Ole Miss Rebels
SEC
Mississippi deserves a lot of credit for their amazing season. The schedule has been absolutely brutal and any time you can beat Boise State, Alabama, Texas A&M and Mississippi State, it is a good year. The offense had some clunkers, but the Rebels defense has kept this team in just about every game.
2014 Record: 9-3, 5-3
Coach: Hugh Freeze
Coach Bowl Record: 2-0
Big Wins: 10/4 Alabama (23-17), 10/11 at Texas A&M (35-20)
Bad Losses: 10/25 at LSU (7-10), 11/22 at Arkansas (0-30)
Strengths:
The Rebels defense has been impressive all year long. They have held some of the best teams in the country to well below their season averages. In fact, their 13.8 points per game allowed is the best in the nation. The secondary boasts superstar Senquez Golson. He has picked off nine passes on the year. Even when the opposition is smart and spends most of the game throwing in the other direction, Golson makes the most of his limited opportunities. The line is not the best in the SEC and averages about two sacks per game, but players like freshman Marquis Haynes will force the opposing quarterback to make relatively quick decisions. On the other side of the ball, quarterback Bo Wallace threw for 3,085 yards and 22 touchdowns. Wallace has four quality receivers to work with. Vince Sanders, Evan Engram, Laquon Treadwell and Cody Core all caught at least 35 passes for 500 yards.
Weaknesses:
The Ole Miss offense does struggle at times though. In their loss to LSU, Wallace threw for just 176 yards. Against Arkansas he threw for 235 yards and two interceptions. Wallace can win games for the Rebels, but at this point he does need help from the ground game. Mississippi did not have a 100-yard rusher against an FBS opponent until Jaylen Walton went for 148 yards in the Egg Bowl. Coach Hugh Freeze does have the luxury of riding the hot hand at running back. I’Tavius Mathers and Jordan Wilkins join Walton as options in the backfield. The quality outings are few and far between though and it is often Wallace who picks up the most yards on the ground. If the opposition can drop back and cover the pass, Wallace is forced to do too much.
Statistical Leaders:
Rushing: Jaylen Walton, RB, 583 yards
Passing: Bo Wallace, QB, 3,085 yards
Receiving: Vince Sanders, WR, 696 yards
Tackles: Mike Hilton, DB, 66
Sacks: Marquis Haynes, DE, 7.5
Interceptions: Senquez Golson, DB, 9
2014 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 167.7 (61st in nation, 10th in conference)
Passing Offense: 275.6 (29, 4)
Total Offense: 443.3 (37, 7)
Scoring Offense: 30.4 (56, 9)
Rushing Defense: 133.6 (30, 6)
Pass Defense: 187.6 (16, 3)
Total Defense: 321.2 (14, 4)
Scoring Defense: 13.8 (1, 1)
Turnover Margin: 0.58 (26, 4)
Sacks: 2.08 (63, 8)
Sacks Allowed: 2.17 (72, 12)
Recent Bowl Appearances:
2013 Music City Bowl Georgia Tech (25-17)
2012 Compass Bowl Pittsburgh (38-17)
2009 Cotton Bowl Oklahoma State (21-7)
2008 Cotton Bowl Texas Tech (47-34)
2003 Cotton Bowl Oklahoma State (31028)
2002 Independence Bowl Nebraska (27-23)
2000 Music City Bowl West Virginia (38-49)
*all team stats through 12/1
