Mississippi Alabama Betting – The Defending Champions Look To Bounce Back At Home
Now that Alabama has lost a game, the defending national champion in college football is under pressure to respond against an improving squad from Mississippi.
NCAA football betting: Mississippi Rebels @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Online Betting Odds: Alabama -21
Why To Bet On Mississippi
The Rebels have become a lot better since their awful start to the 2010 season. Ole Miss began the year by dropping home-field contests against FCS-based Jacksonville State and then SEC bottom-feeder Vanderbilt Commodores. Coach Houston Nutt's club was an absolute train wreck, with no cohesion or rhythm on offense and a very spotty defense that was hemorrhaging yards. Ole Miss won an uninspired game against a bad Tulane team and looked like a club that was going to be lucky to win three games all season long.
Then things changed. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, whose transfer from the University of Oregon did not deliver results in Ole Miss' first three games, has come alive over the past two weeks in a pair of performances that, while not amazing, were very effective. Ole Miss has scored a total of 97 points in its last two games against Fresno State and Kentucky Wildcats. Masoli hasn't completed tons of passes, but he's made them count. The field general for the Rebels' offense has thrown five touchdown passes the past two weeks while surrendering just one interception. Masoli's increased ball security has allowed the Rebels to keep defenses on the field, paving the way for running back Brandon Bolden to do appreciable damage. Bolden has rushed for a total of 336 yards in his last two games, leading the charge for Ole Miss. If the Masoli-Bolden combo performs at its peak on Saturday against an Alabama defense that got exposed by South Carolina on Oct. 9, the Rebels will have a chance to win this game in the fourth quarter.
Why To Bet On Alabama
The Alabama Crimson Tide are clearly not as good as last year's national championship team. That much is clear after Alabama's 35-21 loss to South Carolina Gamecocks, in which a young defense – especially in the secondary – endured a very bad day on national television. That experience, however, should make Bama electric in this game. The Crimson Tide should be hungry and eager to wipe away the bitter taste of defeat. The Tide are still alive in the chase for another national championship, and that reality should motivate them in this SEC West collision. Quarterback Greg McElroy and the running back tandem of Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson should have a field day against an Ole Miss team that has given up a total of 73 points in its last two games. Some SEC Betting teams have the front lines that can mash with Alabama for a full game, but Ole Miss isn't one of those teams. The Tide can dominate at the line of scrimmage and maximize the value of that advantage. It was surprising enough that Alabama lost to South Carolina. It's virtually impossible to imagine that this talented and generally well-coached team could lose two games in a row. That would be a brain-busting surprise.
How The Game Will Play Out
Alabama will have steam coming from its ears and will be intent on returning to the winner's circle. The Tide want to defend their division, conference, and national championships this season, and while the Auburn Tigers and the LSU Tigers might get in the way, it's hard to think that Mississippi can venture into Tuscaloosa, at night, and come anywhere close to coach Nick Saban's squad. Alabama should establish its physical superiority from the get-go and thump Ole Miss with enough decisiveness to cover the number on Saturday. Take Alabama even with Jeremiah Masoli playing quarterback for Mississippi.
Mississippi Alabama Betting Pick: Alabama
