No. 18 Ole Miss is facing a critical matchup against Oklahoma, with the team’s College Football Playoff aspirations hanging in the balance. The Rebels, set as heavy favorites, aim to avoid a repeat of their earlier setback to Kentucky, where they suffered a surprising home loss despite being 15-point favorites.
Oklahoma, on the other hand, is grappling with its own challenges, particularly at the quarterback position, as they navigate the uncertainty surrounding their starter. Jackson Arnold has returned as the first-choice quarterback, but the Sooners are hampered by a significantly injured wide receiver corps. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of the offense, regardless of who is under center. For Ole Miss, the strategy should be straightforward: gain an early lead and force the Sooners to play catch-up, a scenario Oklahoma has struggled with in their recent defeats to Texas and South Carolina. Another loss would further mar Oklahoma’s first season in the SEC, while Ole Miss’ defense must demonstrate its ability to make crucial stops if the game remains close. The pressure is mounting for the Rebels, as one more defeat would jeopardize their postseason hopes ahead of a daunting encounter with Georgia next month.
Viewers can catch the Oklahoma vs. Ole Miss game on Saturday, October 26, at 12 p.m. ET, live from Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi, on ESPN or via live stream on fubo.
In terms of team changes, Oklahoma has appointed tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley as the new offensive coordinator after the firing of Seth Littrell, who struggled to revitalize the offense. Questions linger, however, about how much Littrell’s firing will impact the team, given the extensive injuries and issues affecting the offensive line. Coach Brent Venables is hopeful that making this coaching change will yield better results, similar to the success achieved by former coach Bob Stoops when he made a similar change years ago.
As Arnold steps back into the starting role, he may receive a boost from wide receiver Deion Burks, who is listed as questionable to return after being sidelined since mid-September due to injury. Ole Miss could also benefit from the potential return of edge rusher Princely Umanmielen, who has been out for two games. With Ole Miss ranking second nationally in tackles for loss and seventh in sacks, his return could significantly impact the game.
Analyzing the matchup, Ole Miss brings a dynamic offense aimed at scoring heavily, but they will face an Oklahoma defense known for its strength in the SEC. While it’s expected that Oklahoma might not score heavily due to ongoing offensive struggles, the prediction leans towards the game going under 49 total points.
As Week 9 of college football approaches, SportsLine’s computer model predicts several upsets on the horizon and offers insights on spreads for every game.