Mississippi @ Arkansas preview
War Memorial Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 22, 2011 ) Arkansas 29, Mississippi 24
After a four-game losing streak ruined their season, Tyler Wilson and Arkansas are starting to regain some confidence. The Razorbacks, coming off a bye week, will try for a third straight win when they face Mississippi in Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium for the first time in 20 years. Arkansas began the season with national championship aspirations, but now is just hoping to become bowl eligible for a fourth straight season. The Razorbacks can start by defeating Ole Miss, which ended a 16-game conference losing streak prior to its bye week, and is nearing bowl eligibility in Hugh Freeze’s first season. Arkansas has won two straight and six of the last eight meetings. Wilson threw for 232 yards and ran for two touchdowns as the Razorbacks rallied from a 17-point deficit in last season’s 29-24 win.
TV: 12:21 p.m. ET, SEC Network. LINE: Arkansas -6
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI (4-3, 1-2 SEC): Freeze, who led Arkansas State to a Sun Belt Conference title last season, has done a terrific job returning a 10-loss team back to respectability. Ole Miss ended its long winless drought in SEC play behind quarterback Bo Wallace, who accounted for four touchdowns in a 41-20 rout of Auburn two weeks ago. Freeze’s spread offense ranks near the top of the SEC in both rushing (211.1 - 4th) and passing (229.5 – 6th). Junior RB Jeff Scott (562 yards, 5 TDs) continued his strong play with a second straight 100-yard game against Auburn. Scott is fourth in the SEC in both rushing (93.6 ypg) and all-purpose yards (114.0).
ABOUT ARKANSAS (3-4, 2-2 SEC): The Razorbacks looked like a team that began the season ranked in the top 10 two weeks ago in a 49-7 rout of Kentucky. Wilson, likely an NFL first-round pick, passed for 372 yards and a career-best five touchdowns in a game shortened by inclement weather. The best part was Arkansas – last in the SEC in turnover margin (-10) – played mistake-free. The offense is clicking with seven touchdowns in its last nine red-zone trips during its two-game win streak. Arkansas managed just one TD in 11 trips in the previous three games.
EXTRA POINTS
1. This contest marks the first meeting in Little Rock since 1992.
2. Arkansas has won nine straight games in October, tying Alabama for the longest streak in the SEC.
3. The Rebels’ improving defense (356.0 ypg – 40th) is led by freshman LB Denzel Nkemdiche, who is third in the SEC in tackles for loss (12).
PREDICTION: Arkansas 34, Ole Miss 28