Arkansas vs Ole Miss Odds, Spread and Picks
By Jack Magruder in College Football
Published:
- No. 13 Arkansas will visit No. 17 Ole Miss at noon ET Saturday on ESPN
- Arkansas was shut out by No. 2 Georgia 37-0 last week
- Ole Miss trailed No. 1 Alabama 42-7 last week in a 42-21 loss – see below for our betting prediction
No. 13 Arkansas (4-1) will visit No. 13 Ole Miss (3-1) in an SEC West game at noon ET Saturday on ESPN.
Both teams were dominated on the road last week while suffering their first loss of the season. Arkansas was blanked at No. 2 Georgia 37-0 and the Rebels fell at No. 1 Alabama 42-21. The Tide led 35-0 and 42-7.
Arkansas vs Ole Miss Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| [13] Arkansas Razorbacks | +184 | +6.5 (-114) | 66.5 (Ov -110) |
| [17] Ole Miss Rebels | -230 | -6.5 (-106) | 66.5 (Un -110) |
*Odds from FanDuel on Oct. 6
Arkansas is one of only four teams in the FBS to have multiple wins against Top-15 opponents, having beaten then-No. 15 Texas and then-No. 7 Texas A&M. Alabama, Georgia and Stanford are the other teams with multiple wins against top-15 foes. The Pigs are seeking their first 5-1 start since 2011.
Ole Miss is third in the FBS in total offense at 549.2 yards per game and fifth in scoring offense at 44.8 points per game. The Rebels are one of only five FBS teams to have not thrown an interception.
Quarterbacks Are the Engines
Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral was on the short list of candidates for the Heisman Trophy entering the Alabama game last week, but he lost ground to Alabama’s Bryce Young in the Tide’s big win.
While Corral completed 21-of-29 passes for 213 yards, while throwing and running for a touchdown, he lost a fumble that led to a ‘Bama score. Corral extended his streak to 16 consecutive games with a touchdown pass only by completing a 2-yard scoring toss against Tide reserves in the final 2:30. Corral ranks top-10 nationally in total offense, passing efficiency and yards per pass attempt.
Arkansas quarterback K.J. Jefferson is the only quarterback in the SEC with at least 900 passing yards and 200 rushing yards this season, with 906 passing yards and 235 rushing. He has passed for six touchdowns and rushed for two more. Jefferson suffered an ankle injury late in the Texas A&M upset. He started but was ineffective against Georgia.
Looking to Rebound
Arkansas had only 162 yards total offense against Georgia, its worst showing since 2012, and went three-and-out on seven of their 10 possessions. The Razorbacks, who averaged 262.3 rushing yards per game, had only 75 yards against the Bulldogs. Jefferson suffered a knee injury late in the Texas A&M victory. He started but was ineffective against Georgia.
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin put his team in a negative game script when he gambled and failed on three fourth-down plays in the first half against Alabama. ‘Bama turned those into three touchdowns and a 28-0 halftime lead.
By the Numbers
The Razorbacks have been a go-with team the last two seasons under coach Sam Pittman. They were 7-3 ATS in 2020, covering their first six, and are 4-1 ATS this season after their four-game ATS streak was broken last week. They are 2-0 as an underdog this, covering at home against Texas and Texas A&M.
Arkansas has won five of the last seven meetings against Ole Miss, including two of the last three in Oxford. The Razorbacks covered as a 1-point favorite in their 33-21 home victory last season, the only game in which they were favored in 2020.
"Get your popcorn ready." – Lane Kiffin 🍿 pic.twitter.com/ZDdr60cjuj
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 2, 2021
Corral threw six interceptions in the Razorbacks’ victory last year, the worst game of his career. Ole Miss No. 2 wide out Jonathan Mingo is expected to miss several more weeks because of a foot injury.
The Porker Pigs have covered three of the last four in the series, including a pair of shootouts, 37-33 in 2018 and 38-37 in 2017. Ole Miss was a slight favorite in each. The team that gets points is the team to back here, regardless of the venue.
The pick: Arkansas +6.5 (-114)
Sports Writer
Jack has covered college and professional sports for various Arizona media outlets since the 1980s and has written for the Associated Press, USA Today and Baseball America, among others. He staffed the 2015-17 World Series and has staffed four Super Bowls.
