No. 18 Ole Miss is facing a crucial moment in their College Football Playoff ambitions as they prepare to take on Oklahoma. Despite being heavily favored, the Rebels have stumbled in previous matchups this season, notably losing to Kentucky by 15 points at home.
Oklahoma, meanwhile, is dealing with its own challenges, grappling with a quarterback dilemma and shifting dynamics within the team. Jackson Arnold is set to lead the offense again, but the team’s wide receiver corps is struggling with injuries, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the quarterback’s performance. Ole Miss hopes to establish an early lead to force the Sooners into a chasing position, a strategy that could capitalize on Oklahoma’s recent struggles highlighted by consecutive losses to Texas and South Carolina. Another defeat for Oklahoma would further dent their first season in the SEC, intensifying the pressure on them.
The upcoming game is scheduled for Saturday, October 26, at 12 p.m. ET at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi, and it will be broadcast on ESPN.
Oklahoma is introducing a new offensive coordinator, Joe Jon Finley, after the dismissal of Seth Littrell, who struggled to optimize the team’s offensive performance amid significant injuries and inconsistency on the offensive line. With Arnold returning to his starting role, he may see the return of key wide receiver Deion Burks, who has been out since mid-September.
On the defensive side, Ole Miss might see a significant boost if edge rusher Princely Umanmielen is able to return from injury, as the team boasts impressive statistics in tackles for loss and sacks.
As for predictions, this matchup is expected to see varied scoring possibilities. While Ole Miss is known for their high-scoring offense, Oklahoma’s defense remains strong. It’s anticipated that Oklahoma may struggle to score, leading experts to lean towards a lower total score in the game. The suggested bet is on the under 49 points.
As the season progresses, various predictions are being made, with some organizations forecasting multiple upsets upcoming in Week 9 of college football.