52 F
Oxford

Ole Miss Musings: "Vassallo Predicts Ole Miss 2017 Football Season"

There are few who love Ole Miss as much as I do. Having gotten this out of the way and setting any bias aside, the following projections are based simply on reality, gut instincts and a 54 year history following Rebel football. Here we go…..

Game 1: South Alabama

Don’t expect an MSU upset here like the one that occurred in 2016. That being the Jaguars’ first SEC win. Having lost all their primary receivers and picked seventh in the Sun Belt, Ole Miss will flex its muscles against a run oriented squad.  It will get late early for South Alabama as Ole Miss runs up a “huge” score 48-7.

Game 2: UT Martin

Expect the Rebs to end this contest 2-0, although the Skyhawks (picked third in the OVC) could be a stubborn foe returning their top five tacklers. Coming off a respectable 7-5 (6-2 conference) season, UT Martin can play with the Rebs possibly for a half. Ole Miss 35-14.

Game 3: At California   

Probably the worst team in the PAC 12, the Golden Bears are looking for respectability coming off a 5-7 2016 worksheet. Their five year scorecard is 22-39, not one to lose a great deal of sleep over. Opening on the road versus NC, this should be a sound indicator of things to come. If the Rebs struggle here, expect few (if any) road wins this season. Ole Miss 27-14.

Game 4:  At Alabama

Circle September 30th as the date that the season begins. Picked again by some to win the national championship, Bama opens their schedule in a state of mind with Florida State, Fresno State and Colorado State preceding their 9/23 matchup in Nashville. Ole Miss has two weeks to prepare which is always a plus. Not sensing an upset here….Bama rolls 35-17.

Game 5:  At Auburn

The Tigers are forecast a Top Twenty team and meeting them on the road is anything but a welcome sight. Try adding up Reb road wins there over the last half century. The counting will end quickly! Playing MSU the week prior to the Rebels could shed some light here, but expect darkness to prevail on the Plains. Auburn 31-10.

Game 6:  Vanderbilt

What an opportunity for revenge following the three TD embarrassment last season in Nashville. Picked again last in the East, Ole Miss should dominate start to finish. However, Vandy is looking to Oxford as its best chance for an SEC road win with FL; SC and TN being the other three. Ole Miss will conclude midseason  4-2 with a 35-14 victory over the Dores.

Game 7:  LSU

Have NO doubt, this will be the defining game of the 2017 season for the Rebels. Facing a Top Ten preseason team, LSU will in all likelihood arrive in Oxford 7-0 although a road game Oct. 7 in Gainesville and the following week hosting Auburn will surely test the Bengals. It will take everything in the Reb arsenal plus a great deal of luck to win this one. And luck trumps skill every time. Ole Miss to go 5-2 with a 27-24 upset.

Game 8:  Arkansas

Ouch! This one (once again) will be a tall order following LSU. The Hogs are deep and are usually confident against Ole Miss and why shouldn’t they be? Picked ahead of the Rebs in the West by the experts, the schedule slightly favors. Ole Miss, however, as the Hogs face AL and Auburn the two weeks prior and the contest is in Oxford. As Ringo once sang, “It Don’t Come Easy” and this one could be another OT Nailbiter. Without a bowl to anticipate, the Rebs could reach into their inner strength and take this one 31-28.  (6-2 after the first 8 games, not bad by anyone’s critique.)

Game 9:  At Kentucky

This game will seem like a scrimmage after the previous two and the Cats should be down somewhat having faced the TN Vols the week prior. Having scheduled Louisville as the season finale instead of Tennessee which Kentucky had as its opponent forever, the schedule now seems a little strange. The Cats were the surprise of 2016 finishing in a tie for second in the East by winning three conference road games. Expect another stressful outing with this time the opponent coming out on top 24-21.  The record now stands at 6-3.

Game 10:  Louisiana

The Ragin Cajuns coming off a 6-7 season are forecast to end up #6 in the Sun Belt. And having lost to USM in the New Orleans Bowl, they are suspect at best. This is a week for Ole Miss to get well, running up a big score. The Cajuns’  running game took a big hit to graduation and the QB position is unsettled beginning the season, although this will be their ninth game. Ole Miss 49-7 running the scorecard to 7-3.

Game 11:   Texas A&M

Having signed the nation’s number 12 recruiting class (OM was 30th), the Rebs could be seeing a few new faces in this one. Expect the Aggies to attempt to run the ball often and long as their returning ground game is impressive. The squeaker the Rebs pulled out last year (29-28) on the road should be a confidence builder. Anticipate another barn burner with Ole Miss topping A&M 28-24 going to 8-3.

Game 12:  The Egg Bowl in Starkville.

