BYU Cougars vs Mississippi Rebels Point Spread Picks

It is surprising to find a total this high on a pair of running teams. The BYU Cougars return four starters to a big offensive line that averaged 168 yards rushing. The defense gave up 21.6 points per game (32nd in the nation) and looks solid again. This defense was pitiful through five games a year ago, but head coach Bronco Mendenhall fired the DC and named himself as the replacement. Suddenly the group was making plays and rising to a top-25 finish nationally. The D-line is massive, including 321-pound NT Romney Fuga, and occupies space in the Cougars' 3-4, allowing a group of solid linebackers the freedom to come up and make the tackle. The UNDER is 5-1 in the Cougars last six road games and 9-4 UNDER the total in their last 13 games overall. The Mississippi Rebels (4-8 SU, 4-7 ATS in 2010) have a terrific Coach in Houston Nutt, and is coming off a season where everything went wrong. The offense was mostly running, averaging 30.6 points and 207.6 yards rushing and will be again as they have to find a quarterback. Nutt brings in David Lee, the former Hog assistant and Miami Dolphin QB coach, who will help to tweak the Wildcat offense, which means even more running. Ole Miss returns nine of 11 starters from an offensive unit that ranked No. 3 in the SEC in rushing offense at 207.58 yards per game, led by All-SEC Senior RB Brandon Bolden and the offensive line returns all five starters. Junior QB Nathan Stanley steps in and didn't play much last fall, so look for far more defense than offense. Play Ole Miss/BYU to come in UNDER the total.