The staff at Roll Tide Wire give their predictions for the upcoming Alabama game against the Ole Miss Rebels. Who wins the Week 3 matchup?
It is now Week 3 of the SEC football season, and the difficulty of Alabama’s schedule doesn’t seem to be lightening up anytime soon.
Up next on the list is Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss, who is currently sitting with a 1-1 record after an exciting 42-21 overtime win against the Kentucky Wildcats last Saturday.
As of right now, the Crimson Tide are 23.5-point favorites over the Rebels, according to BetMGM. Can that spread be covered? What will the final score end up being?
Below are the predictions from the entire staff at Roll Tide Wire, including some analysis!
AJ Spurr, Contributor
While I initially thought Pete Golding’s defense looked shaky in the Week 1 win against Missouri, I was proven wrong against Texas A&M. Lane Kiffin’s offense will be ineffective against Patrick Surtain II and the rest of the impressive collection of talent in Alabama’s secondary.
On offense, I believe Mac Jones gets the better of the Ole Miss defense in a pass-happy attack, but Najee Harris will still be a part of the equation with a few scores of his own. Jaylen Waddle has been a top performer through the first two games, but DeVonta Smith will be the offensive MVP for the SEC West matchup.
Final score: Alabama 51, Ole Miss 24
Hannah Stephens, Contributor
This series is always an amazing matchup. And it’s Lane Kiffin’s first time facing Nick Saban as a head coach since 2009 when Kiffin was the head coach at Tennessee. And It’s also his first time facing Saban since his departure from Tuscaloosa in 2018. So, that makes this particular matchup even better!
Look for this to be a closer game than people may think. Kiffin’s crew is 2-1 on the season, and Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral has an impressive arm which could quickly cause issues for Alabama’s secondary. If he’s able to rip the ball downfield and find the weaknesses in Alabama’s defense, the Rebels could put points on the board quickly.
As for the Crimson Tide, look for Mac Jones to once again put on a show. With the way Alabama’s offense has been scoring both on the ground and in the sky, Alabama could easily score over 40 points against the Rebels.
All in all, Alabama wins a good tough road game on their journey back to the CFB Playoff.
Final score: Alabama 48, Ole Miss 24
Clint Lamb, Managing Editor
How this game plays out could be directly related to the weather, as we still don’t exactly know how Hurricane Delta is going to impact the outcome. If there are significant winds and heavy rain (likely), that will almost certainly change how each offense attacks the other team’s defense.
With the physicality and experience along Alabama’s offensive line and in the backfield, a messy game could play in the Tide’s favor. Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral’s impact with his arm would be mitigated at that point, after all.
With all that being said, don’t be surprised if a Rebels offense being forced to go one-dimensional causes dual-threat quarterback John Rhys Plumlee to be a bigger part of the game plan than many expect. That especially holds true after the sophomore rushed for over 100 yards and a score last season against Alabama.
It will take both teams awhile to figure out the best way to navigate the weather, but which team can establish a more consistent rushing attack will go a long way in determining how this game plays out.
Clint Lamb and Brett Hudson break down the upcoming road game for Alabama against Ole Miss and former Nick Saban assistant Lane Kiffin.
Clint Lamb and Brett Hudson break down the upcoming road game for Alabama against Ole Miss and former Nick Saban assistant Lane Kiffin. How will the weather impact how this game plays out?
Will we see more John Rhys Plumlee? Differences between the Rebels and the Crimson Tide.
Stay tuned for more episodes of The Bama Beat podcast, brought to you by Wickles Pickles through The Tuscaloosa News and TideSports.com!
The Georgia Bulldogs are among the top five schools for defensive tackle Taleeq Robbins.
The Georgia Bulldogs are among the top five schools for defensive tackle Taleeq Robbins. Robbins is a member of the class of 2021. He is a three-star recruit who plays high school football for Imhotep Institute in Philadelphia.
Robbins announced that the University of Georgia offered him a football scholarship back in March. The 6-foot-3, 300 pound defensive lineman is ranked as the 18th best player in Pennsylvania and the No. 44 defensive tackle in the 2021 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Robbins has received numerous scholarship offers and is expected to decide soon. He is favored to commit to the Texas A&M Aggies. Don’t count out the Georgia Bulldogs, who are recruiting Philadelphia quite well. Kirby Smart has added increased emphasis on recruiting the talented area and still needs his first defensive tackle commitment in the class of 2021.
