Ole Miss vs. Arkansas: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More
In a bit of a strange role reversal, it is the Arkansas Razorbacks that ride an SEC winning streak going into Saturday's showdown with the Ole Miss Rebels.
Bret Bielema's team finally broke through last week with a stunning 17-0 upset of LSU after being one of the nation's most underrated teams all season long with near-upsets of Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi State.
The 8-2 Rebels are not entirely out of the running for the inaugural College Football Playoff, but a two-game skid against the SEC by way of losses to LSU and Auburn dramatically ended an undefeated run for Hugh Freeze's side.
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What Saturday presents is a game with a traditional SEC outlook as well as long-reaching implications for all involved and beyond.
Strength vs. Strength Mismatch
On paper, this one is a dream matchup.
The Razorbacks are that smashmouth team nobody wants to play. Bielema disguises little, instead just opting to rush the ball down the opposition's throat or lose trying. As a result, the team ranks 22nd in the nation with 232.9 rushing yards per game on average.
Viewed as a whole, the production from the bevy of rushers is staggering:
| Jonathan Williams | 155 | 932 | 6.0 | 90 (TD) | 11 |
| Alex Collins | 150 | 886 | 5.9 | 84 (TD) | 11 |
| Kody Walker | 30 | 149 | 5.0 | 11 | 1 |
| Korliss Marshall | 25 | 119 | 4.8 | 27 (TD) | 1 |
The opposite end of the spectrum is the greatest strength Ole Miss touts—the No. 1 defense in the land, which holds opponents to just 11.9 points on average.
Now for the curveball—that number may turn out to mean little Saturday.
That elite defense from a statistical standpoint has caved in the face of great rushing attacks similar to the one the Razorbacks employ. Against LSU, the Rebels allowed 264 yards on the ground. In the loss to Auburn, it was 248.
Ole Miss is not built to play from behind, so when it does fall behind to a team that is built in a similar fashion, the team has to lean on the sometimes-erratic Bo Wallace under center (2,554 yards, 22 touchdowns, eight interceptions) for a comeback on limited opportunities.
"I guess, just looking at what has occurred, you would have to say that this may not be our best matchup," Freeze said, per The Associated Press, via ESPN.com. "But we've got to play it, and we've got to find a plan to get our kids in the right spot. Hopefully we learned something."
Try not to be shocked if Arkansas has its way on the ground. It usually does, especially against teams with limited encounters with similar attacks.
Chasing Destiny
Ole Miss is still alive.
Last week's chaotic results, such as Mississippi State and Auburn taking dives, have kept the Rebels afloat in pursuit of the CFP although the team will have to win out to stand a chance.
Not only does this mean overcoming Arkansas, it means not overlooking the Razorbacks with a showdown against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on the slate to close the season. The Egg Bowl is important, but so is Saturday.
"We've preached to our kids all along—you play until the end and see what happens," said Freeze, per the AP. "There's just so much football left to be played. The results (from last weekend) certainly kept us alive with some very important, lofty things that we could accomplish."
The same applies to the Razorbacks. At 5-5, Bielema and Co. desperately need to grab a win to go bowling. As Chuck Dunlap of SECSports.com notes, the Razorbacks can make some history Saturday:
Getting a win over Missouri to close the season and accomplish the feat is fine, but playing the spoiler to a heated divisional rival Saturday is even better.
The spotlight may fall on bigger games this weekend, but for two teams hanging by a thread in various capacities, few loom larger when it comes to wide-reaching consequences.
When: Saturday, November 22, 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Television: CBS
Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):
- Over/Under: 45.5
- Spread: Ole Miss (-3.5)
Team Injury Reports
| Anthony Alford | S | 10/01/2014 | has left the team | Out | personal |
| Matt Brown | TE | 09/08/2014 | is expected to miss 6-8 weeks | Out | leg |
| Carlos Davis | CB | 08/15/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | knee |
| Trae Elston | S | 11/17/2014 | is probable for Saturday's game against Arkansas | Probable | concussion |
| I'Tavius Mathers | RB | 11/17/2014 | is probable for Saturday's game against Arkansas | Probable | concussion |
| Collins Moore | WR | 10/22/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | knee |
| Aaron Morris | G | 11/17/2014 | is probable for Saturday's game against Arkansas | Probable | undisclosed |
| Denzel Nkemdiche | LB | 10/27/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | ankle |
| Tee Shepard | CB | 08/15/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | toe |
| Laquon Treadwell | WR | 11/02/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | fibula/ankle |
| Laremy Tunsil | T | 11/17/2014 | is probable for Saturday's game against Arkansas | Probable | bicep |
| JoJo Robinson | WR | 09/18/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | foot |
Injury reports per The Sports Network, via USA Today.
Prediction
Ole Miss is well-rested after a bye week, but this has upset written all over it.
The Rebels play has been anything but encouraging as of late, and no, a 48-0 drubbing of Presbyterian before the break is not something that inspires confidence. This is especially the case on the road against a red-hot team perfectly equipped to slice through a formidable defense.
Look for Alex Collins and the Razorbacks to grind out the gritty yards in this contest and jump out to an early lead. From there, a few mistakes by Wallace and tempo control from Arkansas will lead to a close win.
Prediction: Razorbacks 24, Rebels 20
Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.
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