Here’s everything you need to know about Mississippi’s season opener tonight against Boise State inside the Georgia Dome.

When: Today
Where: Atlanta, Georgia
Game Time: 8:05 PM ET
TV: ESPN
Current Line: Ole Miss (-10.5)

Game Buzz: A season of lofty expectations kicks off in Atlanta for Hugh Freeze and the Ole Miss Rebels led by a veteran quarterback in Bo Wallace and a star-studded sophomore crop of playmakers.

Saturday Down South previews

No. 18 OLE MISS REBELS

Players to watch:

  • QB Bo Wallace
  • WR Laquon Treadwell
  • TE Evan Engram
  • OL Laremy Tunsil
  • DL Robert Nkemdiche
  • DB Tony Conner
  • DB Cody Prewitt

Keys for Ole Miss:

  • Put together a touchdown drive on the game’s first possession. A quick-strike touchdown pass from Wallace to Laquon Treadwell would leave the Boise State sideline searching for answers and that’s when an opponent is at their most vulnerable point.
  • Win the turnover battle. Most are projecting Ole Miss to win, but coming away with a victory in convincing fashion would perhaps strengthen next week’s national ranking into the Top 15 range. Scoring on defense is essential during blowouts and the Rebels have the athletes to do so.
  • Exploit the mismatch over the middle pitting tight end-wideout hybrid Evan Engram against less-talented linebackers.

Rebels’ glaring weakness to watch: Running game — We’re nitpicking to find a weakness on the Ole Miss offense but at times, the Rebels can get a little pass-happy when it appears Wallace has found a groove. Keeping it balanced against the Broncos should make for a hefty stat line for all participating parties in the backfield.

Most interesting part of the game: How are the Rebels going to respond as the SEC West darkhorse this season?

Team Buzz: This could be the program’s most talent-rich team in a decade a more, and that’s including the pair of Cotton Bowl seasons under Houston Nutt. The Rebels’ starting 22 is comparable to any of the nation’s elite, but now, results must come on the field.

BOISE STATE BRONCOS

Players to watch:

  • QB Grant Hedrick
  • RB Jay Ajayi
  • DL Beau Martin

Keys for Boise State:

  • Channel some magic of yesteryear. Remember how fun it was to watch a Boise State game during the Broncos’ BCS busting stretch a few years back? An early trick play could fool a defense that has its sights set on disrupting Jay Ajayi and the ground game.
  • Account for Robert Nkemdiche. The Broncos may know where No. 5 is at all times, but putting a body on him is another question. He’ll line up at tackle, end or outside linebacker during the first series and will shed any blocker Boise State puts in his way.
  • Give Bo Wallace a few different looks. The SEC’s top returning passer has a tendency to throw into tight windows and when the opportunities there for the pick, the Boise State secondary must come through.