Game Predictions
Issue date: 10/20/06 Section: Sports
Michael Lane
Arkansas 27 - Ole Miss 13
With Ole Miss playing their best football of the season, look for them to keep it reasonably close tomorrow.
Coming off a needed victory over Vanderbilt and losing in overtime to Alabama, the Rebels have gained much needed confidence. There is just one problem...they can't stop the run.
Even struggling Alabama running back Ken Darby ran all over the Rebels last week. Look for the Hogs' offensive line to harass the Ole Miss front four from start to finish, allowing Darren McFadden and Felix Jones to have a field day.
Do not be surprised if McFadden and Jones each surpass the 100 yard mark, and get there in big chunks. Ole Miss' only hope is if Arkansas forgot what real football was like after their game-or we can call it scrimmage-against South East Missouri State.
Robert Beckmann
Arkansas 34 - Ole Miss 17
After what looked like a scrimmage last weekend against Southeast Missouri, the Hogs need to be on their toes this Saturday as they return to SEC action. There's a long way to go and a lot left to prove.
The Ole Miss Rebels gave the Alabama Crimson Tide a tussle last week, and will be looking to pull the upset in Fayetteville against the No. 15 Razorbacks.
Fortunately for Arkansas, Ole Miss has struggled against the run all season. One way or another, Arkansas' trio of tailbacks will slowly wear down the Rebel defense.
What will make the difference in this being a close game versus a blowout is the play of quarterback Mitch Mustain. Accurate passing and poise in the pocket will keep the Rebel defense honest. A lack thereof will allow Ole Miss to focus solely on the Hogs' ground game, making things substantially more difficult.
Matt Jones
Arkansas 34 - Ole Miss 10
The Rebels are not the same team that lost back-to-back road games at Missouri and Kentucky earlier this season.
Ole Miss' last two losses have been to Georgia and Alabama by a combined eight points. While the Bulldogs and Tide have hardly been the model of consistency this season, they still have talent making the Rebels' performance against the two schools noteworthy.
Never underestimate the power of redemption either. Ole Miss remembers fully well Arkansas' dominating second half performance in Oxford last season.
Arkansas has done a great job lately of holding onto that proverbial rope that Houston Nutt always speaks of. If the Hogs can avoid outside distractions, they should be on their way to undefeated halfway through the SEC season.
Cory Crawford
Arkansas 28 - Ole Miss 20
Ole Miss has the No. 98 rush defense in the country, even with linebackers like Patrick Willis and Rory Johnson.
Arkansas ranks fifth in the nation in rush offense, so do the math. Darren McFadden and Felix Jones should have a field day against a front four that can't seem to tackle anyone.
The Rebel offense isn't fairing much better. Brent Schaeffer hasn't lived up to the hype he received coming out of high school and the rest the cast hasn't carried the load either as the Rebels are last in the Southeastern Conference in scoring.
Arkansas' defense has been playing extremely well the past few weeks, especially the front seven, which should be able to pressure Schaeffer and force him to make mistakes. Somehow Ole Miss will make this a close game, but the Hogs will pull the game out.
Arkansas 27 - Ole Miss 13
With Ole Miss playing their best football of the season, look for them to keep it reasonably close tomorrow.
Coming off a needed victory over Vanderbilt and losing in overtime to Alabama, the Rebels have gained much needed confidence. There is just one problem...they can't stop the run.
Even struggling Alabama running back Ken Darby ran all over the Rebels last week. Look for the Hogs' offensive line to harass the Ole Miss front four from start to finish, allowing Darren McFadden and Felix Jones to have a field day.
Do not be surprised if McFadden and Jones each surpass the 100 yard mark, and get there in big chunks. Ole Miss' only hope is if Arkansas forgot what real football was like after their game-or we can call it scrimmage-against South East Missouri State.
Robert Beckmann
Arkansas 34 - Ole Miss 17
After what looked like a scrimmage last weekend against Southeast Missouri, the Hogs need to be on their toes this Saturday as they return to SEC action. There's a long way to go and a lot left to prove.
The Ole Miss Rebels gave the Alabama Crimson Tide a tussle last week, and will be looking to pull the upset in Fayetteville against the No. 15 Razorbacks.
Fortunately for Arkansas, Ole Miss has struggled against the run all season. One way or another, Arkansas' trio of tailbacks will slowly wear down the Rebel defense.
What will make the difference in this being a close game versus a blowout is the play of quarterback Mitch Mustain. Accurate passing and poise in the pocket will keep the Rebel defense honest. A lack thereof will allow Ole Miss to focus solely on the Hogs' ground game, making things substantially more difficult.
Matt Jones
Arkansas 34 - Ole Miss 10
The Rebels are not the same team that lost back-to-back road games at Missouri and Kentucky earlier this season.
Ole Miss' last two losses have been to Georgia and Alabama by a combined eight points. While the Bulldogs and Tide have hardly been the model of consistency this season, they still have talent making the Rebels' performance against the two schools noteworthy.
Never underestimate the power of redemption either. Ole Miss remembers fully well Arkansas' dominating second half performance in Oxford last season.
Arkansas has done a great job lately of holding onto that proverbial rope that Houston Nutt always speaks of. If the Hogs can avoid outside distractions, they should be on their way to undefeated halfway through the SEC season.
Cory Crawford
Arkansas 28 - Ole Miss 20
Ole Miss has the No. 98 rush defense in the country, even with linebackers like Patrick Willis and Rory Johnson.
Arkansas ranks fifth in the nation in rush offense, so do the math. Darren McFadden and Felix Jones should have a field day against a front four that can't seem to tackle anyone.
The Rebel offense isn't fairing much better. Brent Schaeffer hasn't lived up to the hype he received coming out of high school and the rest the cast hasn't carried the load either as the Rebels are last in the Southeastern Conference in scoring.
Arkansas' defense has been playing extremely well the past few weeks, especially the front seven, which should be able to pressure Schaeffer and force him to make mistakes. Somehow Ole Miss will make this a close game, but the Hogs will pull the game out.
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