As a high school junior, Robbins recorded 40 tackles, three sacks, and one fumble recovery.
Robbins puts the Georgia Bulldogs, NC State Wolfpack, Texas A&M Aggies, Arizona State Sun Devils, and Ole Miss Rebels in his top five. We will monitor his recruiting moving forward.
The three-star defensive tackle released his top schools via his Twitter account:
Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Daran Branch has returned to the team following an absence.
Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Daran Branch has returned to the team. Branch is back in Athens after returning home to Louisiana.
Branch was a three-star recruit in the class of 2020. Branch, a true freshman, played high school football at Amite in Louisiana.
Before committing to the University of Georgia, Branch was previously committed to the Ole Miss Rebels. Kirby Smart, former Ole Miss coach Matt Luke, and the Dawgs were able to get him to flip on signing day in 2020.
Daran Branch, Kelee Ringo (who recently underwent shoulder surgery), Jalen Kimber and Major Burns combine to form Georgia’s four scholarship defensive backs in the class of 2020. Branch has missed some important practice time and may be brought along slowly in 2020.
Branch was contemplating if he wanted to continue his football career and returned home, per 247Sports. DawgNation was the first to report Branch’s absence with the team.
Georgia has limited media availability during preseason practice, which makes information on Branch quite limited. We’ll continue to update you on his status.
Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Daran Branch is no longer with the team in Athens
Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Daran Branch is no longer with the team in Athens after being a three-star recruit in the class of 2020. Branch, a true freshman, played high school football at Amite in Louisiana.
Before committing to the University of Georgia, Branch was committed to the Ole Miss Rebels. Kirby Smart and the Dawgs were able to get him to flip on signing day in 2020.
Daran Branch, Kelee Ringo (who recently underwent shoulder surgery), Jalen Kimber and Major Burns make up Georgia’s four scholarship defensive backs in the class of 2020. Without Branch, the class is a little bit thin at the defensive back position.
Branch is contemplating if he wants to continue his football career and returned home, per 247Sports. DawgNation was the first to report Branch’s absence with the team.
Georgia has limited media availability during preseason practice, which makes information on Branch quite limited.
The SEC is taking stricter measures with heart problems among student-athletes.
The SEC has updated their management strategy in response to COVID-19. On Friday, the conference confirmed they will now require a third weekly cardiac evaluation test prior to athlete competition.
The news comes just one day following Georgia State quarterback Mikele Colasurdo’s announcement that he will be opting out of the 2020 season due to a heart condition he developed after contracting the virus.
On August 8, University of Houston defensive lineman Sedrick Williams announced he too would sit out after facing heart complications as a result of COVID-19. He wrote in a Facebook post,
“As a result of the virus, I’ve had complications with my heart and I really don’t know the outcome or what’s in store for me in the future, I just know that my life is more precious to me than football could ever be.”
SEC Associate Commissioner Herb Vincent details that the cardiac evaluation requires “a troponin level, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and a medical evaluation by a physician.”
Given today’s update, the SEC now mandates at least three PCR tests per week during weeks of competition. This decision was made per the guidance of the SEC’s Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force. The conference’s goal is to ensure the safety of all athletes.
Commissioner Sankey released this statement as part of the announcement:
“We remain vigilant in monitoring the trends and effects of COVID-19 as we learn more about the virus, and this cardiac evaluation enhances the effectiveness of the protocols already in place. We are confident in our institutions’ ability to provide a healthy environment supported by rigorous testing and surveillance. Our student-athletes have indicated their desire to compete and it is our responsibility to make every effort to deliver a healthy and medically sound environment for providing that opportunity.”
As players continue announcing their decisions regarding the 2020 season, all 14 members of the SEC remain committed to protecting any student-athlete’s scholarship should they choose to opt out.
College Football News ranked the top SEC head coaches. Where is Georgia football’s Kirby Smart?
Pete Fiutak of College Football News recently released a list ranking the SEC head coaches heading into the 2020 season.
