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Ole Miss Football: Preview, prediction, live stream vs. Cal

By Hunter Kinniburgh

OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 02: Shea Patterson #20 of the Mississippi Rebels throws the ball during the first half of a game against the South Alabama Jaguars at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 02: Shea Patterson #20 of the Mississippi Rebels throws the ball during the first half of a game against the South Alabama Jaguars at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Ole Miss football faces its first Power Five team of the year as the Rebels hit the road to play the Cal Golden Bears. Here’s our preview of the matchup

Ole Miss, at least offensively, has looked great in their first two games. Shea Patterson is second in the nation in passing yards and A.J. Brown leads the nation receiving yards. Ole Miss also boasts the nations top passing offense at 459 yards per game. Needless to say, the Rebels will be looking to keep the offensive fireworks going when they get to Berkeley. The only question will be whether their defense will be ready to roll or not.

The defense has been lackluster through two games. Allowing yardage on the ground like none other and not tackling well at all. If Ole Miss wants to get a win in Cal, it has to do better on defense or we’re going to be in for a late night shootout that could end with someone scoring in the 70’s because Cal’s defense isn’t much better. to this point.

Speaking of Cal, the Golden Bears started off the season with a road win at North Carolina, a win that might not be as great as it seemed  because North Carolina doesn’t look to be that good. But the Bears then followed that up with a close game against Weber State (33-20). If Cal had a hard time with Weber State, then things won’t look to good for them going up against the offense that the Rebels have. But once again that could be counteracted if the Rebels don’t bring their A game on defense.

Cal’s offense can be explosive and they can take advantage of opportunities, should they be given to them. Cal will be without stud running back Tre Watson, who is out for the season with a lower body injury. Run defense is not Ole Miss’ specialty, but with the loss of Watson it takes an added dimension away from the Golden Bears’ offense.

Here is how you can watch Saturday’s Ole Miss vs. Cal matchup:

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Date: Saturday, Sept. 16
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Location: Berkeley, Calif.
Venue: Memorial Stadium
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN

Keys to victory

For Ole Miss, their key to victory is simple. Let Shea Patterson ball out. The guy has been nothing short of incredible. Nine touchdowns to only one interception (which was not his fault but a wrong route by his receiver) is a heck of a way to start the season.

While the Ole Miss’ ground game hasn’t gotten going yet, it hasn’t had to when the passing game is literally out of this world. Despite what Patterson and the rest of the offense can do, the defense has to step up. There’s talent on the defense, it just has to come together. They cannot come out flat the way they did against UT-Martin last week. Although something tells me the players will be a little bit more hyped since they’re playing a power five opponent.

Cal has to take advantage of a suspect defense if they’re going to win this game. I don’t doubt that Cal can have some offensive explosiveness. It just might not be near the level of the Rebels. Not many, if any, other teams can say that they have five No. 1 receivers. Which is what Ole Miss essentially has. Playmakers abound on that offense.

Cal has to make every scoring opportunity count in this game. More than the Cal offense, their defense will have to create turnovers to slow the Rebel offense. If the defense can even just get the Rebels off the field by making them go three and out, then that will go a long way towards getting Cal a win.

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Prediction

Ole Miss has the offense to win this game outright by just putting up points aplenty. Although something tells me that the Cal defense will be putting up a fight in this game. Cal’s offense can be dangerous but if it was lackluster against Weber State, that doesn’t do it any good headed into a game against an SEC team.

My prediction is that this game might come down to which offense has the ball last. As of now however, despite their defensive problems, Ole Miss looks to be the better team and I believe in their offense more than I do Cal’s.

Final Score: Ole Miss 58, Cal 42

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