Alabama: The defending national champs opened 2016 with a 52-6 thrashing of USC and followed with a 38-10 win over Western Kentucky but unsurprisingly, Nick Saban has been unhappy with his team's play. Redshirt freshman Blake Barnett started the opener against USC at QB but it was fellow freshman Jalen Hurts (two passing TDs and two rushing TDs) , who made the greater impact. Although Hurts still hasn't been declared the starting QB (even after throwing for 287 yards and two TDs in a starting assignment last Saturday'), he is the likely starter. If anyone was worried that Alabama's defense, which returned a modest five starters from last year's unit, they can forget about that. After two games, Alabama ranks 8th in scoring (8.0 PPG) and 6th in total D (216.5 YPG), which includes ranking 3rd in rushing D (43.5 YPG). In fact, the Crimson Tide's defense has scored more TDs (two) than it has allowed (one).

Ole Miss: Having to play Florida State and Alabama in one's first three games, is hardly the way any program wants to open the year. However, that's the fate of this year's Rebels, plus current No. 16 Georgia and Memphis follow at home, before a bye week. Coming out of the bye, Ole Miss visits current No. 24 Arkansas and then, current No. 20 LSU. Hugh Freeze has led Ole Miss to a bowl game in each of his first four years at the school (he's won three of them) but after a 10-win season in 2015, it's seems highly unlikely the Rebels will match that in 2016. Senior QB Chad Kelly has thrown for 532 yards and seven TDs in two games so far, plus fueled last year's upset of Alabama in Tuscaloosa by passing for 341 yards and three TDs.

The pick: Does Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze own a secret formula for defeating the Crimson Tide? He's now beaten Alabama in back-to-back seasons, 43-37 last year and 23-17 here in Oxford in 2014. Alabama's Nick Saban hasn't lost to the same team in three consecutive seasons during his 10 seasons at the school and after seeing the Ole Miss offense struggle in the second half against Florida State, I wonder how they'll handle Alabama's defense. Ole Miss ran for only 67 yards against FSU (2.7 YPC) and remember, Alabama has allowed just 43.5 YPG on the ground in 2016. Just maybe, Freeze has another upset "up his sleeve," and let's not forget, Alabama does have two freshman QBs. However, I'll stay away from the side but will make the Under a 10* play.