Can the Rebels stop Hogs' explosive offense? 3 reasons Arkansas beats Ole Miss

Although the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-0, 0-0 SEC) have dominated their first two opponents this season, the Alabama A&M Bulldogs and the Arkansas State Red Wolves, Saturday begins arguably the most brutal schedule in college, as the Hogs travel to Oxford, Mississippi, for their first SEC game against the No. 17 Ole Miss Rebels (2-0, 1-0 SEC).

The Rebels have had a chance to play an SEC game on the road against the Kentucky Wildcats (1-1, 0-1 SEC). Kentucky proved to be challenging for the Rebels, but Lane Kiffin's team eventually won in the end, 30-23. While playing the Wildcats gives the Rebels an advantage in experience against an SEC team, making their opponents to this point notably more competitive than the Hogs', one must not overestimate Kentucky's quality. The Wildcats' head football coach, Mark Stoops, is known for his defensive mind.

However, Stoops' team has struggled offensively under his leadership, placing too much physical strain on the defense. With an average at best offense, and that's being kind, it still managed to score 23 points on the Rebels' defense. Therefore, to say that Kiffin's defense will have its hands full against the Hogs' offense is a conspicuous understatement, given that Arkansas has the fifth-ranked scoring offense in the nation.

Even local Ole Miss media have deep concerns about Arkansas' explosive offense, though remaining hopeful that its production is simply a product of inferior competition. Ole Miss had better hope that Bobby Petrino's offense has been impressive only because it has encountered lesser competitors. If not, fans can expect Kiffin to display visible disgust on his face and throw his hat to the ground at least once. This article offers three reasons why Kiffin is likely to be disappointed in the final score between the Ole Miss Rebels and the Arkansas Razorbacks.

3 reasons Arkansas Razorbacks football wins against Ole Miss

Bobby Petrino

Bobby Petrino doesn't receive enough credit across the country for being the best offensive coordinator in college football and one of the greatest offensive minds ever. When he was the head coach of the Missouri State Bears, he demonstrated that he could have a potent offense even with lesser talent against tough teams. Last season, his first season as offensive coordinator at Arkansas, Petrino showed what he can do in this position with greater talent than he had at Missouri State, as the Razorbacks had one of the top offenses in the nation.

Even though Arkansas lost the nation's best wide receiver, Andrew Armstrong, and Isaac TeSlaa to the NFL, Petrino has recruited even more weapons in the passing game. He doesn't have to rely on one or two receivers as he did last season; he has multiple weapons he can employ in his passing schemes. While the Hogs are the fifth-ranked scoring offense in the nation, Petrino hasn't even started to open his playbook. While his offense has been exciting to watch, it has been vanilla, though he has had fun with a few plays here and there from his sophisticated repertoire.

He will certainly open up that playbook against Ole Miss. Petrino will be able to exploit the weaknesses of Kiffin's defense that Kentucky exposed. Kiffin cannot be sure what to expect from Petrino's offense, but Petrino knows what to expect from the Rebels' defense. While the game against Kentucky allowed Ole Miss to understand how good it is, that game actually places them at a greater disadvantage heading into the clash with the Razorbacks. One such disadvantage is that the Hogs know what the defense will try to do against quality competition.

Taylen Green

No one should be under the illusion that Arkansas starting quarterback Taylen Green is focused only on amassing spectacular statistics. Green is focused on winning each game, not just the SEC games on the schedule. Although he had two unexplainable interceptions against Arkansas State, Green still had an excellent game, throwing for 239 yards and four touchdowns, and rushing for 151 yards and one touchdown.

His elite rushing ability will present the Rebels' defense with significant challenges. One can expect their defense to have receivers often covered, but Green's legs will erase that good coverage and leave it confused about whether to make pass coverage a priority or defend against his rushing aptitude. He will play an instrumental role in Arkansas's upset victory on the road in Oxford.  

Travis Williams

The Rebels' offense will score some points against the Hogs; that's for sure. However, Travis Williams, Arkansas' defensive coordinator, vividly remembers how his defense was embarrassed at home last season by Kiffin's offense. Williams is a true competitor, a brilliant motivator, and an overall excellent defensive coach. He will limit what the Rebels wish to accomplish on offense. The Hogs' defense has several better players than Kentucky on defense, and the defense is at least as good as the Wildcats'. Therefore, if all the Rebels can score is 30 points against a similar defense, that will not be enough points to defeat the Razorbacks.

Williams's defensive schemes will cause Austin Simmons, the Rebels' first-year starting quarterback, to make at least three crucial mistakes that will be enough for the Hogs to leave Oxford with the victory. Simmons's inexperience will surface against Williams's defensive schemes.

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