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

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 19: Quarterback Shea Patterson #20 of the Ole Miss Rebels drops back against Jay Woods #74 of the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 19, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 19: Quarterback Shea Patterson #20 of the Ole Miss Rebels drops back against Jay Woods #74 of the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 19, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 13
Next
OXFORD, MS – SEPTEMBER 26: Ralph Webb #7 of the Vanderbilt Commodores runs for yards during the first quarter of a game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS – SEPTEMBER 26: Ralph Webb #7 of the Vanderbilt Commodores runs for yards during the first quarter of a game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

For as long as any Ole Miss fan can remember, the Rebels have always had trouble with Vanderbilt. Ole Miss is always (most of the time) projected to win this game and yet they’ll find some way to lose it, they don’t show up and get beat handily by Vanderbilt or the Rebels squeak out a win. That is pretty much the history of Ole Miss-Vanderbilt football right there.

Ole Miss should be looking for revenge in this game. Vanderbilt kept them from a bowl game last season and the team should like nothing better than doing the same to the Commodores. If the Rebel defense doesn’t allow Vanderbilt to have an all of a sudden explosive offense, then they should win.

More from Ole Miss Rebels

The Commodores are rarely known for their offense but against Ole Miss last season, they couldn’t be stopped. Vanderbilt loses a lot of key players from last years squad which will only help the Rebels.

By this game the defense for Ole Miss should be clicking. But this is the one game the offense cannot sleep on. If Ole Miss loses this game, fans will be in an outrage. The importance of this game has to be stressed. When Ole Miss loses to Vanderbilt, historically, it isn’t because the defense didn’t show up, it’s because the offense never did.

With all that said I think Ole Miss QB Shea Patterson and the offense will do just fine. Like I said, Vanderbilt loses key players, particularly on defense.

Final: Ole Miss 45, Vanderbilt 17 (4-2, 2-2 SEC)