- Joined
- Oct 23, 2003
- Messages
- 29,179
- Likes
- 6,092
Ole Miss (1-2) at Tennessee (2-1) 12:30 pm ET GamePlan
Why to watch: Tennessee is hot again after a scintillating 30-27 overtime win over LSU to get back in the SEC title race. On the flip side, Ole Miss couldn't be colder after losing its home opener to Wyoming after losing the SEC opener to Vanderbilt. Ed Orgeron's club is having a nightmare of a time generating any consistent offense, and appears to have a long way to go before it challenges the SEC's top superpowers. Tennessee has a short week to prepare and can't look ahead to a must-win game against Georgia next week.
Why Ole Miss might win: How can Tennessee possibly get the emotional juices rolling again after what happened in Death Valley? It was a hot, physical, emotionally draining win that the Vols came up with, and now they only have four days to rest up and get ready for the Rebels. Outside of a brilliant second half against the Tigers, Tennessee hasn't been all that sharp so far. There's almost no way the team can be crisp this Saturday. If you believe that the Tennessee passing game, which has been plagued by dropped passes and underwhelming performances from the receivers, can't be a steady factor, then the offense will perform like it did against UAB and Florida.
Why Tennessee might win: You can't win if you can't score. Memphis, Vanderbilt and Wyoming aren't UAB, Florida and LSU, yet the Rebels have only scored 47 points so far this year. Tennessee's offense hasn't exactly lit up the scoreboard, but there are far more playmakers to get excited about than Ole Miss has. The Rebel offense isn't doing much of anything well, and it can forget about running the ball on the Tennessee front seven that's allowing a mere 73 yards per game.
Who to watch: It's Rick Clausen's show now. After Erik Ainge was handed the keys to the car anointed the Tennessee starter against LSU, he went out and crashed into a goalpost ending a horrible first half. Clausen was brilliant completing 21 of 32 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown with an interception, but more importantly, he provided a shot in the arm for an offense in desperate need of a little juice. He might not be spectacular, but the team seems to respond to him. For Ole Miss, Micheal Spurlock is back at quarterback after missing the Wyoming game recovering from a broken finger. He hasn't been all that great this year completing 48% of his throws for 524 yards with two touchdown and two interceptions, but he has been better than last week's starter, Robert Lane. Lane was a disaster against Wyoming completing seven of 15 passes for 37 yards with two interceptions and a fumble. Someone has to step up and lead the offense in a hurry, or the season will quickly sink further into the abyss.
What will happen: Tennessee won't bring its "A" game, but it won't have to. The defense will do more than enough to come away with the win.
CFN Prediction: Tennessee 30 ... Ole Miss 13 ... Line: Tennessee -21
Why to watch: Tennessee is hot again after a scintillating 30-27 overtime win over LSU to get back in the SEC title race. On the flip side, Ole Miss couldn't be colder after losing its home opener to Wyoming after losing the SEC opener to Vanderbilt. Ed Orgeron's club is having a nightmare of a time generating any consistent offense, and appears to have a long way to go before it challenges the SEC's top superpowers. Tennessee has a short week to prepare and can't look ahead to a must-win game against Georgia next week.
Why Ole Miss might win: How can Tennessee possibly get the emotional juices rolling again after what happened in Death Valley? It was a hot, physical, emotionally draining win that the Vols came up with, and now they only have four days to rest up and get ready for the Rebels. Outside of a brilliant second half against the Tigers, Tennessee hasn't been all that sharp so far. There's almost no way the team can be crisp this Saturday. If you believe that the Tennessee passing game, which has been plagued by dropped passes and underwhelming performances from the receivers, can't be a steady factor, then the offense will perform like it did against UAB and Florida.
Why Tennessee might win: You can't win if you can't score. Memphis, Vanderbilt and Wyoming aren't UAB, Florida and LSU, yet the Rebels have only scored 47 points so far this year. Tennessee's offense hasn't exactly lit up the scoreboard, but there are far more playmakers to get excited about than Ole Miss has. The Rebel offense isn't doing much of anything well, and it can forget about running the ball on the Tennessee front seven that's allowing a mere 73 yards per game.
Who to watch: It's Rick Clausen's show now. After Erik Ainge was handed the keys to the car anointed the Tennessee starter against LSU, he went out and crashed into a goalpost ending a horrible first half. Clausen was brilliant completing 21 of 32 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown with an interception, but more importantly, he provided a shot in the arm for an offense in desperate need of a little juice. He might not be spectacular, but the team seems to respond to him. For Ole Miss, Micheal Spurlock is back at quarterback after missing the Wyoming game recovering from a broken finger. He hasn't been all that great this year completing 48% of his throws for 524 yards with two touchdown and two interceptions, but he has been better than last week's starter, Robert Lane. Lane was a disaster against Wyoming completing seven of 15 passes for 37 yards with two interceptions and a fumble. Someone has to step up and lead the offense in a hurry, or the season will quickly sink further into the abyss.
What will happen: Tennessee won't bring its "A" game, but it won't have to. The defense will do more than enough to come away with the win.
CFN Prediction: Tennessee 30 ... Ole Miss 13 ... Line: Tennessee -21
