Ole Miss football will hit the road on Saturday afternoon just one week after dropping 73 points in a blowout win over Mercer to begin the season.
Lane Kiffin’s crew will face No. 24 Tulane on Saturday afternoon and it will be one of the most intriguing battles of the weekend. Can the Rebels pick up a huge road win over the best Group of Five team in college football right now?
Here’s why I believe that Ole Miss takes care of business.
3. Ole Miss football fans travel really well
You may look at this game and believe that Ole Miss is in trouble because any time a Power Five team travels to a Group of Five team’s stadium, the atmosphere is usually as hostile as can be. Tulane fans will show up in droves for this game, as expected.
But don’t sleep on the traveling Ole Miss fans.
New Orleans sounds like a nice short vacation for Ole Miss fans and they always seem to travel well no matter where the Rebels are playing. But especially in New Orleans. This game might just have the feel of a home game with all the Rebel fans in the crowd.
Oxford is just under 350 miles away from New Orleans and do you really think a five-and-a-half hour road trip is going to scare Ole Miss fans away? They welcome this kind of trip.
I expect the crowd in New Orleans to be riddled with Ole Miss fans and the home-field advantage for this Top 25 battle won’t be quite as intense.
2. Quinshon Judkins will bounce back in a big way
My preseason pick to win the Doak Walker Award and contend for the Heisman did not do me justice in Week 1.
Quinshon Judkins finished with just 60 yards on 13 carries but he did make up for his modest showing with two touchdowns. This was just not the typical game for Judkins who had a monster first year with the Rebels and he’s not going to have two mediocre games in a row.
While Tulane only allowed 75 rushing yards in its season-opening win over South Alabama, the Jaguars did not have a running back quite like Judkins. And that’s going to lead to a huge day for the sophomore sensation.
I’m predicting a monster game for Judkins as he rushes for well over 100 yards and his success on the ground will open up the passing attack.
1. Jaxson Dart looks refreshed
It’s been just one game against an inferior opponent, but Jaxson Dart seems to have responded to the message extended to him this offseason by Lane Kiffin. That message was that he needs to be better or he’ll be replaced by one of the two transfer quarterbacks he brought in.
The Ole Miss offense put up 73 points behind the strong showing from Dart who finished with 334 yards and four touchdowns on 18-of-23 completions. He was the best player on the field.
It just felt like Dart had a different feel and confidence to him. And he should. He beat out Spencer Sanders and Walker Howard for the starting job which just goes to show that he’s better than people give him credit for. He’s no longer going to be content with just being good. He needs to be great.
And he’ll do just that in Week 2 against one of the best teams in the country on the road. Dart will need to be nearly perfect and he will.
Dart will finish with over 300 yards and three touchdowns against Tulane’s shaky secondary.