Jackson Free Press

I was on a mission. Locked in a one-window room with no air-conditioning, just a laptop and a notepad, I began to burn up the Internet with my searches, watching film. My mission was to discover a bold prediction for the three FCS, formerly known as Division I, college football teams in Mississippi.

The room was stuffy and hot. With only a pot of coffee and high-speed Internet connection to guide my way, I began to absorb all the information I could find on my subject.

Here are a few predictions so bold they will blow your mind.

Bold Prediction No.1: Ole Miss will go to a bowl game in 2010.
Many experts say the Rebels underperformed with a 9-4 record last season. Ole Miss started in the top 10 of the major polls and climbed all the way into the top five until the third game of the season.

They were doomed last season by an offense that could not move the ball and a defense that was worn out by the end of games.

Gone this season is Jevan Snead, the quarterback who just could not keep from turning the ball over. Superstar Dexter McCluster, the explosive running back who nearly single handily carried Ole Miss on his back last season, has left for the NFL.

But do not lose heart, Rebel fans: All is not lost going into this season.

Former Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is taking his talents to Oxford. Add Masoli to running backs Brandon Bolden, Enrique Davis and Rodney Scott, and the Rebels will grind up more yardage on the ground than a butcher grinds meat.

Seven to eight wins are not out of the question for this team if Masoli can learn the offense quickly and the defense holds up their end.

Bold Prediction No. 2: Mississippi State's best pure quarterback will be Dylan Favre.
Look at the person next to you. Look back at the statement above. Look back at the person next to you.

This is the bold prediction your man would make if he made bold predictions. Many erroneously think the Bulldogs' best chance at quarterback this season will be either Chris Relf or Tyler Russell.

Sure, Relf ran all over Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl last year, but teams will be ready for him this season. That is why it makes sense for Mississippi State to use him in the "wild cat" offense instead of making him the starter for 2010.

Anyone who watched the Bulldogs' spring game saw that Russell still needs work to be a passer. In the Maroon and White game, Russell was 12 of 27 with no touchdowns and an interception.

Favre will be the best pure quarterback in Starkville. He has the talent and the pedigree to be a starter.

The major knock on Favre is that he is only 5 foot 11 inches, short for quarterback. Take this with a grain of salt if you want, but Drew Brees is only 6 foot, and Colt McCoy is 6 foot 1 inch.

Favre is only a freshman so he has plenty of time to grow. He also broke the state record for touchdowns by 40 and had 81 touchdowns his senior year at St. Stanislaus High School on the Coast.

Bold Prediction No. 3: Southern Mississippi will win the Conference USA title.
Larry Fedora has had two straight 7-6 seasons since replacing Jeff Bower, fired for having 7-6 seasons. That should all change this year, or Fedora could be packing up his office.

Good news for Fedora and Eagles fans is that this team returns nine starters on defense. For the first time in the new era, the defense should earn the nickname "Nasty Bunch."

Also returning this season are quarterback Austin Davis and wide receiver DeAndre Brown. Both will be back on the field and healthy. The biggest concerns are that the offensive line has just one returning starter, and the school must replace its all-time leading rusher Damion Fletcher.

Houston will get the majority of the publicity nationally in C-USA, but the Golden Eagles should prove that defense wins championships.

As I finished the last words, I heard a key inserted into the lock to let me free. Good thing: The coffee's gone and my laptop is smoking.

Previous Comments

ID

159641

Comment

BREAKING NEWS: Ole Miss Quarterback, Jeremiah Masoli cleared to play by the NCAA. The Rebels appealed earlier the NCAA's decision not to give Masoli a wavier to play immediately. Being cleared means Masoli can play this weekend.

Author

Bryan Flynn

Date

2010-09-03T13:35:23-06:00