Sean Gardner/Getty Images. Pictured: Lane Kiffin.
The Ole Miss Rebels and Alabama Crimson Tide meet in a high-profile matchup Saturday, with CFP implications on the line. Mere hours into the betting cycle, the public slammed the underdog.
Alabama, which opened as high as -20, has been bet down to -14.5 across the market. The total, meanwhile, has been jacked up to 77.5 at DraftKings, after previously hitting a low of 74.5.
It wasn’t surprising to see money pile up on the total. Saturday’s tilt features two starting quarterbacks — Ole Miss’ Matt Corral and Alabama’s Bryce Young — leading the Heisman race at +150 and +175, respectively.
Last year’s Week 3 showdown between these two programs was a full-on fireworks display.
Alabama won 63-48, in a track meet featuring 1,370 yards and only three punts. The total of 74 never stood a chance — there were 77 combined points at the end of the third quarter — and Ole Miss covered as a 24-point underdog.
The 4-0 Crimson Tide have been money at home lately, covering nine of the last 11. Head coach Nick Saban’s been particularly streaky against the first-half spread, going 28-11 since 2018.
Ole Miss, meanwhile, has covered five straight games as a road underdog. Lane Kiffin’s club is scoring in bunches away from home, posting at least 42 points or more in four of the last five.
Corral’s putting on a clinic in 2021, fresh off a seven-touchdown performance. He had success against last year’s Bama defense, posting 365 passing yards and two scores, with 40 more yards on the ground.