The Ole Miss Rebels had their moment in 2015. They went on the road and beat Alabama under the lights in a victory which meant significantly more than any other win in Hugh Freeze's career. Still, you can't just measure success based on wins over Alabama, something which has happened in consecutive seasons. The Rebels have to put it all together for a full season, something they'll hope to do to contend for a spot in the CFP in 2016.
Ole Miss Rebels Regular Season Win Total Odds at BookMaker.eu
Ole Miss Over 8.5 Wins ( +120 )
Ole Miss Under 8.5 Wins ( -150 )
This season really is all about Chad Kelly. He's a senior now, and he's got the potential to be one of the best quarterbacks in the entire nation. Last season, he threw for 4,042 yards and 31 TDs, and he had the game of his life in Tuscaloosa even though the Crimson Tide defense beat the living snot out of him.
Of course, Kelly doesn't have Laramie Tunsil protecting him, nor does he have Laquon Treadwell to go up and get the ball in traffic, but there are still some big time playmakers left to choose from. Quincy Adeboyejo, who had the biggest catch of the year in that game against the Tide, is back once again, while Damore'ea Stringfellow is a deep threat and could become a 1,000-yard receiver.
The defense has been gutted from last year as well, but there is a lot of talent still here with seven returning starters from a unit which allowed 22.6 points per game a season ago. Marquis Haynes will be the star of the show as a rush end, but without Robert Nkemdiche in the middle to take up multiple blockers, will Haynes have as much of a free run as he did a year ago?
2016 Ole Miss Rebels Football Schedule
September 5 – vs. Florida State (in Orlando)
September 10 – vs. Wofford
September 17 – vs. Alabama
September 24 – vs. Georgia
October 1 – vs. Memphis
October 15 – at Arkansas
October 22 – at LSU
October 29 – vs. Auburn
November 5 – vs. Georgia Southern
November 12 – at Texas AM
November 19 – at Vanderbilt
November 26 – vs. Mississippi State
If Ole Miss can get through the first two months of the season, it could legitimately play for the title this year. That said, it's going to be a dog against Florida State in Orlando to start the season, and you know Alabama is going to be looking for blood in Week 3 of the year in Oxford as well. Throw in dangerous home games with Georgia and Memphis and roadies at Arkansas and LSU, and the potential is there for this team to come out of the gates at 3-4. Maybe even worse!
The last month of the year is a bunch of nothing, though. The Rebels always seem to have problems in the Egg Bowl against Mississippi State, but the Bulldogs should be taking a step backwards. Finishing the season has been a problem under Freeze, but that shouldn't be the deal in 2016.
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We're just not believers in Kelly. He turns the ball over too much and makes far too many questionable decision with when to run and when to force the ball in there.
Of course, it's not all Ole Miss' fault. Having to play against Florida State and Alabama in a span of 12 days is a recipe for two losses.
There's still a lot of talent here, and even if this team starts at 5-2 with losses to FSU and Alabama, it still could be making a case to get into the playoff if the Tide run the table and enough teams are blemished. That said, we still think this program is taking a tremendous step back this year. There could easily be three or four losses in SEC play, and that parlayed with the loss we are projecting in Orlando should easily keep the Rebs under their total. If Freeze gets through this though, he should be in line for a heck of a raise.
College Football Odds: Ole Miss Rebels Under 8.5 Wins
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