The only thing needed to inspire the Rebels is last season’s drubbing, 55-20, in Oxford. The most humiliating loss ever in Oxford in 100 years….so what else needs to be said? If Ole Miss stays focused, this should end up being the easiest conference game of the year. Looking into the crystal ball, the score 37-17 appears with the only Reb road victory coming in the league this season.
There you have it….a 9-3 final season tally with a great deal of excitement and intrigue along the way. With so many uncertainties including the NCAA, injuries and momentum (or lack thereof) by opponents, this forecast could just as easily contain 3-4 fewer wins. And I am operating under the assumption that we have SEC depth this year at each and every position which we did not possess in 2016. The four nonconference games should all be W’s; defeating Vanderbilt here is not a tall order and expect 1-2 upsets going our way. Therefore a minimum of six or seven wins is definitely in the cards. Hotty Toddy and hoping for the best!


Steve VassalloSteve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. Currently, Steve is a highly successful leader in the real estate business who lives in Oxford with his wife Rosie. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.

Most Popular

Recent Comments

scamasdscamith on News Watch Ole Miss
Frances Phillips on A Bigger, Better Student Union
Grace Hudditon on A Bigger, Better Student Union
Millie Johnston on A Bigger, Better Student Union
Binary options + Bitcoin = $ 1643 per week: https://8000-usd-per-day.blogspot.com.tr?b=46 on Beta Upsilon Chi: A Christian Brotherhood
Jay Mitchell on Reflections: The Square
Terry Wilcox SFCV USA RET on Oxford's Five Guys Announces Opening Date
Stephanie on Throwback Summer
organized religion is mans downfall on VP of Palmer Home Devotes Life to Finding Homes for Children
Paige Williams on Boyer: Best 10 Books of 2018
Keith mansel on Cleveland On Medgar Evans
Debbie Nader McManus on Cofield on Oxford — Lest We Forget
Bettye H. Galloway on Galloway: The Last of His Kind
Richard Burns on A William Faulkner Sighting
Bettye H. Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Bettye H Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Bettye H Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Bettye H. Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Ruby Begonia on Family Catching Rebel Fever
Greg Millar on The Hoka
Greg Millar on The Hoka
Greg Millar on The Hoka
Greg Millar on The Hoka
jeff the busy eater on Cooking With Kimme: Baked Brie
Travis Yarborough on Reflections: The Square
BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH on Oxford is About to Receive a Sweet Treat
baby travel systems australia on Heaton: 8 Southern Ways to Heckle in SEC Baseball
Rajka Radenkovich on Eating Oxford: Restaurant Watch
Richard Burns on Reflections: The Square
Guillermo Perez Arguello on Mississippi Quote Of The Day
A Friend with a Heavy Heart on Remembering Dr. Stacy Davidson
Harold M. "Hal" Frost, Ph.D. on UM Physical Acoustics Research Center Turns 30
Educated Citizen on Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving
Debbie Crenshaw on Trump’s Tough Road Ahead
Treadway Strickland on Wicker Looks Ahead to New Congress
Tony Ryals on parking
Heather Lee Hitchcock on ‘Pray for Oxford’ by Shane Brown
Heather Lee Hitchcock on ‘Pray for Oxford’ by Shane Brown
Dr Donald and Priscilla Powell on Deadly Plane Crash Leaves Eleven Children Behind
Dr Donald and Priscilla Powell on Deadly Plane Crash Leaves Eleven Children Behind
C. Scott Fischer on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
Sylvia Williams on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
Will Patterson on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
Rick Henderson on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
George L Price on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
on
Morgan Shands on Cleveland: On Ed Reed
Richard McGraw on Cleveland: On Cissye Gallagher
Branan Southerland on Gameday RV Parking at HottyToddy.com
Tom and Randa Baddley on Vassallo: Ole Miss Alum Finds His Niche
26 years and continuously learning on Ole Miss Puts History In Context With Plaque
a Paterson on Beyond Barton v. Barnett
Phil Higginbotham on ‘Unpublished’ by Shane Brown
Bettina Willie@www.yahoo.com.102Martinez St.Batesville,Ms.38606 on Bomb Threat: South Panola High School Evacuated This Morning
Anita M Fellenz, (Emilly Hoffman's CA grandmother on Ole Miss Spirit Groups Rank High in National Finals
