Alabama vs Ole Miss in SEC Opener

So far, so good for the defending champions. The Alabama Crimson Tide have started the 2016 season at 2-0 SU and ATS; this Saturday, they’ll be at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford to face the Ole Miss Rebels, starting at 3:30 PM ET on CBS. Alabama is laying 11 points at press time, up from –10 at the open.

The Rebels (1-1 SU, 0-2 ATS) could be the right football pick at these odds. They upset Alabama in each of their last two meetings, winning as 5.5-point home dogs in 2014 and 9-point road dogs in 2015. Since Nick Saban took the reins at ‘Bama nine years ago, Ole Miss is 2-7 SU and 6-3 ATS against the Tide. That includes 2-2 SU and 3-1 ATS under head coach Hugh Freeze.

However, Ole Miss may not have the horses to get the job done this year. DB Ken Webster and RB Eric Sweeney have already been lost to season-ending injuries, and the offensive line is replacing all five starters from 2015. Then again, the Rebels should have the quarterback advantage with senior Chad Kelly matched up against freshman Jalen Hurts, who will be playing in his first away game.