Ole Miss at Tulane: Preview and Predictions, plus will Tulane QB Michael Pratt play?

Update at 2:00 p.m.: Tulane QB Michael Pratt was not in pregame warmups and we are told will not play vs. the Rebels due to an injury suffered last Saturday. 

Michael Pratt is not with the Tulane quarterbacks warming up pregame, which means he’s not playing against Ole Miss today. https://t.co/btbT61kNMH

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 9, 2023

NEW ORLEANS — Could No. 20 Ole Miss face a test today against No. 24 Tulane on the road in New Orleans? Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT at Yulman Stadium. 

Last week, the Rebels opened the season with a 73-7 blowout win over Mercer, while Tulane is getting set for its second straight home game after cruising to a 37-17 win over South Alabama. Ole Miss has won all six meetings between these teams all-time.

Ole Miss notables

The Rebels are led by quarterback Jaxson Dart, who threw for 334 yards and four touchdowns in last Saturday’s win. The junior finished the week ranked No. 7 in ESPN’s Total QBR, putting him among the nation’s elite. His performance last week also led to head coach Lane Kiffin naming him the official starter for this game.

Even with a starter named, the Rebels have a quarterback room like none other in the nation.  Ole Miss broke its all-time single-game team passing record against Mercer, taking an early FBS lead at 524 yards through the air. In addition to Dart’s yardage, the Rebels received help for the remaining 190 yards from Oklahoma State transfer Spencer Sanders (134) and LSU transfer Walker Howard (56). The trio broke the previous record of 517 set against ULM in 2018.

Ole Miss ended the 2022 regular season tied for the FBS lead at 20.7 seconds per play, and the Rebels showed no signs of slowing down in the opening stages of 2023. Ole Miss is currently clipping off a play every 18.3 seconds, The Rebels marched down the field in just 51 seconds against Mercer, taking an early lead after the first of three touchdown passes from Dart to Tre Harris in the first quarter alone. The 51-second scoring drive was the fastest to open a season for Ole Miss since 2018, and the 28 first quarter points ranks as the most in available records since at least 1967.

In the Kiffin era, Ole Miss is 20-5 when scoring first.

Against Tulane, Ole Miss will look to also rely on sophomore preseason All-American running back Quinshon Judkins, who against Mercer added 13 carries for 60 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. After a fantastic freshman year, Judkins looks to repeat a season in which he had over 1,500 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns.

Wide receivers Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins both went over 100 receiving yards in the win over the Bears with Harris setting a school record with four touchdown receptions in the game. Watkins ran back a punt for a touchdown and was named SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts. 

While the head coach of Ole Miss, Kiffin owns 21 games during his tenure in Oxford with at least 600 yards of total offense, as opposed to just 16 times total from the beginning of the Ole Miss football program in 1893 until Kiffin’s arrival in 2020.

Ole Miss has won eight consecutive games in September under Coach Kiffin.

Tulane notables

Tulane got off to a hot start last week with its blowout win over South Alabama, as quarterback Michael Pratt had just one incompletion in the game. He finished 14 of 15 for 294 yards and four touchdowns, with three of his scoring passes coming on deep throws. South Alabama won 10 games last season, making it an impressive season-opening win for Tulane.

News came out Saturday morning that Pratt will be a “game-time decision” for the Green Wave. The star QB was noticeably limping after the win over South Alabama.

Sources: Tulane star quarterback Michael Pratt is expected to be a game-time against Ole Miss. Pratt injured his knee late in the win over South Alabama. He’ll warm up and then a decision will be made. https://t.co/Mwl7BWbM9t

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 9, 2023

Pete Thamel on Tulane QB situation

Last Saturday, Tulane tallied 436 total yards of offense, including the 294 through the air. Pratt has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 35 of his 36 career games. Senior wideouts Jha’Quan Jackson and Lawrence Keys III both played a key role in the season opener, combining for 202 receiving yards and three TDs.

Tulane limited South Alabama to 265 yards of offense and forced five Jaguar turnovers.

The Green Wave earned their first-ever preseason AP Top 25 ranking after finishing 12-2 last season, winning the American Athletic Conference title and beating Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams in the Cotton Bowl. Pratt was named the AAC Offensive Player of the Week and tied Patrick Ramsey’s school record for career touchdown passes (72). Tulane has covered the spread in five straight games dating back to last season.

GAME DETAILS

• Kickoff: Saturday, Sep. 9, 2:30 PM CT
• TV: ESPN2
• Betting Lines as of 10:00 am September 9:
  • Ole Miss:  -8
  • O/U: 64.5
  • Ole Miss Moneyline: -325
  • Tulane Moneyline: +258

As The Rebel Walk has done for a few years now, we have put together a panel of members to make score predictions for each individual game. This year adds a twist where the panelists are also asked to throw a game prediction out to show new perspectives. This year’s group includes:

Grayson Weir –BroBible
Kam Wicker – The Rebel Walk
Caleb Salers – SuperTalk Mississippi
Tyler Komis – Inside The Rebels/247Sports
TJ Oxley – The Rebel Walk

PREDICTIONS

Tyler Komis – Inside the Rebels/247 Sports

Score: Ole Miss 45, Tulane 27

“X factor:” Zxavian Harris.

Prediction: Tight end Kyirin Heath records close to 100 yards. I think the first three quarters are a fun back and forth but eventually Ole Miss pulls away.

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Kam Wicker – The Rebel Walk

Score: Rebs 38 – Tulane 23

“X-Factor:” Pass rush/D-Line

Prediction: Michael Pratt is one of the more experienced QBs in the country and does not turn the ball over often. I expect Pete Golding to send some blitzes early to put pressure on the Green Wave O-Line. The Rebs have a chance to show off how effective the new 4-man front can be.

Bold Prediction: Ole Miss jumps ahead early

Ole Miss fans tend to travel well to New Orleans, I don’t expect that to change as this weekend with a top 25 matchup in store. A large Rebel crowd on the road could surprise the Green Wave and allow the Rebs to jump out in front quickly.

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Grayson Weir – BroBible

Score: Ole Miss 31, Tulane 17

Prediction: This is the best quarterback matchup in the country this week. Michael Pratt is legit and Jaxson Dart silenced the haters against Mercer. However, it will be Quinshon Judkins that makes the difference on Saturday against Tulane. He will have his first chance to really pound the rock, which will open up some deep balls to the edges as the game goes on.

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Caleb Salers – SuperTalk Mississippi

Score: Ole Miss 45, Tulane 24

Prediction: Quinshon Judkins has his first breakout game of the season. Lane Kiffin pounds the rock more in game two, resulting in Judkins rushing for over 100 yards and scoring multiple touchdowns for the Rebels.