With Alabama looming ahead, Ole Miss still has eyes set on SEC West prize

After the dust settled on what was an exciting day of college football Saturday, the LSU Tigers own sole possession of first place inside the SEC West. The lock on the top spot comes after LSU defeated Alabama 32-31 in Baton Rouge to hand the Crimson Tide its second SEC loss of the season.

It perhaps takes a little shine off of this Saturday's highly-anticipated battle between Ole Miss (8-1, 4-1 SEC) and Alabama (7-2, 4-2 SEC), but not much. The Rebels still have much on the line, even if Alabama is simply playing for a good bowl.

Alabama has basically been eliminated from winning the SEC West (In the event teams finish with identical conference records, LSU owns any tie-breakers with Bama and Ole Miss due to head-to-head victories) or any shot at making the four-team College Football Playoff field. Ole Miss can still win the division and surge into the College Football playoffs, but it's going to need some help.
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart (Photo: John Korduner/Icon Sportswire, Getty)

The Rebels first have to win their remaining SEC games (Alabama, at Arkansas, Mississippi State). Then they'll need LSU to lose at either Arkansas or Texas A&M, both of which have been struggling of late. That's how Ole Miss can still win the West and advance on Atlanta for the SEC title game. If they were to beat their most likely opponent Georgia (who defeated Tennessee on Saturday) in the conference title game, then it is highly probable that the Rebels end up in the top four of the final CFP poll.

Sure, there are a few other Mary Poppins-like scenarios out there, but this is the most logical way by far for Ole Miss to advance into the CFP playoffs.

First things first, Alabama has opened as a 10.5-point favorite over Ole Miss in early Vegas betting lines. The game is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff and will be televised on CBS. The Rebels are coming off a bye week.

Ole Miss upset Alabama in Oxford in 2014 and turned around and did it again in Tuscaloosa in 2015. The Rebels advanced to New Year's Six access bowls in both seasons.

SEC FOOTBALL STANDINGS

West Division

LSU | 5-1 | 7-2

Ole Miss | 4-1 | 8-1

Alabama | 4-2 | 7-2

Miss. State | 3-3 | 6-3

Arkansas | 2-3 | 5-4

Auburn | 1-5 | 3-6

Texas A&M | 1-5 | 3-6

East Division

Georgia | 6-0 | 9-0

Tennessee | 4-1 | 8-1

South Carolina | 3-3 | 6-3

Kentucky | 3-3 | 6-3

Florida | 2-4 | 5-4

Missouri | 2-4 | 4-5

Vanderbilt | 0-5 | 3-6

This Saturday's Games

Alabama at Ole Miss | 2:30 p.m. CT | CBS

Missouri at Tennessee | 11 a.m. CT | TBD

LSU at Arkansas | 11 a.m. CT | TBD

Vanderbilt at Kentucky | 11 a.m. CT | SEC Network

South Carolina at Florida | 3 p.m. CT | SEC Network

Georgia at Miss. State | 6 p.m. CT | ESPN

Texas A&M at Auburn | 6:30 p.m. CT | SEC Network


SOURCE: Johnson, David." With Alabama looming ahead, Ole Miss still has eyes set on SEC West prize." Inside the Rebels - 247Sports.com, 6 November 2022, https://247sports.com/college/ole-miss/Article/With-Alabama-looming-ahead-Ole-Miss-still-has-eyes-set-on-SEC-West-prize-196982588/
ByDavid Johnson 14 minutes ago