September 28, 2012

Tommy Deas
TideSports.com executive sports editor Tommy Deas breaks down who holds the advantage in each aspect of the matchup between Alabama and Ole Miss.

The Call: Alabama vs. Ole Miss
		Advantage
Offense		Advantage: Alabama Everything looks better behind a good offensive line, and this Alabama offensive line is better than good. Chance Warmack is a beast in the trenches, opening holes for running backs like Eddie Lacy and helping protect AJ McCarron. Warmack joins Barrett Jones and D.J. Fluker in giving UA three monsters up front. Ole Miss is a lot better than last year, with leading rusher Jeff Scott and quarterback Bo Wallace, who is expected to play with a shoulder injury, leading the way.
Defense		Advantage: Alabama Ole Miss may be Ole' Miss. The Rebels gave up a whopping 66 points to Texas and 27 to lowly Central Arkansas. Ole Miss did pitch a shutout at Tulane, a school that is calling a baseball pitcher out of the bullpen to start at quarterback this week. Alabama's defense is rock-solid, with Dee Milliner and Robert Lester shoring up the secondary, Trey DePriest and C.J. Mosley knocking heads at linebacker and Jesse Williams pushing people around on the front line of battle.
Special Teams		Advantage: Alabama Poor Jeremy Shelley. After making 21 field goals last season, including five in the BCS Championship Game, Alabama's short-range kicker hasn't had a lot of work in 2012. Alabama's red-zone offense has produced a lot of touchdowns, and Cade Foster is getting the longer field-goal tries, so mostly Shelley has been kicing extra points. Alabama's return game has some spark, but the long game-breaker hasn't happened yet. Ole Miss has a big-time kickoff returner in Jaylen Walton to lead the special teams unit.
Coaching		Advantage: Alabama Alabama is a machine, rolling through the early part of the season like a lawn mower through dry grass. UA is stacked deep with talent and that talent has been coached up. Nick Saban runs the program, but he also hires solid assistants. Lance Thompson is back for his second term at Alabama under Saban. Thompson is best known for his recruiting prowess, but his track record coaching linebackers shows that he's also able to take those talented prospects and make them better.
Intangibles		Advantage: Ole Miss Alabama is defending national champion, has not really been challenged this season, beat Ole Miss. 52-7 last season in Oxford, Miss., and has an open date looming after this contest. The Rebels probably couldn't beat Alabama in a best-case scenario, but they are improved over last season and come into this game under the Crimson Tide's radar. Hugh Freeze knows what he's doing as Ole Miss' first-year head coach, and his team is in a good spot here to make a respectable showing.
Prediction		Alabama 49, Ole Miss 10 Alabama is defending national champion, has not really been challenged this season, beat Ole Miss. 52-7 last season in Oxford, Miss., and has an open date looming after this contest. The Rebels probably couldn't beat Alabama in a best-case scenario, but they are improved over last season and come into this game under the Crimson Tide's radar. Hugh Freeze knows what he's doing as Ole Miss' first-year head coach, and his team is in a good spot here to make a respectable showing.