Ole Miss vs. Alabama Spread Prediction
The big matchup in the SEC on Saturday takes place at 7:00 p.m. ET when the Ole Miss Rebels will host the Alabama Crimson Tide. This is one of Nick Saban’s most talented offensive teams but the Rebels can generate plenty of offense themselves. Will Ole Miss cover as a huge home dog?
Game Snapshot
181 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. 182 Ole Miss Rebels
7:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, September 15, 2018
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Mississippi
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Crimson Tide are 22.5-point favorites to beat the Rebels. The total, meanwhile, sits at 71 points. As of this writing, 58% of the public betting tickets wagered on this matchup are on the Crimson Tide.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama freshman CB Patrick Surtain Jr. has allowed just three catches for 34 yards this season. Surtain (6’2/183) has been targeted more than any defensive back in the SEC — 10 times — as teams have looked to find the soft spot on the Alabama dragon. The five-star freshman has more than held his own despite the heavy early attrition, though. He’ll face his toughest test of the young campaign when A.J. Brown, DK Metcalf and company welcome the Crimson Tide to Oxford for what should be a fun Saturday night showdown.
Ole Miss Rebels
Draft Analyst’s Tony Pauline believes that Mississippi senior G Javon Patterson is a player to watch for the Rebels’ game against Alabama on Saturday. Patterson (6’3/310) is going to be matched-up against Quinnon Williams for most of the game, a defensive tackle for Alabama who is quickly moving up boards according to Pauline. “[Patterson] doesn’t get the credit he deserves yet the ‘Ole Miss guard is a terrific next level prospect,” Pauline writes. “Though best in a small area, Patterson is a tough, nasty blocker who controls defenders at the point.” A strong game against Williams and the Alabama interior will go a long way in making Patterson a Day 2 prospect.
Betting Trends
Alabama
The Crimson Tide are 4-0 against the spread in their last four games played in September but are 1-4 against the number in their last five road games.
Ole Miss
The Rebels are 5-1 against the spread in their last six games overall but 4-9-1 against the number in their last 14 conference games.
Prediction
Seeing as how Ole Miss can score at will, it’s tempting to grab the points and force Alabama to cover by more than three touchdowns. That said, the Rebels’ defense is horrendous. Southern Illinois moved the ball up and down the field last week versus Ole Miss and again, this is one of the most talented offenses that Saban has had in Tuscaloosa. So we know Alabama is going to score and we know the Tide play excellent defense. Even if Ole Miss hangs for a half, I expect the Tide to dig in defensively in the second half and eventually pull away.
College Football Prediction: Alabama Crimson Tide -22.5