Ole Miss football vs Middle Tennessee score prediction, scouting report for Week 2
Ole Miss football is hoping to avoid another slow start in its second game.
The Rebel’s 76-0 thrashing of Furman last week mirrors the 2023 season opener, when Ole Miss beat Mercer 73-7. In the second game a year ago, the Rebels were tied against Tulane through three quarters and needed a late surge to secure a win.
Here’s what to watch for when No. 6 Ole Miss (1-0) hosts Middle Tennessee (1-0) at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday (3:15 p.m., SEC Network)
Ole Miss football will run the ball more vs MTSU
The Rebels’ rushing attack wasn’t a headline after Week 1. It understandably took a backseat to Jaxon Dart passing for 418 yards and accounting for six scores in the first half.
Look for coach Lane Kiffin to lean on his running backs more against the Blue Raiders.
"The linemen and the front seven are getting bigger here as we go, from Week 1 to Week 2," Kiffin said. "It's more of a challenge this week for them. We really want to establish the run in this game. We were really pass-oriented as that game went on (Saturday), and we'd really like to establish the run in this game.”
A closer game could be useful for sorting out the running back depth chart. Henry Parrish Jr. got a team-high eight carries in Week 1 while Ulysses Bentley got six.
Former Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason won debut at Middle Tennessee
The Blue Raiders are riding momentum. They won their season opener against FCS Tennessee Tech last week when Frank Peasant broke off a 30-yard touchdown run with 16 seconds remaining.
It was an exciting first win for coach Derek Mason, who is leading the Blue Raiders after stints as defensive coordinator of Auburn (2021) and Oklahoma State (2022). Mason was Vanderbilt’s coach from 2014-20.
MTSU, a Conference USA team, will be challenged on Saturday. The Blue Raiders tested Missouri admirably last season, losing 23-19. It’s a new team this season. There were 13 Blue Raiders who made their first college start last week.
Ole Miss score prediction vs Middle Tennessee
Ole Miss 45, Middle Tennessee 7: The Rebels should handle the Blue Raiders easily. It’s unlikely that Ole Miss is up by enough to pull its starters at the half again, but four quarters of Dart throwing to receiver Tre Harris should be enough to put this game out of reach.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss vs MTSU score prediction in college football Week 2
