time, the Rebels should be loose with their play calling when it comes to offense.

Let me say this, though, just because the Rebels don’t have a bowl game to play for, doesn’t mean they’ve given up. Ole Miss has a lot to play for this season; whether that be pride, a statement, Coach Luke himself, recruiting or to set themselves up nicely for a 2018 season run. Whatever the reason, do not expect these Rebels to just succumb to all of the outside noise. If they cannot go to a bowl game, then they may as well keep other teams from one as well.

This Ole Miss team is talented and experienced. The 2016 season was marked by injuries at key positions that saw the entry of freshman and redshirt freshman to the starting lineup. Those players have a season of experience under their belt and it should pay dividends, particularly for the defense. All eye however will be on quarterback Shea Patterson, as he goes, so goes the offense.

Now, let’s take a look at the 2017 Ole Miss schedule, beginning with South Alabama.