Will Ole Miss Reach Double-Digit Victories for the Second Straight Season?

We normally have to wait until the summer to place bets on college football win totals -- not this year.

The college football win totals at FanDuel Sportsbook are already up, giving us a chance to whet our college football appetite right now.

The SEC will be revamped for the 2024 season, with Texas and Oklahoma joining the fun. Of course, the Alabama legend and perhaps the greatest coach of all time, Nick Saban, also announced his retirement in the off-season. Since 2012, the Crimson Tide have won 8 of 12 SEC titles. With Saban gone and Kalen DeBoer taking over, there is uncertainty in Tuscaloosa, and that could cause a major shakeup for the conference's totem pole.

Georgia -- who FanDuel's college football national championship odds have as the national title favorite (+300) -- looks to be the alpha dog of the conference going forward. Can anyone challenge the Bulldogs in the 2024 season? It could be Ole Miss as the Rebels carry the sixth-shortest odds to win the college football national championship (+1500). With plenty of returning talent and success in the transfer portal, the Rebels are one of the SEC squads drawing the most attention for next season.

How many games will Ole Miss win in the regular season in 2024? Let's dive in.

All college football odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Lines may change after this article is published.

Ole Miss Football Win Total Odds

Ole Miss Football Over/Under 9.5 Wins

• Over: -144
• Under: +118

Ole Miss 2024 Football Schedule

Why Ole Miss Could Win Over 9.5 Games (-144)

Returning experience is always a big key for success, and the Rebels check off this box. Ole Miss returns starting quarterback Jaxson Dart -- who is +1800 to win the Heisman, per FanDuel Sportsbook's Heisman odds -- along with its leading receiver from last season, Tre Harris (985 yards).

Mississippi experienced a big loss in the transfer portal, though, as running back Quinshon Judkins made a surprising relocation to Ohio State after reaching more than 1,100 rushing yards in each of first two seasons with the Rebels. Fortunately, Ole Miss feasted in the transfer portal outside of that one notable loss.

The Rebels hit the defense hard, which makes sense after they ranked in the bottom 45% in yards allowed per game and in the bottom 47% in yards allowed per passing attempt. Defensive tackle Walter Nolen -- the third-best transfer available, according to 247 -- was the crown jewel of the class. Additionally, edge rusher Princely Umanmielen is joining the team as the 16th-best transfer available.

The upgrades didn't stop there as Ole Miss also added the fourth-best receiver available in Antwane Wells, who should be an exceptional running mate for Harris.

The defensive line's improvement is one area to keep an eye on. If the Rebels get better play up front, it could transform the defense, and that could lead to the Rebels joining the national title picture.

The Rebels also have a favorable non-conference schedule against Furman, Middle Tennessee, Wake Forest, and Georgia Southern. Matchups with Georgia and Oklahoma look to be Ole Miss' most challenging games, and both contests will be home in Oxford.

When you consider the Rebels' upside, the over is the side I like. They are coming off 10 wins in last year's regular season, and the roster has only improved.

Why Ole Miss Could Win Under 9.5 Games (+118)

Frankly, I'm heavily leaning toward the over for the Rebels' 2024 win total. There's not much that can convince me to take the under as long as Dart stays healthy.

The departure of Judkins could be the biggest supporting point for the under. He has been one of America's best running backs for two years, led by his 1,567 yards in his freshman season -- which is only second behind Hershel Walker (1,616) for the most rushing yards by a freshman in SEC history. While Ole Miss does have some talent to slide into the starting spot, including Ulyssess Bentley IV, who totaled 540 rushing yards last season, Judkins is not the kind of back that can be easily replaced.

There should be some concern surrounding the run game, and the defense still has a ways to go following the 2023 season. There are no guarantees that a handful of impact transfers on the defensive line transform this entire unit. For example, the Rebels were in the bottom 42% in passing yards allowed last season. This could still be an issue regardless of the D-Line's potential improvement.

However, I don't expect the run game and defense to prevent Ole Miss from reaching 10 wins. They have a favorable schedule, and the offensive line could carry the load for the run game as the Rebels brought in four starting offensive linemen from various schools in the transfer portal. This includes Julius Buelow and Nate Kalepo, both of whom started on Washington's offensive line -- a group that was the winner of the Joe Moore Award (given to the best offensive line).

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.