Staff Predictions: Ole Miss Rebels vs. Mercer Bears

The Grove Report staff gives predictions for Ole Miss vs. Mercer.

OXFORD, Miss. -- The Ole Miss Rebels begin their 2023 campaign with a non-conference matchup at home versus the Mercer Bears in Week 1 of the college football season. Similarly to Ole Miss, Mercer was in the midst of a quarterback competition after senior signal caller Fred Payton declared for the 2023 NFL Draft in December.

According to their official team website, Mercer is entering the fall with four quarterbacks on its roster including redshirt freshman Daniel Schoch, freshman Drew Moore, and redshirt sophomores Carter Peevy and Hess Horne. Peevy took the role at quarterback for the Bears in their Week 0 win over North Alabama.

Mercer took down the Lions 17-7 in Week 0 and will need to score a lot more points in Week 1 if they even want to have a chance at being competitive against Ole Miss.

The last time Ole Miss and Mercer met was in 1911, and the Rebels crushed the Bears on the road 34-0. The two programs have not met since. The Rebels and Bears will kick off at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

You can find out how to watch Ole Miss' season opener here, and way-too-early staff predictions can be found below.

Mercer Bears receiver Ty James makes a contested catch versus the Auburn Tigers

John Macon Gillespie, Publisher

This one should be no trouble for the boys from Oxford. Expect both Jaxson Dart and Spencer Sanders to see some snaps on Saturday, but it won’t matter. The Rebels roll.

Ole Miss 63, Mercer 14

Matt Galatzan, Managing Editor

The Rebels are out to prove that they can contend in the SEC West, and that they can rebound from a poor ending to last season. Mercer is in for a tough afternoon, and the Rebels bench should all see some time by the end of the afternoon. 

Ole Miss 58, Mercer 17

Ben King, Staff Writer 

Ole Miss opens its 2023 campaign with a favorable matchup against an opponent the Rebels have not faced in over a century. The Rebels shut out Mercer on the road 34-0 in 1911 and Ole Miss' second all-time meeting will be a blowout in favor of Lane Kiffin's squad. Expect a few Ole Miss backups get some playing time in the second half. 

Ole Miss 63, Mercer 10

Joe Luff, Staff Writer

The Ole Miss offense has proven over the years it can overpower defenses that do not match up athletically. It looks like this is going to be the case this Saturday. Despite the uncertainty about who is going to start at the quarterback position, the Rebels should have no issue getting on the board early and often. In addition, expectations are high with new defensive coordinator Pete Golding. Mercer was delivered the short end of the stick with this match-up.

Ole Miss 56, Mercer 7

Casey Smith

Mercer is 0-17 against Southeastern Conference teams since the conference's formation in 1933, and that trend won't change in Oxford in September. The Bears were 54th in the Football Championship Subdivision in pass yards allowed per game, while allowing 22.09 points and 120.1 rush yards per game in 2022. Though Mercer returns 10 of its top-11 tacklers from last season, Ole Miss should have a field day on offense with its abundance of weapons.

Ole Miss 59, Mercer 17