Mississippi at Missouri
Time: 6 PM CST
Spread: MIZ -12.5
Total: 57
Odds c/o 5dimes
The Missouri Tigers are 4-1 after defeating Troy 42-10 last outing. The Tigers have won four straight since dropping its season-opener to Wyoming. Missouri will host Mississippi at 6 PM CST on ESPN2, with the Tigers listed as 12.5-point favorites according to NCAA football oddsmakers at bookmaker 5dimes. The point total is set at 57 points.
MIZZOU
Missouri has steamrolled its four opponents over the four-game win streak. It has defeated its four opponents by a combined total of 164 to 31. This, of course, has ramped up the Tigers win differential and its averages: the win-differential is +25.4 points, while Mizzou averages 39 per game holding its opponents to just 13.6 per. The Tigers have balanced its rush and passing attack, ranking No. 44 in the nation in both regards, averaging 264.0 and 192.8 yards per game, respectively.
Kelly Bryant has fared well at quarterback. He has thrown 1,246 yards already, with a 64.8 percent completion clip and an 11 to 3 TD to INT ratio. Bryant has also rushed for 123 yards on his 47 carries with a touchdown. The No. 1 and No. 2 running backs, Larry Roundtree III and Tyler Badie, each have rushed for 5.3 and 4.4 yards-per-carry while combining for 671 yards and seven touchdowns. Between that duo and Bryant, that comprises the eight rushing TD scored by the Tigers.
Jonathan Nance and Jalen Knox both have caught for over 200 yards on the season. Tight end Albert Okwuegbunam ranks No. 3 in yardage with 180, but he leads the team with five of its 11 passing touchdowns. Nance has three, and Knox has one. Mizzou also boasts six receiving options with 100 yards or greater on the season, with Badie serving as an extra receiver out of the backfield and responsible for 16 catches for 141 yards.
MISS.
Ole Miss is 3-3 on the season after defeating Vanderbilt 31-6 last week. It entered that game with two straight losses, both to AP-ranked California and Alabama. This week, the Rebels get something of a break comparatively, but it still finds itself heavy 12.5-point dogs to Missouri.
The Rebels do have a +1.5 point differential despite its .500 record. Mississippi is averaging 27.2 points per game while holding its opponents to 25.7. The strength of the Rebels has been its rush attack, responsible for 234.3 yards per game and ranking No. 16 nationally. The passing attack lingers far behind at 203.7 yards and a No. 97 standing among FBS-I teams.
Ole Miss’ running attack has been handled by three running backs, with Scottie Phillips’ 451 yards and five touchdowns both leading the team. John Rhys Plumlee is No. 2 option with 50 carries for 317 yards and two touchdowns. No. 3 running back Jerrion Ealy leads the team with 8.2 yards-per-carry, but he has attempted just 36 for a total of 294 yards and three touchdowns. The Rebels average better than five yards-per-carry as a team, and it has scored 12 of its 19 touchdowns via the rush.
The Rebels are mostly a one-man show at wide receiver, with Elijah Moore having caught 36 of the 97 total passes for 451 yards. Plumlee has caught 50 passes for 327 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Ealy ranks No. 2 in TDs with three, as he has caught 36 passes for 294 yards. The team averages just 5.1 yards-per-completion, however, and its No. 5 and No. 6 receivers are both quarterbacks, with Matt Corral having caught 41 passes for 91 yards while he’s not throwing.
It’s unorthodox, and the Rebels are hoping for quite an upset after losing to two nationally ranked teams in back-to-back weeks. Unfortunately, it will probably fall short with Mizzou’s great offensive balance giving the Rebels a few too many problems on the defensive end of the football. Missouri might really light the scoreboard up in this, indicated by the point total being set relatively high at 57 by college football oddsmakers at 5dimes.
