The college football season is progressing along at lightning speed. It seems like the season just started, but instead, the regular season is halfway gone. But we still have plenty of high-powered matchups, and maybe a few not-so-notable games. Typically, Ole Miss vs Washington State would fall into the latter category. However, Lane Kiffin seems to have different plans. The Ole Miss head coach has since dubbed this new matchup (rivalry?) the “Cross Country Classic.”
So is this just Kiffin being who he always is, or does he potentially have an interest in attempting to make this a more common occurrence? For reference, this will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the gridiron.
More importantly, who has the edge in this weekend’s inaugural meeting between the two programs?
Previewing Ole Miss vs Washington State
Keys For the Cougars to Pull Off a Major Upset
Washington State comes into this matchup leading the Pac-12 (yes, it still exists, even with only two current members). However, despite being conference leaders, they’re likely going to have their hands full this weekend. So far, they sit at 3-2, with two games against what would likely be considered respectable competition. Those two came against North Texas and Washington. In those games, the Cougars gave up 59 points in both games. That’s not a great look for the defense. That being said, in their three wins, they’ve only given up a combined 26 points. So right from the jump, the Cougar defense is going to have to find a way to get some stops and a few turnovers against what has been a really efficient and balanced Ole Miss offense so far this season.
For the offense, they come into this one averaging nearly 21 points per contest. And most of it doesn’t come on the ground. On the season, they’re only averaging 2.6 yards per rush. Against the Rebels, that is going to have to improve. Because if you let Ole Miss’ pass rushers know that you largely can’t run the ball, they’re simply going to pin their ears back and create pressure on quarterback Zevi Eckhaus. This would create major issues in the passing game, which is really the only spot the Cougars have found success on offense this season.
Any way you look at it, it’s going to be a mismatch for Washington State. But we’ve seen wilder things happen. That’s why we play the games.
How Does Ole Miss Avoid Catastrophe?
For the Rebels, it’s simple. Do what you’ve done all year. On the defensive side of the ball, largely accept that you’re probably going to give up some yards. Where the Ole Miss defense has had success is by getting key stops when they’re most needed. It’s a bend but don’t break mentality. Against a Cougar team that struggles to run the ball, the secondary shouldn’t have to stress too much about that. It should be a lot of focusing on coverage, with an occasional blitz thrown in. If they can avoid coverage busts in the secondary, they’re likely going to have success.
On the offensive side, it needs to start with the run. With Kewan Lacy in the backfield, simply start the game off by showing that you’re the bigger, more physical team. If they can have that success early, it should open up opportunities later for Trinidad Chambliss to take a few shots downfield and create some big plays.
With the likely mismatch this week and with a trip to Georgia slated for next weekend, the plan for Ole Miss should be simple. Take care of business early and avoid looking ahead. But also try to avoid needless injuries, in a game that you shouldn’t need your biggest playmakers to do too much.
Ole Miss vs Washington State: Predictions
Not only is it largely a mismatch on the field, but there’s also the fact that Washington State is having to take a long road trip for an early kickoff. The biggest concern here if you’re an Ole Miss fan, is hoping the Rebels don’t look ahead to the next two weeks, where they travel to Georgia and Oklahoma. If they do that, they shouldn’t have too many problems dismantling the Cougars in this one.
This is the best team Washington State is going to see this season. So we can expect them to be excited and ready to play this one. However, ultimately, talent wins out most of the time. And this one won’t be any different. Take the Rebels to cruise in Oxford this weekend. Potentially a sluggish start, but once they wake up, they’ll put this one to rest relatively early.
Ole Miss 52, Washington State 17
Main Image: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
