Ole Miss football vs Vanderbilt: Preview, Prediction and Live stream
Ole Miss football and Vanderbilt will both be looking to end their respective three game losing streaks. Here is our preview of this all-SEC matchup.
Ole Miss and Vanderbilt are looking to stop the bleeding for their teams this week and one thing is guaranteed; one team will end their losing streak. Vanderbilt looked like a hot team to start the year but has since flamed out and lost three in a row. Ole Miss lost a close game to Cal, followed up by two blowouts to Alabama and Auburn in consecutive weeks. With all that said, this matchup has the opportunity to be one of the best games in the SEC this week.
There were signs of hope for the Rebels in the second half of the Auburn game. The Rebels’ offense woke up and consistently moved the ball and scored on Auburn. The Rebels scored the most points of any team against the Tigers this season. Shea Patterson continued to flash his talent, while his receivers, A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf and Van Jefferson all made plays that showed the flashes of brilliance this offense can have. The defense is still a work in progress. The Vanderbilt game is an opportunity for the defense to show some improvement. Vanderbilt isn’t known for having a great offense so Ole Miss has to keep them in check.
Vanderbilt had as rough a three game stretch as I’ve ever seen. Alabama, Florida and Georgia. That would be tough for just about any team. Vanderbilt looked like a potential top 25 team when they started 3-0, but boy has that changed. Their offense has all but disappeared and their once respected defense is in free-fall. Against Ole Miss the offense has a chance to get some momentum going, but the talent on the Rebel offense might make things difficult for Vandy on defense.
Here is how you can watch this SEC matchup:
Date: Saturday, October 14, 2017
Time: 3:30pm ET
Location: Oxford, Ms
Venue: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
TV: SEC Network
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Keys to victory
For Ole Miss, the key to victory is simple, move the ball and score. The offense seemed to get things going in the second half of the Auburn game scoring wise. But the Rebels moved the ball on Auburn the entire game. If they were able to move the ball and score on Auburn, then they should be able to score on Vanderbilt. I think Shea Patterson and the four very talented receivers that Ole Miss have will be enough to pick apart the Vanderbilt secondary. I also look for running back Jordan Wilkins to have a great game, he’s been a real bright spot when looking at the losses to Alabama and Auburn. The Ole Miss defense has a shot to be good in this game but I just don’t trust them yet. Which makes offensive production that much more important for Ole Miss in this game.
The Commodores, like Ole Miss, have to get their offense going. After seeing what Kerryon Johnson did on the ground to Ole Miss (204 rushing yards) then Ralph Webb figures to be a heavy presence on offense. Quarterback Kyle Shurmur will have to take every opening the Rebel defense gives him. He’s only thrown one interception this season, so he takes care of the ball; but he needs to be a little bit more of a gunslinger in this game. If the Ole Miss offense is hot and scoring in bunches, then Shurmur will have to make plays just to keep up. As of now, I expect Webb to be the biggest key to victory for Vanderbilt in this game.
Prediction:
This game kicks off a string of three home games in a row for Ole Miss; their first home game since September 9th. This three game homestand is critical for this season as each game is definitely winnable for the Rebels. Vanderbilt always seems to play their best game of the season against Ole Miss but I think the Rebels offense will be too much for the reeling Vandy defense in this game. Ole Miss breaks their streak, while Vanderbilt’s continues.