Checking in at No. 3 on the list is Georgia’s Kirby Smart, who trails only Nick Saban (1) and Ed Orgeron (2).
At No. 4 is Dan Mullen and at No. 5 is Gus Malzahn.
As much as I’d love for Smart to be in that No. 2 spot, I do not disagree with Fiutak here.
Smart’s time will come, and within the next five years he may very well occupy that No. 1 spot.
For now, he’s sitting at No. 3 on Fiutak’s list, likely right on the verge of taking over that No. 2 ranking. As long as he keeps winning the SEC East, beating rivals and putting his team in striking distance for the College Football Playoff…he’ll be considered a top-five coach in America.
Orgeron or Smart at No. 2 was likely a somewhat difficult decision. Fiutak went with Coach O since he accomplished something Kirby hasn’t yet, a national championship.
I’ve heard it all – “Anyone could win with that roster.”
Sure, Smart probably would have won it with that roster LSU had last year. But, at the end of the day, he didn’t have that roster. No other way around it.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Ole Miss edge defender prospect Sam Williams
Some of the biggest stars in the NFL have come from the junior college ranks, and every year, prospects with unique journeys to the pro level make a big splash on Saturdays.
Ole Miss pass rusher Sam Williams has the skill set to add his name to that list this season.
A fast-improving edge defender prospect, Williams recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about making the transition to the SEC from the JUCO ranks, why LSU had the worst offensive line, and what fans can expect from him this season.
JM: You came to Ole Miss prior to last season by way of JUCO. Guys who hit the D-I ranks from JUCO often face a steep transition. If that happened for you behind the scenes, it didn’t seem that way on the field. How did you acclimate so quickly?
SW: I really leaned on the system and the support around me. We have an excellent offensive line, that I had a chance to practice against every day. They prepared me for in-game action. I was prepared for anything and anybody. It wasn’t that hard, to be honest with you. I just made sure that I was playing hard out there.
JM: This is a big year for you, it’s your senior season. There’s going to be some expectations for you now. What are you doing to make sure that you meet those expectations?
SW: I’m trying to outwork anybody and everybody. I’m putting in extra work on the field. I’m spending more time in the weight room. I’m doing extra everything (laughs). I’m studying more film than ever before. I’m trying to be the ultimate student of the game.
(Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
JM: You get to work with coach D.J. Durkin this year. He’s coached for teams like the Atlanta Falcons, Michigan and Florida, just to name a few. He’s worked with some talented players. What are you hoping to learn from him?
SW: I feel like I can learn a lot from him. I’m willing to learn. This has always been my plan. This is like my fourth year playing football. I’m still new to the game. I’m always open to new ideas and techniques. I want to play in new schemes. I’m ready to play ball and follow his leadership.
JM: How can this Ole Miss defense be better in 2020 than it was in 2019?
SW: I feel like it’s going to be better because of the leadership that we have in our locker room. We have some great seniors. We have a big and talented senior class this year. Every senior here has a big role to play on the field this season. I believe in our leadership. That’s why the defense is going to be a lot better this season. Every single senior here is going to put their best foot forward. Effort isn’t going to be a problem. We want to ensure that this defense will be better.
JM: I don’t know how many times you’ve met coach Lane Kiffin in person yet, but expectations are obviously high for him. What’s your initial impression of Coach Kiffin?
SW: I’ve actually spoken with Coach Kiffin plenty of times already. He’s a very laid-back guy. He’s a cool person. He doesn’t play around, though (laughs). He saw us taking it easy this one time and he really laid into us. We had to start the drill over from the beginning. He didn’t let us off the hook. That’s what we need though. He doesn’t say much, but when he talks, you listen. He doesn’t waste his words. He means what he says and he stands behind it. That’s exactly what this program needed.
Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
JM: You recorded six sacks last season. What can you tell me about your pass rush arsenal?
SW: It’s still raw. I’m very open to new ideas and techniques. I’m working closely with the coaching staff. I want to be coached. We’ve been hopping on Zoom calls and FaceTime. They’re making me look up YouTube videos. I’m looking at different techniques that I can work on. I have the power, strength and speed. Now it’s about putting it all together. I have to get my hands better. I’m looking at a new video every day, videos that can help me improve my hand usage.
