Ole Miss gearing up for tilt with former SEC foe Tulane
Ole Miss enters week 3 of the 2021 college football season as an unbeaten offensive juggernaut. To the surprise of many Rebel fans, the defense has been much improved. It would be hard not to improve on last year’s numbers, but this sort of progress (150 less YPG given up) is ahead of schedule. With Matt Corral sitting in 2nd place in the Heisman hopeful rankings (USA Today) at +450, obviously the offense was meant to carry this team. With Tulane coming to visit Oxford this weekend, it is to the delight of the Rebel Faithful that their team is clicking on all cylinders.
According to FanDuel, you would need to wager $75 on Ole Miss winning to profit $10. While I totally agree that Ole Miss should win this game, I think the money line does not reflect how competitive this contest is going to be. Tulane took Oklahoma (a top 5 team) to the brink in week 1. Oklahoma 40 – Tulane 35. They then proceeded to beat the hell out of an overmatched Morgan State, 69 – 20, in week 2. Tulane is no slouch. Tulane, however, is not putting Oxford on upset alert.
Ole Miss will win this game. The only way to beat the Rebels is to stop the offense. Let’s say they can effectively double team Dontario Drummond, how will they contend with the rest of Matt Corral’s receivers? Let’s say they find a way (which not even the 2020 Alabama defense could) to slow down Matt, what about Snoop Conner and Jerrion Ealy out of the backfield? This offense is too powerful for a game like this. The Ole Miss attack can only be slowed down by truly elite caliber defenses, and, unfortunately for Tulane, that caliber defense will not be present this weekend.
Ole Miss to win, obviously, but what about the spread? Ole Miss comes in as a 14.5 point favorite. I genuinely believe this game will be close up until the bitter end. I do, however, think Ole Miss will win by more than Oklahoma beat Tulane by (emotions from the hurricane, moving the game last minute, week 1 rust, etc.). This promises to be a high scoring game. Ole Miss should cover though.
Ole Miss could put up over 42 points on Tulane easily. Will the Rebs give up more than 4 touchdowns on defense? The defense has shown so much growth so far in this young season. To give up 31 points to Tulane would be a huge let down. With that being said, they could theoretically give up 31 and still cover the spread. Ole Miss to cover for the 3rd straight week.
That takes us to the O/U. Week 1, the game went under. Week 2, the game went over. When it comes to the Lane Kiffin offense, everybody always thinks to bet the Over. With the over set at 76.5, FanDuel is expecting an Ole Miss victory of 45-31. While that sounds reasonable, I would take the Under. I am trusting the new and improved defense in this game. I think Ole Miss wins it 42-24.
It might be too late to get in on the Matt Corral Heisman easy money, but a quick trifecta on Saturday would not hurt your pockets. Ole Miss to win, Ole Miss to cover, Under 76.5 points scored.