Soon after going 9-4 in 2008, which includes 5-3 in the SEC, the Mississippi Rebels had been looking to 2009 as a season in which they could contend for an SEC title. Nonetheless, the Rebels took a tiny step back. They posted another 9-four campaign, but finished just four-four in SEC play. Even though, the Rebels didn’t live up to their lofty expectations last season, they still had plenty of reason to be proud. Mississippi hadn’t put together back-to-back nine-win campaigns because the 1961-62 seasons. It also hadn’t won consecutive January bowl games considering that the 1960-61 seasons.

Losing talented offensive players like Dexter McCluster and Jevan Snead will make it difficult for the Rebels to contend for a SEC West title in 2010, but head coach Houston Nutt need to still be able to take the Rebs to a third straight bowl game. That would be quite a feat taking into consideration Ole Miss failed to reach a bowl four straight seasons prior to Nutt’s arrival in Oxford.

Offense: It’s challenging to envision Ole Miss enhancing on last season’s 29.5 points and 402.4 yards per game averages soon after losing McCluster and Snead. McCluster was underutilized in my opinion, and he still became the initial player in SEC history with 500 receiving yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season. Snead’s numbers weren’t as very good as they had been in 2008, but he will still be missed this season when likely starter Nathan Stanley is enduring some growing pains. The excellent news is Mississippi should have a excellent sufficient running attack to take some of the pressure off of their new quarterback. Junior Brandon Bolden, who ran for 614 yards and four scores in 2009, leads a solid group of running backs. Another guy the offense will miss is wide receiver Shay Hodge, who recorded 70 receptions a season ago. With Hodge gone, Ole Miss will want huge production from guys like Ja-Mes Logan, Markeith Summers and Lionel Breaux. Ole Miss need to also replace 3 offensive starters on the line.

Defense: With six starters returning, a defense which finished No. four in the league in both scoring and total defense will be Mississippi’s strength. Led by all-league choose tackle Jerrell Powe, the Rebels gave up only 17.7 points and 314.7 yards per game in 2009. Powe is back and ready to lead a unit which returns five of seven up front. Returners Jonathan Cornell and Allen Walker head up a strong linebacker corps and strong safety Johnny Brown, who is the team’s leading returning tackler, is the leader of the secondary.

Prediction: 5th SEC West - With all that was lost on the offensive side of the football, and with a schedule that consists of trips to Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee and LSU, I don’t see the Rebels improving on last year’s 4-4 mark in SEC play. However, I do observed coach Nutt taking Ole Miss to a third straight bowl game. College football lines makers have listed Mississippi at +1500 to win the SEC West.

Be positive to check out my 2010 SEC football predictions to see how I have the rest of the league playing out.

Oxford College