JM: What do you consider your go-to move at this point, and what moves are you trying to develop?
SW: My go-to move is definitely speed-to-power. I’m so fast that I’m often able to run right past the offensive tackle. If they open up to where I can’t go past them, I can use a power move to knock him off his pass set. I’ve been trying to develop something where I can grab onto their elbows and pull myself through them. There’s a lot that goes into it. I’ve been working on that move. It’s going to make my game 10x better because nobody is going to expect that from me. They only expect a swim move, speed-to-power, you know, the basic moves. I’m going to surprise everybody with some new moves this season.
JM: Who do you think were some of the best offensive linemen you went up against last season?
SW: No. 74 on Alabama [Jedrick Wills] was a good one. He just got drafted. I felt like he was the best one. I’ll tell you what though, LSU had the worst offensive line.
JM: LSU had the worst offensive line?
SW: Yeah, LSU had the worst offensive line. That’s how I feel. They were big, but they couldn’t move at all. Joe Burrow did his thing, don’t get me wrong. He had to get the ball out quickly. He didn’t have any other choice. If I had maybe 0.5 more seconds, I would have left that game with four or five sacks. They’re not that good, but they got the ball out quickly because we didn’t do a very good job of covering their receivers.
Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
JM: If you were going into battle tomorrow and could only bring one teammate with you, who would it be and why?
SW: I would bring [quarterback] John Rhys Plumlee with me. I know for a fact that he would give me everything he has. He’s not afraid to stand up and talk to the team. He’s not a big talker though. He rather lead by example. He’s going to show you. He won’t talk about it before he does it. He’s a young leader. Not only is he verbal, but he’s both physical and visual as well. He doesn’t have to say too much to be a leader.
JM: How would you describe the atmosphere at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on game-day?
SW: Man, it’s crazy. Coming from JUCO to this, it’s amazing. I remember my first game against Memphis. I ran out of that tunnel, looked around the stadium and just said, “Wow.” It’s crazy. It makes your heart pump faster. It gives you a rush of adrenaline. It’s a wonderful feeling. I love it.
JM: I know we have a whole season in front of us, but how big would it be for you to receive a Senior Bowl invite at the conclusion of this season?
SW: That would be great. With me coming from the background that I come from, to this very day I still can’t believe that I’m in the position that I’m in. This is me? I’m here right now? I have to pinch myself sometimes. Getting a chance to play in the Senior Bowl would be a fantastic opportunity. That would be a big honor.
JM: What can Ole Miss fans expect from Sam Williams this season?
SW: I’m gonna give it my all to be the best. I don’t wanna sound arrogant but I’m working to be the best so I expect to be the best. I’m gonna line up and beat whoever’s in front of me. That’s just the way it is.
The Georgia Bulldogs flipped a commitment from three-star wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, who was committed to Ole Miss.
The Georgia Bulldogs flipped a commitment from three-star wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. Mitchell is a 2021 recruit and plays high school football for Cane Ridge in Antioch, Tennessee.
Mitchell originally committed to the Ole Miss Rebels, but he has changed his commitment to the University of Georgia. He’s Georgia’s eleventh commitment in the class of 2021.
Here’s how Georgia football Twitter reacted to the good news:
The Georgia Bulldogs have received a surprise commitment from three-star wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.
The Georgia Bulldogs have received a surprise commitment from three-star wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. Mitchell is a 2021 recruit, who plays high school football for Cane Ridge in Antioch, Tennessee.
Despite being a talented in-state prospect, Mitchell didn’t have any plans to attend the University of Tennessee.
Mitchell was originally committed to the Ole Miss Rebels, but is now flipping his commitment to the University of Georgia. Mitchell announced the new via Twitter:
Mitchell’s top five included: UGA, Auburn, Ole Miss, LSU, and Virginia Tech. Mitchell is 6-3 and weighs 190 pounds. He’ll look to add some weight to his frame before playing in the SEC.
Mitchell is Georgia’s first wide receiver commitment in the class of 2021.
Kirby Smart and Georgia currently have several commits in the class of 2021 and are looking to add more. NCAA recruiting is still in a dead period.
