The No. 1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide visit the No. 19 Mississippi Rebels on Saturday in a game that can be seen on CBS. Both teams are coming off cakewalks last week as Alabama routed Western Kentucky while Mississippi rolled over Wofford. The Crimson Tide will be very motivated for this Week 3 matchup as the Rebels handed them their only loss of the season a year ago. Alabama is listed as a 9.5-point road favorite in this game.
This matchup in Week 3 of the regular season will take place on Saturday, September 17, 2016, at 3:30 p.m. ET at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Alabama -10
Mississippi +10
Over/Under 54.5
Odds Analysis
The Crimson Tide opened up as 9-point favorites in this game and the line has steadily gone up. The line went to 9.5 on Sunday night and on Monday morning the number went up to 10. The total on this one opened at 54 and was immediately bet up to 54.5.
Alabama is very much a public team so it would not be a surprise if this line went up another half point to -10.5. The Crimson Tide are also playing with revenge having lost in each of the past two seasons to Mississippi and the revenge angle will get a lot of attention from public bettors.
The Rebels have not yet shown they can stop opposing offenses so the only way this total is going is up.
Matchup to Watch
If the Rebels are to stay in this game then their defense will have to find a way to slow down the Alabama offense. The numbers are definitely not in favor of the Rebels as their defense has looked poor in their two games this season. Florida State moved the ball at will against the Rebels in their first game and Wofford moved if pretty well last week although they were not able to score many points.
Mississippi comes into this game allowing an average of 442.5 yards per game and 29 points per game. Alabama is scoring 45 points per game and they should put up a lot of points against what looks to be a suspect Ole Miss defense.
It doesn’t help the Ole Miss cause that starting cornerback Kendarius Webster tore ligaments in his knee last week and is likely gone for the season.
Revenge Angle
The Crimson Tide lost one regular season game in 2014 and one in 2015 and both of those losses game to Mississippi. The Rebels won 43-37 at Alabama last season and they won 23-17 at home two years ago. There is no question that the Crimson Tide have circled this game at Oxford as one of the most important of the season.
Alabama has looked good on offense this season led by freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts who is the first true freshman to start for the Crimson Tide since Vince Sutton in 1984.
Ole Miss suffered a tough loss against Florida State in their opener but they did bounce back with a 38-13 win over Wofford last week. The problem for Mississippi is that they lost two more players to injury as both Webster and Metcalf were injured.
Free ATS Pick
The Rebels had their chance to prove they belonged with the big boys in their opener and they blew a big lead and lost to Florida State. That loss may have ended any chance for Mississippi to make the College Football Playoff. If that loss didn’t end it for the Rebels then a loss on Saturday would put a nail in the coffin.
Alabama was impressive in their opener as they routed USC but last week they were not that great against Western Kentucky in a game they won but didn’t cover. There is definitely a chance that Alabama was looking ahead to this game as they want revenge for losing to the Rebels the past two years.
I will lay the points and take the Crimson Tide to get the road win.
College Football Odds: Alabama 41, Mississippi 20
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