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Memphis v. Ole Miss Football Spreads & Picks

Written by Jimmy Boyd on September 3, 2009

mem ole miss 9309 The Ole Miss Rebels and the Memphis Tigers kick off their 2009 college football campaigns on Sunday, September 6th at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. If you’re not making the trip, you can catch the game on ESPN. Football odds makers have listed Ole Miss as a 17-point favorite with the total set at 54.5.

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Eighth-ranked Ole Miss enters the 2009 season with big expectations following a 9-4 campaign in 2008, which was capped off by a Cotton Bowl win over Texas Tech and highlighted by handing Florida its only defeat of the season. It wasn’t too long ago that Ole Miss was considered one of the weaker BCS programs. Oh yeah, that was just in 2007 when it went winless in SEC play. But what a difference a year can make as Houston Nutt led the Rebs to a 5-3 mark in conference play last year. The Rebels now begin the year with their highest ranking since 1970.

Memphis is coming off a second straight postseason berth, but head coach Tommy West knows his team is going to have to be very sharp to hang with the more talented Rebels. History is also largely on Ole Miss’ side, as it holds a 46-10-2 lead in the all-time series. To bring you more up to speed. The Rebels have won the last four meetings, including a 41-24 victory last year.

The Ole Miss offense is led by quarterback Jevan Snead. Snead threw for 2,762 yards and 26 touchdowns last season and Nutt anticipates his signal caller destroying those numbers in 2009. Snead’s receiving corps features Shay Hodge and Dexter McCluster. The duo combined for 88 catches for 1350 yards and nine touchdowns through the air. McCluster is a gamebreaker who also rushed for 655 yards. For those of you not familiar, he is used in a similar fashion as Percy Harvin was used at Florida. Brandon Bolden and Cordera Eason combined for 1,189 yards rushing and form a nice running back duo.

Defensively, the Rebs are coming off a season in which they held opponents to 19.0 ppg and 307.2 yards per game. Eight starters are back from last year’s unit and that means it should be another strong year. Expect a breakout season from end Greg Hardy who came up with 8.5 sacks in just nine games in 2008. If you like the Rebels to cover the spread, bet Ole Miss at -17 at Sportsbook.com and get a 50% sign up bonus.

Offensively, the Memphis Tigers pose problems for just about everyone they face. The Tigers racked up 417.2 yards per game last season and quarterback Arkelon Hall is back to continue that success. The talented signal caller threw for 2,275 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2008 despite missing two games due to injury. Good wideouts are a QB’s best friend and Hall definitely has two of those at his disposal. Carlos Singleton and Duke Calhoun combined for 92 receptions and nearly 1,300 yards and eight scores a year ago. Running back Curtis Steele, who rushed for 1,223 yards and seven scores in 2008, provides the balance. The skill positions are in great shape, but the question is if a line which returns only one starter will be good enough to help the skill guys reach their full potential.

The Tigers need to find a way to be more consistent on defense. With seven starters back, I don’t think a little more consistency is too much to ask. Jada Brown and his ability to put pressure on the quarterback figures to be one of the keys to the success of the Memphis defense. The linebacker unit is the strength of the defense with all three starters back. Greg Jackson looks to be the star of the group after notching 11.5 tackles for loss in just 10 games in 2008. The secondary is experience as well with cornerbacks Deante Lamar and D.A. Griffin leading the charge. Memphis will be out for revenge on its home field this Sunday, so if you like the Tigers to keep this one close, bet Memphis at +17 at Sportsbook.com.

Need help with your football betting this season? World Champion Handicapper Jimmy Boyd and his expert football picks are here to make sure you find the black!

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