Ole Miss vs. Florida Prediction, Game Preview

Could this possibly be a preview of the SEC title game? After a miraculous finish to beat Tennessee, Florida (4-0) is flying high, but the nasty part of the schedule is just beginning. Ole Miss (4-0) is still living off the win over Alabama, but a sluggish performance against Vanderbilt means it has to get back on track. The first meeting since 2008, check out the Ole Miss vs. Florida prediction and preview.

Ole Miss vs. Florida Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, Oct. 3
Game Time: 7:00 pm
Venue: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field, Gainesville, Florida
Network: ESPN

Follow, Contact @PeteFiutak

Why You Need To Care

Florida might not be all that pretty, and it might have struggled to get by East Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee, but it’s 2-0 in the SEC East with a team that seems to find ways to win, even if it means a missed kick goes barely wide right. The defense might not be quite as nasty as it was under Will Muschamp, but it’s not all that far off, and the offense is doing just enough to get the job done in key moments. With three straight games away from Gainesville after this – going to Missouri, LSU, and dealing with Georgia – beating Ole Miss is more than just a luxury.

[WATCH: Inside The College Football Playoff Rankings]

The Rebels can be forgiven for not bringing their A game against Vanderbilt a week after the emotional and physical effort against Alabama. At 4-0 and with the best win by anyone in America, this is the one big barrier before likely going on a huge run. If the Rebels can get by Florida in The Swamp for the first time since stunning Tim Tebow in the 2008 game that inspired the legendary “Promise” speech, it’s relatively smooth sailing for a while with New Mexico State and Memphis up next before the Texas A&M showdown in Oxford. Considering Auburn stinks right now, this might be the last tough road game until the Egg Bowl finish against Mississippi State in the regular season finale.

Why Ole Miss Will Win

Florida won’t be able to keep up the pace if the Rebels get up early. The Gator offense does what it absolutely has to, but this isn’t a high-powered attack and it doesn’t get too much going down the field. This is a tough, physical Florida attack, but that fits in with what Ole Miss likes to do defensively. The secondary hasn’t been pushed yet, mainly because it hasn’t faced anyone who can bomb away – that’s not going to happen this week. If the Rebel offense can get a few early touchdowns and make Will Grier and the passing game press, the turnovers will come. Grier and the Gators might not do much of anything on third downs, but …

Why Florida Will Win

There’s no one better in America on fourth downs. Florida is a perfect 10-for-10 on the season going 5-for-5 on Tennessee including a very, very big touchdown play to Antonio Callaway in what would turn out to be the game-winner. To pull this off, the Gators have to make this an ugly, grinding game with long drives that eat up clock. Ole Miss has only been holding on to the ball for 24 minutes a game, partly because the offense scored so quickly in the early games. Somehow, the Gators have to force mistakes – they have yet to lose the turnover battle this year, while the Vanderbilt game last week was the first time Ole Miss was in the negative after turning it over twice. Florida needs to be at least +2 and need to capitalize on every chance.

Player Who Matters

Ole Miss might have most of the defensive stars, especially up front, but Florida’s Jonathan Bullard is having an All-SEC caliber first four games as a big, dangerous pass rusher and all-around playmaker for the revamped D. Last week he came up with a tough nine tackles with a sack and three tackles for loss a week after coming up with two sacks and five tackles against Kentucky. The linebacking corps has been swarming and strong, but to get the win, the D line has to get to Chad Kelly early on. That’s Bullard’s job.

What’s Going To Happen?

This is going to be a fight. Florida is going to get tough and pound the ball, and Grier will come up with a nice game, but the firepower just isn’t there. Tennessee wasn’t able to convert on the plays it needed to on either side of the ball in the fourth quarter. Ole Miss will.