Vassallo: Expectations High for Ole Miss Football

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It’s hard not to get excited about the prospects for the 2016 Ole Miss football team. A consensus Top Ten preseason pick, the Rebels are seriously being discussed as a real contender to win the SEC title outright….and rightfully so!

This team is loaded in all areas. There truly is no weakness. What Freeze & Staff have accomplished is purely amazing. Despite key graduations, the reload is most impressive especially along the defensive and offensive lines.

According to Bleacher Report, here’s their preseason Top Twenty:
1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. FSU
4. Michigan
5. LSU
6. Oklahoma
7. Tennessee
8. Baylor
9. OLE MISS
10. Stanford
11. Ohio State
12. Notre Dame
13. Houston
14. Louisville
15. MI State
16. Georgia
17. USC
18. Iowa
19. North Carolina
20. Washington

Analyzing the above, how the Rebs fare against three of the top five teams will ultimately define the season. Ironically, one if these games is in Oxford, one on a neutral field (Orlando) and the other in Tiger Stadium…ouch! Then for an appetizer, there’s no. 16 Georgia arriving in Oxford following the Crimson Tide. Not an easy beginning!

Other polls have Ole Miss ranked 10th (AP), 9th (Coaches) and 10th (CBS Sports). We won’t argue with these despite destroying Oklahoma State (48-20) in the Sugar Bowl, but rather build on this by anticipating an upset versus No. 3 Florida State. Ole Miss fans need to flock to this game similar to the New Orleans as the stakes could not be higher.

Here’s how I see the 2016 season playing out. We’ll be good from the get go. Our defense could be a force and will win those close games when our “O” is also facing a great defense such as AL; LSU and FSU. The advantage we hold this year rests with our QB who I believe has not yet seen his best days. He has impressed me well beyond expectations. What a find!

In conclusion, a lot of ground has been covered since the 0-8 squad Freeze inherited some five years ago. Ole Miss has now arrived on the big stage sooner than anyone thought possible, even including this Monday morning quarterback! Hotty Toddy!

Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. Currently, Steve is a highly successful leader in the real estate business who lives in Oxford with his wife Rosie. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.

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