http://www.teamspeedkills.com/2008/10/17/636887/midseason-report-ole-miss
There are two puzzling teams in the SEC West this year; one of them is LSU, which coasted through an easy start to the season and then imploded against Florida.
The other is Mississippi, which has looked good even in losing efforts but still hold a 3-3 record.
The three wins are of wildly varying quality. The victory against Florida in the Swamp, of course, was an early signature win for Houston Nutt and the Rebels. (Yeah, it still sounds weird to me, too.) Samford and Memphis, though, are Samford and Memphis, so what can we take from those? What can we take from a narrow loss to a Wake Forest team that is an ACC contender? What can we take from a close loss to South Carolina, now rebounding after a rocky start? A last-minute loss to Vanderbilt?
Even rocking along this way, though, Nutt and his team can still make a bowl. Sure, at Alabama is a likely loss, as is at LSU (we think). But a visit to Arkansas and home games against Auburn, Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State are all winnable games. Jevan Snead has played well enough to complement the RB-by-committee. Dexter McCluster is also a valuable player.
The question is whether the defense can hold up. Against Auburn, La.-Monroe and Mississippi State, sure. Arkansas could put up some yardage and make that game close, meaning Ole Miss’ margin for error is small. But not too small; Ole Miss will win at least six, maybe seven, and play in December. Mid-December, somewhere north of Florida and west of Georgia. Not bad after the Orgeron.
teamspeedkills.com
10/17/08
Magnolia Tribune
