Alabama vs. Ole Miss Preview

“Are you ready?”

 The familiar first words to the Ole Miss fight song “Hotty Toddy” will be heard loud and clear as the Bama faithful invade Oxford on Saturday.  The game can be seen on Lincoln Financial Sports at 11:30 am.  Alabama will enter Saturday’s game with a 4-2 overall record and 2-1 in the SEC.  Ole Miss enters with a 2-4 overall record and a 0-3 mark in the SEC.  There are many questions surrounding both offenses.  Both offenses have had signs of live in every game, but other times have looked relatively non-existent.  

 Keys to the Game:

For Alabama, the offensive line must have a better game than in previous games.  At times the OL is extremely strong, giving QB John Parker Wilson ample time to throw to any of Alabama’s good receivers.  The trend for Alabama’s OL this year is dominance early, but a nac for letting off the accelerator at times.  A few changes were made before last Saturday’s Homecoming win over Houston as Antoine Caldwell moved to the right side replacing Marlon Davis, allowing Evan Cardwell to make the start at center.   The move may be only temporary because of Davis’ absence from practice last week with a death in the family, but one thing is for sure; the offensive line starters are not set in stone.   

Andre Smith anchors a Tide Offensive Line that has faced many questions over recent weeks.

For Ole Miss, the key to the game is the play of the front seven.  Ole Miss is dead last in scoring defense in the SEC this year causing major concern in Oxford.  With players such as Patrick Willis and Rory Johnson gone, the front seven has shown its youth and inexperience in the first half of the season.   Freshman Linebacker Chris Strong must have a good game by pressuring John Parker Wilson and plugging the holes so that Tide running-backs Glen Coffee, Terry Grant, and Roy Upchurch don’t get loose. 

 

Freshman Linebacker Chris Strong must be very active for the Ole Miss defense Saturday.

What to watch for:

For both teams, the running game is an area to watch out for.  Alabama’s array of RB’s will challenge the Ole Miss defense all day long, but the Tide defense will also have its hands full with Ole Miss senior RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis.  Green-Ellis has rushed for 570 yards on 124 carries, however Ole Miss is last in the SEC in rushing this season.  If Ole Miss can find a way to get the ground game rolling, it could be a long day for the Tide. 

The headline for OleMissSports.com reads, “Beat Bama Blue,” but in the end I think the Tide will prevail in a close finish, a game similar to the 2005 thriller.

The Capstone King

Can Tennessee Run the Table?

Tennessee may not be as good as they looked in the game against Georgia, but at least it gives the fans hope of how good we can be. The fact is, we now control our own destiny in the East. All we have to do is win out, thats it. This is what lays in front of us if we want to do just that.

Alabama- What looked to be a possible loss a couple of weeks ago is looking better and better every week. The Tide is struggling on offense because of the ineffectiveness of John Parker Wilson. Furthermore, Tennessee should be able to throw the ball fairly well against a struggling pass defense that has gave up 250 passing yards the past two games against mediocre passing teams. All that said, Nick Saban is going to get a signature win this year, which will come against either Auburn, LSU, or Tennessee. I don’t think it will be against the Vols, considering that we own Alabama in recent history, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see our dreams of making it to Atlanta get shattered in T-Town.

South Carolina- This is the biggest game left on the schedule because SC will most likely come into this game ranked in the Top 5 and because a loss would likely knock us out of the running in the SEC East. The Cocks have a great defense, especially against the pass that could neutralize our biggest strength and as always Spurrier will somehow be able to put points up on the board. To win this game were going to have to run the ball effectively and put pressure on frosh Chris Smelley. This could be the loss left on the schedule, but I won’t pick against UT. However, I think South Carolina looks to be the better team right now.

A Vols Poem before Vacation

Hey everybody, if you notice the Ghost is a little quieter than usual this week, don’t fret. I’ll be back and more full of crap than ever next week after I recharge the ol’ batteries at the Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, Ala.

I’m planning on eating until I can’t see my toes (I don’t have far), doing a little fishing, a LOT of golfing and some paying $7.95 per day at my condo to hook up to DSL to listen to the Vols against the Dogs on Saturday.

I really hope while I’m gone, Gobble Thunder can come out of the woodwork and Volstothewall can hold up his end of the bargain. Those guys are Vols that rarely post on here even though they said they would. We really need a UT presence over the next five days, guys, so I’m counting on you.

Heck, our readers are counting on you.

So, I’ll leave you with this, a little poem I’ve concocted to remember me by when you can’t get your daily Dose of Ghost.

Not too long ago, we thought the Vols were doomed.

Now we’re crossing our fingers that we don’t get Croomed.

We control our own destiny, who would have thought it?

If you told me that after Florida, I’d never have bought it.

But now here we are after whooping the Dawgs

Trying not to look ahead to the Tide, ‘Cocks and Hogs. 

And trying to build on the momentum we gained

From hobnail-booting ol’ Jawja in last week’s game.

Look at us now, sitting at 3 and 2

With an improving defense and a healthy Ainge, too

Dreams of Atlanta dance in our orange heads

We include in our prayers Vol wins as we crawl in our beds

Still, Fulmer’s our coach and Chavis the DC

Don’t know if that worries you, but it sure worries me.

But all we can do is sit back and tune in

To see if UT’s youngsters grow quick into men

If they do, we’ll remember ‘07 as a great turnaround

When we forgot 59 points and became Georgia Dome-bound

If they don’t, we’ll whine and gripe and call for Phil to be fired

Or at least beg Mike Hamilton to urge him to retire.

There is one thing still of which we can all be proud

So say it with me Vols, and please say it loud: 

Just remember this friends, even if there is no Atlanta

We can always thank God that we’re not ALABAMA

Ghost of Neyland