The college football season is officially in full swing. We’ve already seen upsets, blowouts, incredible plays, and plenty of other storylines through the first two weeks. But we haven’t seen Ole Miss on the road yet this season. That all changes this weekend, as they head to North Carolina to take on Wake Forest. Not only is it their first road test of the year, it’s also going to be the toughest competition they’ve seen so far this season.
Ole Miss vs Wake Forest Series History
Not only will Ole Miss be looking to pick up a nice road win on their first road trip of the season, but they’ll also be trying to beat the Demon Deacons for the first time in school history. While this will only be the third time the schools have met, both previous meetings saw Wake Forest get the victory.
Back in 2006, Ole Miss was demolished 27-3 at home by a Wake team that finished the year with 10 wins and a division title. The key stat from that matchup was that the Demon Deacons did all of that while only attempting five passes in the game.
Then, two years later, the two schools met again, this time for the first time in Winston-Salem. While the result didn’t change, the game was a lot closer. That contest saw Wake Forest escape with a 30-28 victory. It proved to be one of few slip-ups for the Rebels that year, as they finished with a 9-4 record.
This year, will history repeat itself, with Wake Forest picking up another win over Ole Miss, or can the Rebels finally get a win in this series for the first time?
Keys to the Game For Wake Forest
For Wake Forest fans, the bad news is that these two programs aren’t in the same place they were a decade and a half ago. Ole Miss is no longer a bottom feeder in the SEC, and it’s doubtful as to whether the Demon Deacons are going to be competing for an ACC title this season. So how do they manage to overcome the talent differential in this one?
It starts on the offensive side of the ball. In two games this season, they’ve gone over 500 total yards in both. If they want to have a chance at the upset on Saturday, that trend has to continue. For that to be the case, it’s likely going to have to be through the air. If there’s a weakness on the Ole Miss defense, it’s potentially in the secondary. If Wake can exploit that, they could have a chance. The question surrounding that is whether they can contain and slow down an aggressive Ole Miss pass rush. If quarterback Hank Bachmeier has time to throw, there will be opportunities to put up points. If the offensive line falters, it could end up being a long day for the home team.
On the other side of the ball for Wake, in all honesty, the best they should be hoping for is a shootout. In that instance, maybe they can manage to outscore Ole Miss. But it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to slow down or stop the explosive Rebel offense. Through two games, that Ole Miss offense has been one of the best in the country, scoring 128 points. If Wake can hold them to the mid-30s, they have to feel like it’s been a decent day on the defensive side of the ball.
Keys For Ole Miss
On the other sideline, it’s going to be full steam ahead for Lane Kiffin and the Rebels. Quarterback Jaxson Dart has already set conference efficiency records, and there’s a good chance Ole Miss looks to get out to a fast start. So that could likely mean plenty of pass attempts from Dart early on. With the number of talented skill players the Rebels have on the outside, asking a shaky Wake defense to guard all of them is a tough task. If they do manage to get Dart going early, that’s when they’ll look for the run game to open up. And with the duo of Henry Parrish Jr and Ulysses Bentley IV, there’s plenty of talent in the backfield for the Rebels, as well.
On the defensive side, as mentioned earlier, there’s going to be an aggressive approach from defensive coordinator Pete Golding. He’s going to bring pressure on a fair amount of snaps. If that pressure can get to Bachmeier, the secondary’s job is going to be much easier.
However, if there is one concern we’ve seen from the Ole Miss defense in the past, it’s the “bend but don’t break” approach. Oftentimes they give up plenty of yards. But they’ve typically managed to keep points off the board. Against a Wake offense that knows they’re going to have to score points in bunches, don’t expect that mindset to change. They’ll be willing to give up yards, as long as it doesn’t lead to points.
The Bottom Line and Prediction
With a top-10 coming to town, there’s no question Winston-Salem is going to be rocking Saturday night. And with it being the Rebels’ first road test, there has to be some concern about nerves. But more often than not, talent wins out in the end. In this matchup, there’s no question that Ole Miss has more talent, on both sides of the ball.
Expect both offenses to come out hot, putting up points early. But by the time the second half rolls around, the talent on the Ole Miss defense will likely settle in and find its footing. When that happens, the game gets out of hand and the final score looks worse than the game was. The Demon Deacons keep the game close early, but too much firepower on offense eventually gets the Rebels the win on the road.
Ole Miss 48, Wake Forest 20
