2014-15 Football Predictions – (SEC) – Rebels
The Ole Miss Rebels haven’t truly had a glory year since Eli Manning was calling the signals early in the last decade. Yet head coach Hugh Freeze and his staff has the personnel in 2014 for it to be memorable.
SEC 2014-15 College Football Previews: Ole Miss (Link)
Head Coach: Hugh Freeze
2013 Record: 8-5
Mississippi Gambling Odds to Win 2014 BCS Championship: 40/1
Futures from sportsbook.ag
The SEC West division is a nest of vipers, so success can often be relative, but the Rebs absolutely have the talent to compete with divisional big boys like Alabama, Auburn and LSU. Even in down years, Ole Miss impressively snags a highly-touted recruit or two; 2013 was a bumper recruiting haul. It seems like this talent is beginning to bear fruit.
‘The Rebels were 8-5 last season and that could’ve easily been a double-digit win season, with a 41-38 loss to Johnny Football’s Texas A&M and a touchdown loss to in-state rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl near the end of the campaign.
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“Trending in the right direction” is fair to say about Hugh Freeze’s young men. When Freeze arrived a couple of years ago, the program was in a valley, but they now have the talent to compete in the conference.
There are impactful young players on offense and defense, sprinkled in with some veterans at key spots.
But it’s still the SEC West, and Ole Miss isn’t a football factory like Alabama.
Let’s look and the goods and ills of the Mississippi “Ole Miss” Rebels.
Team Strengths
The skill positions are very well-endowed in Oxford. Senior QB Bo Wallace is the most experienced pivot in the conference, a three-year starter that should put up great stats thanks to a gifted pass-catching corps. Sophomore WR Laquon Treadwell is special, and TE Evan Engram might be the best pass-catcher at his position in the SEC.
Running back is loaded with juniors Jaylen Walton and I’Tavius Mathers. What the offensive line lacks in depth, they still feature LT Laremy Tunsil, who is already drawing NFL attention.
The defense is in good shape. Defensive line ‘tweener Robert Nkemdiche was part of that loaded ’13 crop of freshmen and he’s a beast. He’s joined by junior DE C.J. Johnson, who is finally healthy and ready to wreak havoc on opponents.
Standing at just 5″9, LB Serderius Bryant resembles long-time NFL stud London Fletcher; he also brings Fletcher’s intensity.
Ole Miss’s secondary is all set with versatile DB Tony Conner and FS Cody Prewitt.
Team Weaknesses
Tunsil is a gem, but the Rebs must replace a couple of starters elsewhere on the O-line. Treadwell is another of the offense’s bright stars, but they still have to replace WR Donte Moncrief, who was one of the school’s all-time greats.
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Mississippi must replace both starters on the special teams unit, with a collection of Gary Wunderlich, Will Gleeson and Andy Pappanastos scrapping to fill the kicker and punter roles.
Not really a team weakness, but backup QB Jeremy Liggins might have a weakness for home cookin’: He plays listed at 6″3, 296 lbs. That’s 40 pounds heavier than former Kentucky QB (and infamous chubby bunny) Jared Lorenzen.
Can anyone say “QB sneak on 4th-and-inches”?
2014-15 Mississippi Football Prediction: 9-3
The overall talent playing in Oxford this year is quite impressive. There definitely should be concern about Ole Miss finding the O-lineman necessary to squeeze every drop of potential out of veteran Wallace and this offense. The “D” looks pretty solid up and down.
Mississippi must travel to Texas A&M and LSU, but it gets the two Alabama schools at home. The Ole Miss faithful will certainly want a better result against MSU in the Egg Bowl this year; the fans (rightfully) believe their school is the elite program in the state.
Circle your calendar for August 28, the Rebs play an intriguing game against Boise State in the Georgia Dome to kick the season off.
Ultimately, double-digit wins isn’t out of the realm of possibility here.
2014 Rebels Schedule
- 8/28/14 BOISE ST. (in Atlanta, GA)
- 9/6/14 @ VANDY
- 9/13/14 LA. LAFAYETTE
- 9/27/14 MEMPHIS
- 10/4/14 ‘BAMA
- 10/11/14 @ TEX. A&M
- 10/18/14 TENNESSEE
- 10/25/14 @ LSU
- 11/1/14 AUBURN
- 11/8/14 PRESBYTERIAN (FCS)
- 11/22/14 @ ARKANSAS
- 11/29/14 MISS. ST. (Egg Bowl)
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