Score prediction, picks for Alabama basketball exhibition vs Ole Miss

Alabama basketball has the second game of its October exhibition slate coming up against Ole Miss.

The Crimson Tide will face the Rebels at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15 at Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham. Alabama's appearance in the Ballin' in Boutwell Exhibition marks the Crimson Tide's third time at the showcase.

Wake Forest fell to the Crimson Tide in the inaugural competition in 2024 and Alabama stayed in the win column the following year with a 109-105 victory over Florida State.

Here are three predictions for Alabama's exhibition game against Ole Miss from The Tuscaloosa News.

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Keitenn Bristow to score in double-figures for Alabama basketball

Bristow transferred to Alabama from Tarleton State ahead of the 2025-26 season, which he spent the majority of sidelined with nagging injuries. In his first game back since Jan. 10, Bristow reminded fans of the defender they were missing with five rebounds while scoring 8 points and going 2-for-4 from deep.

Ole Miss is a great opportunity for Bristow to nab his first 10-plus point performance since November against Illinois.

Tarris Bouie to repeat as Crimson Tide's top rebounder

If the freshman gets more than 20 minutes again, don't be surprised if he hustles his way to another hard hat after claiming the first of the season against Furman. In his Alabama debut, Bouie grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and complemented his stat line with 18 points.

Maybe against coach Chris Beard's crew, Bouie drops a double-double.

The Tuscaloosa News score prediction for Alabama vs Ole Miss exhibition

Alabama 103, Ole Miss 87: A few returning members of the Crimson Tide will still be sour from Alabama's SEC Tournament loss to the Rebels in March. This battle will mainly consist of newcomers, though, with each team bringing in nine. But for comparison's sake, 247Sports ranks Alabama's 2026 signing class No. 6 in the nation, while Ole Miss' new group ranks 50th.

The Crimson Tide newbies still need work defensively, and struggles on the glass are prone to resurface in Boutwell, but the offense is firing on all cylinders, proven by 82 combined points from UA newcomers last week against Furman.