No. 18 Ole Miss is looking to keep its College Football Playoff aspirations alive by securing a win against Oklahoma, a task that, on paper, seems manageable. However, Ole Miss has already stumbled this season when heavily favored, notably losing to Kentucky at home as a 15-point favorite.
Oklahoma is grappling with its own set of challenges, particularly quarterback uncertainty and changes within the program. Although Jackson Arnold is back as starting quarterback, the team’s wide receiver unit remains depleted due to injuries, raising doubts about the impact of the quarterback position. Ole Miss should aim for a fast start to put pressure on Oklahoma, which has struggled in its recent defeats to Texas and South Carolina. Another loss would compound Oklahoma’s disappointing SEC debut, while Ole Miss needs to prove capable of making decisive defensive stops to protect their postseason hopes, especially with a looming matchup against Georgia next month.
The game, scheduled for Saturday, October 26, at 12 p.m. ET, will take place at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi. Fans can watch the action on ESPN or stream it on fubo.
In recent changes, Oklahoma has appointed tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley as the new offensive coordinator after Seth Littrell was dismissed due to underwhelming offensive performance. However, it raises questions about how much of the offensive struggles were a result of Littrell’s strategies, especially with a wide receiver group significantly hampered by injuries and an offensive line that hasn’t performed well.
Arnold will benefit from the potential return of one of his top receivers, Deion Burks, who has been sidelined since mid-September due to injury. This could provide crucial support as he navigates a challenging Ole Miss defense.
On the flip side, Ole Miss might see a boost if edge rusher Princely Umanmielen, who has missed the last two games, manages to return. The Rebels are currently ranked second in the nation for tackles for loss and seventh in sacks.
As far as predictions go, this matchup favors scoring, given Ole Miss’s potent offense juxtaposed against Oklahoma’s strong defense. While Ole Miss aims for high scores, Oklahoma’s offensive struggles may prevent a significant scoreboard impact, leading to a betting pick of under 49 points for the game.