EDITORIAL BY GRAYDON FOX

Overview:

On Saturday, September 15^th, the (2-0) Alabama Crimson Tide will be on the road to take on the (2-0) Ole Miss Rebels.

The Crowd:

The Crowd projects a final score of Alabama 41.1 – Ole Miss 22.4 with an over/under of 63.5.

Lou Holtz and Mark May:

Lou is predicting a final score of Alabama 49 – Ole Miss 17.

Mark is predicting a final score of Alabama 40 – Ole Miss 17.

2018-19 Statistics (130 total teams):

Passing offense: Ole Miss 407.5 PPG > Alabama 309.5 YPG

Rushing offense: Alabama 250.0 YPG > Ole Miss 188.5 YPG

Scoring offense: Ole Miss 61.5 PPG > Alabama 54.0 PPG

Scoring defense: Alabama 10.5 PPG > Ole Miss 34.0 PPG

Passing defense: Alabama 235.0 YPG > Ole Miss 355.0 YPG

Rushing defense: Alabama 94.5 YPG > Ole Miss 202.5 YPG

Turnover Margin Per Game: Alabama +0.5 = Ole Miss -1.0

Summary:

Alabama enters the game as the number one team in the nation with blowout victorious over Louisville and Arkansas State.  The two-pronged quarterback attack of Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts has been unstoppable.  Tagovailoa, whom Coach Holtz called his Heisman favorite, has completed 71% of his passes for 455 yards with six touchdowns to zero interceptions.  Both Najee Harris and Damian Harris are averaging over six yards per carry.  DeVonte Smith has been quite the vertical threat averaging 25 yards per catch.  The Crimson Tide returned only two starters on defense but still are allowing just 10.5 points per game.

Ole Miss is undefeated with lopsided wins over Texas Tech and Southern Illinois.  The explosive Rebels offense ranks third in the nation averaging 61.5 points per game.  Speaking of Heisman contenders, Jordan Ta’amu is stating his case by completing 69% of his passes for 784 yards with seven touchdowns to zero interceptions.  Scottie Phillips is averaging an incredible ten yards per carry to go along with his four touchdowns.  As Mark May pointed out the Rebels have dangerous players on the outside in receivers A.J. Brown, Braylon Sanders, and D.K. Metcalf.  The Ole Miss defense is another story allowing 27 points to Texas Tech and 41 points to Southern Illinois.  The Rebels will have their hands full with a well-balanced Alabama offense averaging over 50 points per game.

Bottom Line:

Tagovailoa continues to shine as he leads the country in passer efficiency.  He should have no problem picking apart a porous Ole Miss secondary as a strong offensive line gives him plenty of time to throw.  Jordan Ta’amu and Scottie Phillips will make some flashy plays against a young Crimson Tide defense but in the end Alabama will win big.

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