Ole Miss Football is currently listed with the 2nd worst odds of 200 to 1 to win the SEC in 2019. You may even find longer odds than that. Check with the top rated sportsbooks and shop for the best price.
There is hope in the air after Ole Miss went 5-7 in Matt Luke’s second season. The Rebels started with a nice 5-2 record, but never had enough to compete in the SEC and that resulted in a 1-7 conference mark.
Hello Rich Rodriguez!
Even with some top talent gone, they have a chance to improve with new offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez (former Arizona, Michigan head coach) and defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre (former Colorado head coach).
The Rebels return 14 starters in all, but they have to replace a lot of their offense including at quarterback, wide receiver and the offensive line.
All signs point to redshirt freshman Matt Corral being the new starting quarterback with Jordan Ta’amu gone. Corral was the guy in the spring and it’s unlikely that will change unless things go awry early.
He should be helped by senior running back Scottie Phillips (928 yards, 12 TDs), who will likely be a focal point of Rodriguez’s new offense along with Isaiah Woullard.
They lost multiple receivers to the NFL, but Elijah Moore returns to the slot, while Braylon Sanders and Dontario Drummond likely move into bigger roles on the outside.
Only two starters return on the line and there could be some issues on that front, though in a new system, experience isn’t a huge deal.
Defense Sure to Be Improved in 2019
The defense gets a massive change into a 3-4 scheme and this group should improve no matter what after allowing an ugly 483 yards and 36.2 points per game.
Injuries hurt the overall group in the spring, but they still performed well in the spring game. The line returns most of its starters, while Mohamed Sanogo runs the linebacking core, which has a variety of options.
Willie Hibbler and Jacquez Jones will see time, though top JUCO linebacker Lakia Henry could provide a spark in the fall with Qaadir Sheppard leading the way on the edges.
The secondary has experience to work with so that’s at least a positive, but again, injuries limited what some of the starters could do in spring workouts.
Strong Coaching Staff Should Pay Dividends
There’s hope for Ole Miss with the new coordinators, but it needs to get on the right foot with a road win over Memphis (opened +6) in the opener. If that happens, the Rebels could be looking at a 4-0 record before traveling to Alabama.
Even if they don’t, the following games against Vandy and Missouri are both winnable. Throw in the late NMSU matchup and a bowl game is on the table for Ole Miss as long as Corral can run Rodriguez’s new offense and the defense excels under MacIntyre.
Expecting to beat a team like A&M or Mississippi State still may be too difficult, but as long as the Rebs improve as expected, they should be sitting around six wins at the end of November.
Ole Miss Takes on Alabama on 9/28 – Here’s a look at the Crimson Tide
2019 Ole Miss Rebels Football Schedule
Aug. 31 at Memphis
Sept. 7 vs. Arkansas
Sept. 14 vs. Southeastern Louisiana
Sept. 21 vs. California
Sept. 28 at Alabama
Oct. 5 vs. Vanderbilt
Oct. 12 at Missouri
Oct. 19 vs. Texas A&M
Nov. 2 at Auburn
Nov. 9 vs. New Mexico State
Nov. 16 vs. LSU
Nov. 28 at Mississippi State