Tennessee Vols vs Ole Miss Rebels Important Match Ups
Here is a list of the Tennessee Vols vs Ole Miss Rebels important match ups today in Oxford. These will determine the outcome. The Vols are a 16.5 point underdog, and most see this as a physical mismatch in the Rebels favor. I think it may be closer than most expect.
Important Match Ups….
1. Coleman Thomas vs Fadol Brown – While Robert Nkemdiche is the face of the Ole Miss defense and has lived up to his number one player in the country label, Fadol Brown looks to be in the Tennessee backfield early and often today. Coleman has had a hard time just getting in the way of opposing defensive ends. Thomas was a highly touted high school center, but has been forced to play right tackle due to lack of depth on the Tennessee front. Coaches seem to think Thomas has the athleticism to play the position, but that has not been the case so far. Most defensive ends are getting around the freshman before he comes out of his stance. It is a tough task to ask a freshman to play where he is playing. Today is no exception. Brown has a quick first step and is disruptive in the backfield. How Thomas blocks, or doesn’t block Brown will go a long way in determining today’s outcome…as well as Worley’s health. Bajakian, please give Thomas a tight end on his side. Advantage Ole Miss.
2. Bo Wallace vs Tennessee Defense – Bo has become a cult hero at Ole Miss. They can love him, and they can not love him so much. He has a propensity to make the impossible happen by extending a play with his legs, and he has the propensity to throw into triple coverage. Tennessee should be more concerned about the running ability of Wallace, and his ball faking skills. In watching Bo recently he does an excellent job in Hugh Freeze’s offense in ball faking. Everything hinges on the Rebel zone read. Bo does a great job of putting the ball in the running backs’ gut only to pull the ball down and gain 15 on you with his athleticism. He isn’t fast, but he is decisive and hits the hole quickly running North and South. He also throws the ball quickly off of the fake to the running back, which holds the linebackers just long enough to allow the slot receiver to catch a slant. AJ Johnson will have to take away Bo Wallace’s running game and make bad Bo throw the ball. If anyone in the country can do this, it is AJ Johnson. Advantage Tie
3. Ole Miss Receivers vs Tennessee Secondary – Ole Miss boasts one of the top receivers in the country in Laquon Treadwell. He is fast, tall, and catches everything in his vicinity. It will be interesting to see if Tennessee doubles Treadwell. Knowing the Vols, I believe they will let Sutton and Coleman go one on one, and take their chances. I like both Tennessee corners. Sutton has NFL talent and will show it in Oxford today. Hopefully Bo will try him. The receivers that should worry the Vols as well are the slot receiver Cody Core and the giant tight end Phil Engram. These two can cause matchup problems. Look for McNeil to draw one on one duties against Core, while the linebackers will have to be on their toes to stop Engram over the middle. Advantage Vols
4. Tennessee’s Offensive Line vs Ole Miss Defensive Line – Does this really need to be discussed? Yes and here is why. If Tennessee’s line can not protect Worley this game will be a 40 point blowout. If the line has a great day and keeps this front 7 at bay, Tennessee can not only stay close, but win today. Tennessee has played road games at Norman and in Athens. They have performed well on both occasions under pressure. So it is not so much a mental game with Tennessee’s youth as it is physical. If the Vols front can physically withstand the pounding of this Ole Miss defensive front, Tennessee has more than a punchers chance as its defense will keep the game close. The Vols have weapons galore, but have to be able to launch these weapons. The offensive line has to create a crease for Hurd, and protect Worley just long enough to get the ball out of his hand. If they don’t , the ball will come out of Worley’s hand, and you will watch Nkemdiche running the other way with that ball. advantage Ole Miss…Huge advantage.
5. Tennessee’s Receivers vs Ole Miss Secondary – Ole Miss has not seen this much talent this season. The Land Shark secondary is incredible. They are led by Senquez Golson and Senior Cody Prewitt. These guys are head hunters and ball hawks. Golson is only 5’9″ 180 lbs. He will lock up with Marquez North who is a beast. Prewitt is a 6’1″ 220 lb Safety. He can run and is nasty when he gets to the ball. But the Vols receivers are physical as well. Bajakian, please look for North and Croom today as targets. Worley should give these two a chance to go up over the smaller defensive backs. Von Pearson, Josh Malone, and Jonathan Johnson are all capable of taking a short throw and taking it to the house today. The key is to have Worley throw quickly. These receivers are going to have to play defensive back some today as well. They can not drop a pass today. They can not allow a Rebel to intercept a poorly thrown ball today at all. They must take responsibility with that role today and help their quarterback who will be under duress. Advantage Tennessee
6. Kicking Game Vs Ole Miss Return Game – Ole Miss has Athletes everywhere. Their trainers run a 4.4 just to get the water to the players during timeouts. They have a great return game. Last weekend, freshman kicker Aaron Medley consistently kicked the ball into the end zone. This will be huge today. Tennessee is not good enough to allow a kick return or punt return and win this game. They have to be perfect in the kicking game today. Medley will have to make every field goal attempt that this offense gets in position to make. Senior Matt Darr needs a monster day punting the ball. Today is all about Net Punting. Do not allow them to return a punt. Advantage Ole Miss
Prediction – I so want to predict an upset today. I just think it is Tennessee’s time. However, when I really look at this Ole Miss defense it is hard for me to choose against them. I see a lot of 3 and outs if Bajakian runs the same stuff we have seen so far. If they go 3 and out over and over, this game will get out of hand late, as the Vol defense will tire. I just think it is going to be closer than everyone thinks, but I am a Tennessee fan. Rebels 24 – Vols 16. (and Tennessee has the ball in last possession to make it interesting, but Ole Miss Land Shark’s defense creates a late turnover to win.)