Tipping the Scales: "Ole" Mississippi University

The reality has snapped back, gravity has come back, and we are still standing. We lost against a Top-10 team and other than that not much has changed. Our weaknesses were exposed, but we already knew what they were an what we need to do to change it. This week’s opponent is much less dangerous in terms of talent, but more in terms of desperation. The Ole Miss Admiral Ackbars (I’m calling them that until they show me a new mascot, that idea was brilliant) are already reeling, their season plans derailed by the Jacksonville State Gamecocks (eat it South Carolina, you don’t have the most unique mascot in college sports) and Vanderbilt Fightin’ Caldwells, they finally got things back on track with a convincing win over Fresno State despite passing for only 153 yards. Convicted felon QB Jeremiah Masoli hasn’t come through like they had hoped this year, but the running game has piled up more than 860 yards between their top 4 backs this season. I’ve been poring over the numbers and matchups to bring you this weeks edition of tipping the scales.

Jeremiah Masoli v. UK run defense– As I said, Masoli hasn’t come in as the world-beater like everyone thought he was going to be, but you have to remember; before his foray into the American legal system, he was the starting QB at a highly ranked program. After rushing for 190 yards and rushing for another 104 against Vanderbilt 2 weeks ago, he scaled back those numbers a bit against a lesser Fresno team (153 passing, 59 rushing). Dual threat quarterbacks are sure to make Steve Brown’s blood boil, and Joker has made several comparisons to Tim Tebow this week, but if the defense can’t contain him the only thing “Smokey” Masoli will have in common with Jesus of Gainesville will be his numbers.

UK run offense v Ole Miss Run Defense– Obviously a key to winning any football game, but the Rebels D has faced some serious setbacks this year and is as thin as any defense we are going to see this year. Besides having a young front 7 (save for LB Jonathan Cornell, leading the SEC in tackles with 39), Houston Nutt has suspended backup LB Clarence Jackson. Locke’s day became easier last week when senior DE Kentrell Lockett went down with a season ending knee injury. All of this means the 24th ranked offense in the country could jump a few numbers by the end of the weekend.

UK pass offense v. Ole Miss pass defense– Senior corner Jeremy McGee suffered a concussion last week and his status for Saturday is up in the air; that leaves 3 true freshman and 1 redshirt freshman starting in the secondary. We can only hope that Mike Hartline comes out firing to make up for that 53% completion debacle. An average height of 6’0″ across the board should help make bigger targets and more completions. Oh yeah, and Randall Cobb. ‘Nuff said.

Truth is our offense, even with the re-downgrading of Stuart Hines to questionable, is going to put up points. What we have to look out for is another dual threat QB (and the lesser of the two in the next two weeks) running roughshod all over the field and making this game close. If our linebackers can step up and make some big plays in either pass or run defense, we can put this game away early. the scales don’t lie, and the heavyweight this week is Kentucky. Final score: 38-27

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