Once again, the Alabama Crimson Tide look like the best team in the country. Alabama has done it all under Nick Saban, and with the school’s most recent No. 1 ranking in the AP poll they have spent more weeks on top of AP Top 25 poll then any other school. This week, the Crimson Tide will face a team that has been their bugaboo in the past in the Mississippi Rebels. The Rebels are the one team to have defeated the time in back-to-back seasons, and Saban will be out for blood.
This contest in Week 3 will go down Saturday, September 15, 2018 at 7 p.m. ET at Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Alabama -21
Mississippi +21
Total 71
Odds Analysis
The college football betting odds have shot up on this game since it opened on Sunday night. Initially, Alabama was an 18-point favorite on the NCAAF betting line. There has been a considerable amount of action on the Crimson Tide since the line opened though. That has led to the line rising all the way to -22, but it has since dropped down to a three-touchdown spread.
The total opened up on Monday evening, and it has skyrocketed since that point. Originally, the over/under was set at 63, but it has risen by eight points to 71.
Player to Watch
Throughout the offseason, we heard that Nick Saban had a decision to make. Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa had competed for the starting job all throughout the offseason, but it seemed clear that Tua Tagovailoa had the upper hand. After all, Tagovailoa had led Alabama back against Georgia in the second half of the national championship game, and he seemed to have the brighter future.
Tagovailoa had to show it over more than a half to earn Saban’s confidence though. He has done that so far, looking fantastic against both Louisville and Arkansas State. The Hawaiian isn’t asked to do much in this offense, like any Alabama quarterback, but he has made it devastatingly efficient. Through two games, he has completed 71.4 percent of his passes and is averaging a whopping 13 yards per throw. He has six touchdowns and no interceptions against him, and that has made Tagovailoa the most efficient quarterback in college football.
Key Stat
Few offenses have been as efficient as Ole Miss through the first two weeks of the season. The Rebels have lit up the scoreboard. They torched Texas Tech in their first game and laid it on Southern Illinois in their second game, securing big victories in both games.
Jordan Ta’amu has been amazing through the first two weeks. He is averaging over 12 yars per pass and has thrown seven touchdowns with no interceptions. Meanwhile, leading rusher Scottie Phillips is averaging 10 yards per carry. The dual-threat dynamic has made this offense tough to stop.
Then again, the Rebels haven’t played great defenses. Texas Tech is probably not going to be a top 100 defense in terms of FBS teams, and Southern Illinois is a lower tier FCS squad. They are about to take a massive step up when they face Alabama’s defense.
Free ATS Pick
Although Mississippi has hung tough with Alabama in the past, the Crimson Tide can name the score in this game if they choose. Saban knows how to get the best out of this team, and the Rebels aren’t nearly as talented as they were in the past.
I don’t think Ole Miss has a chance at winning this game, but this is a large spread for Alabama to cover on the road. The Crimson Tide must face Texas A&M next week, and after the Aggies’ close loss to Clemson, that game may be one to watch out for. Look for Saban to do enough to secure the victory here, but nothing more.
College Football Odds: Alabama 37, Mississippi 21
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
