Alabama Football: 5 reasons Crimson Tide won’t be upset Ole Miss
By Zach Bigalke
2. Nick Saban is a mastermind that will outcoach Matt Luke
After Hugh Freeze was fired last year, Matt Luke stepped up as the interim head coach at Ole Miss. Luke guided the Rebels through the whirlwind season to finish with a 6-6 record. They were ineligible for a bowl appearance, but they reached .500 in the standings after taking down rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl.
With the victory over the Bulldogs, not only did the Rebels reach .500 in the standings but they also decided to lift the interim tag from Luke. So far this season it has worked for Ole Miss, who now has a 2-0 record entering the showdown against Alabama.
In recent years, the Rebels have done a good job of giving Alabama fits. Last year, though, Ole Miss saw their spell break as the Crimson Tide pulled off a 66-3 victory in Tuscaloosa. Though this game is taking place in Oxford in 2018, home-field advantage really won’t make much difference in the long run.
Why? Because Alabama has the biggest mastermind of all in Nick Saban. At every stop during his career, Saban has built up a team as a success. Coming off a national championship performance last year, Nick Saban is a huge reason why Ole Miss is going to fall to Alabama on Saturday.