Marilyn Moore Hughes on Vassallo: Ole Miss Alum Finds His Niche
Jaqundacotten@gmail williams on HottyToddy Hometown: Hollandale, Mississippi
Finney moore on Can Ole Miss Grow Too Big?
diane faulkner cawlley on Oxford’s Olden Days: Miss Annie’s Yard
Phil Higginbotham on ‘November 24’ by Shane Brown
Maralyn Bullion on Neely-Dorsey: Hog Killing Time
Beth Carr on A Letter To Mom
Becky on A Letter To Mom
Marilyn Tinnnin on A Letter To Mom
Roger ulmer on UM Takes Down State Flag
Chris Pool on UM Takes Down State Flag
TampaRebel on UM Takes Down State Flag
david smith on UM Takes Down State Flag
Boyd Harris on UM Takes Down State Flag
Jim (Herc @ UM) on Cleveland: Fall Vacations
Robert Hollingsworth on Rebels on the Road: Memphis Eateries
David McCullough on Shepard Leaves Ole Miss Football
Gayle G. Henry on Meet Your 2015 Miss Ole Miss
Guillermo F. Perez-Argüello on Neely-Dorsey: Elvis Presley’s Big Homecoming
Jennifer Mooneyham on ESPN: Ole Miss No. 1 in Nation
Wes McIngvale on Ole Miss Defeats Alabama
BARRY MCCAMMON on Ole Miss Defeats Alabama
Laughing out Loud on ESPN: Ole Miss No. 1 in Nation
Dr.Bill Priester on Cleveland: On Bob Priester
A woman who has no WHITE PRIVILEGE on Oxford Removes Mississippi Flag from City Property
A woman who has no WHITE PRIVILEGE on Oxford Removes Mississippi Flag from City Property
paulette holmes langbecker on Cofield on Oxford – Rising Ole Miss Rookie
Ruth Shipp Yarbrough on Cofield on Oxford — Lest We Forget
Karllen Smith on ‘Rilee’ by Shane Brown
Jean Baker Pinion on ‘The Cool Pad’ by Shane Brown
Janet Hollingsworth (Cavanaugh) on John Cofield on Oxford: A Beacon
Proud Mississippi Voter on Gunn Calls for Change in Mississippi Flag
Deloris Brown-Thompson on Bebe’s Letters: A WWII Love Story
Sue Ellen Parker Stubbs on Bebe’s Letters: A WWII Love Story
Tim Heaton on Heaton: Who is Southern?
Tim Heaton on Heaton: Who is Southern?
Karen fowler on Heaton: Who is Southern?
Don't Go to Law School on Four Legal Rebels Rising in the Real World
bernadette on Feeding the Blues
bernadette on Feeding the Blues
Joanne and Mark Wilkinson on Ron Vernon: a Fellowship of Music
Mary Ellen (Dring) Gamble on Ron Vernon: a Fellowship of Music
Cyndy Carroll on Filming it Up in Mississippi
Dottie Dewberry on Top 10 Secret Southern Sayings
Brother Everett Childers on ‘The Shack’ by Shane Brown
Mark McElreath on ‘The Shack’ by Shane Brown
Bill Wilkes, UM '57, '58, '63 on A Letter from Chancellor Dan Jones
Sandra Caffey Neal on Mississippi Has Proud Irish Heritage
Teresa Enyeart, and Terry Enyeat on Death of Ole Miss Grad, U.S. Vet Stuns Rebel Nation
P. D. Fyke on Wells: Steelhead Run
Johnny Neumann on Freeze Staying with Rebels
Maralyn Bullion on On Cooking Southern: Chess Pie
Kaye Bryant on Henry: E. for Congress
charles Eichorn on Hotty Tamales, Gosh Almighty
Jack of All Trades on Roll Over Bear Bryant
w nadler on Roll Over Bear Bryant
Stacey Berryhill on Oxford Man Dies in Crash
John Appleton on Grovin' Gameday Memories
Charlotte Lamb on Grovin' Gameday Memories
Guillermo F. Perez-Argüello on Two True Mississippi Icons
Morgan Williamson on A College Education is a MUST
Morgan Williamson on A College Education is a MUST
Jeanette Berryhill Wells on HottyToddy Hometown: Senatobia, Mississippi
Tire of the same ole news on 3 "Must Eat" Breakfast Spots in Oxford
gonna be a rebelution on Walking Rebel Fans Back Off the Ledge
Nora Jaccaud on Rickshaws in Oxford
Martha Marshall on Educating the Delta — Or Not
Nita McVeigh on 'I'm So Oxford' Goes Viral
Guillermo F. Perez-Argüello on How a Visit to the Magnolia State Can Inspire You
Charlie Fowler Jr. on Prawns? In the Mississippi Delta?
Martha Marshall on A Salute to 37 Years of Sparky
Sylvia Hartness Williams on Oxford Approves Diversity Resolution
Jerry Greenfield on Wine Tip: Problem Corks
Cheryl Obrentz on I Won the Lottery! Now What?
Bnogas on Food for the Soul
Barbeque Memphis on History of Tennessee Barbecue
Josephine Bass on The Delta and the Civil War
Nicolas Morrison on The Walking Man
Pete Williams on Blog: MPACT’s Future
Laurie Triplette on On Cooking Southern: Fall Veggies
Harvey Faust on The Kream Kup of the Krop
StarReb on The Hoka
Scott Whodatty Keetereaux Keet on Hip Hop — Yo or No, What’s Your Call
Johnathan Doeman on Oxford Man Dies in Crash
Andy McWilliams on The Warden & The Chief
Kathryn McElroy on Think Like A Writer
Claire Duff Sullivan on Alert Dogs Give Diabetics Peace of Mind
Jesse Yancy on The Hoka
Jennifer Thompson Walker on Ole Miss, Gameday From The Eyes of a Freshman
HottyToddy.com