Ole Miss comes into this evening’s matchup in a blustery Fayetteville, Arkansas outscoring opponents by nearly two touchdowns per game. Therefore, Arkansas football fans would be wise to keep their expectations in check against the Rebels.
The 14th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels are currently scoring 36.1 points per game while only allowing 22.4 points per game to the other team. The Rebels are winning games by bruising opponents in the rushing game.
Ole Miss averages 259.8 yards per game on the ground and 5.4 yards per carry. They are third in all of college football in rushing. Conversely, opponents are only getting 3.9 yards per carry against their defense.
Arkansas football will have an uphill battle on its home field today.
The Razorbacks have a better rush defense than Ole Miss. The Hogs are only allowing 146.8 yards per game on the ground. The problem, as Arkansas football fans well know by this point, is that what the Hogs possess in run defense, they lack in defense against the pass.
Max, that’s a lot of data to his us with right off the bat. What does it all mean?
It means I think Arkansas football loses this game today. It means I believe Ole Miss is the better team.
Let me tell you what it doesn’t mean: It doesn’t mean I’ve lost faith in Sam Pittman. It doesn’t mean the sky is falling. It doesn’t mean this season is a failure. It doesn’t mean Arkansas football is rudderless.
Fans have got to keep their expectations in check today against Ole Miss. On paper, this is a game that the Razorbacks should absolutely lose. However, losing close and competing valiantly doesn’t alter that reality.
In fact, it enhances it.
The best-case scenario for tonight’s game (which will kick off in below-freezing temperatures) is that we see Arkansas football give a valiant effort, and we get pleasantly surprised by a win. Anything other than a blowout should be viewed as success today.
Keep your expectations in check, and you’ll enjoy the Arkansas football game today.
Then we move together, as a fanbase, to putting all our eggs in the “Beat Missouri” basket to finish at .500 and get bowl eligible.