Ole Miss football: Pieces are in place for Rebels to surprise in 2020

How will Ole Miss football fare in 2020?

The SEC went to a conference-only schedule and announced their additional two opponents in the past days and that will include their usual crossover games against Vanderbilt and Florida, who was their rotating opponent in the regular schedule.

The new games on the schedule will be South Carolina and Kentucky, both winnable games for Ole Miss.

• Game 1: at Arkansas (W) — Arkansas is in serious rebuilding mode and face an absolute gauntlet of a schedule, where it is likely that they may get no wins this season.
• Game 2: at LSU (L) — The reigning national champs are reloading a bit, but the the Rebels will be no match for Ja’Marr Chase and the Tigers.
• Game 3: vs. Alabama (L) — The Crimson Tide will be on a mission this season due to missing the playoff for the first time ever last year and will overwhelm the Rebels defense.
• Game 4: vs. Auburn (L) — Auburn is a SEC contender and should be even better in the second year with Bo Nix under center.
• Game 5: vs. Florida (L) — Florida is considered by many co-favorites in the East with Georgia and potential playoff dark-horses and will put up big numbers on a suspect Rebels defense.
• Game 6: at Texas A&M (L) — The Aggies are looking to finally breakthrough in a big way in year three under Jimbo Fisher and will just have too much talent for Ole Miss.
• Game 7: at Vanderbilt (W) — Rebels get another SEC win against a Vanderbilt program that will be among the worst in the conference this season.
• Game 8: at Kentucky (L) — If there is a dark-horse in the SEC East, it is Kentucky. I think they are the East’s third best team and should only improve with quarterback Terry Wilson back under center.
• Game 9: vs. South Carolina (W) — The Gamecocks will be a tricky opponent for the Rebels, but the ground attack wins the game at home for the Rebels.
• Game 10: vs. Mississippi State (L) — The Egg Bowl will be extra entertaining with Mike Leach and Lane Kiffin on the sidelines for both teams, but I think the Bulldogs win due to better quarterback play from Stanford transfer K.J Costello.

Final Record: 3-7

Losing non-conference games will hurt the Rebels and cost them three or four wins. Kiffin should be able to recruit and win in Oxford, but with a schedule filled with SEC powers like LSU, Alabama, Florida and Auburn, it will be hard to find wins in 2020 for the first-year head coach.