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On the one hand, the Rebels return from their recent debacle in Baton Rouge to the friendly confines of Oxford, a place where Ole Miss has yet to lose this season and has only averaged a paltry three losses a season.
On the other hand, though, Arkansas arrives in Oxford fresh off of a ten-point win over a ranked Mississippi State team in Fayetteville. And then there's the whole "inexperienced and undercoached team searching for an offensive identity in the wake of the dismissal of its most prolific yet highly streaky scorer" thing. Keeping it simple, the Rebels have an uphill battle tonight against new head coach Mike Anderson's Razorbacks.
Ole Miss will need to play stingy defense against an Arkansas team that ranks third in the SEC at 78+ points a game. This will include anything and everything to force Marshawn Powell and BJ Young the SEC's 7th most prolific scorer, into bad shooting situations. Powell has been especially effective for the Razorbacks, averaging nearly 20 points, six rebounds, two blocks and a steal each game.
Offensively, we'll need Jelan Kendrick to show up early and often. If he and Terrence Henry can effectively be the guys through which this offense operates, then the Rebels will be a tough out for any opponent they face all season.
The game's on the ESPN Network at 7:00 PM Central. Enjoy it if you can. Be at the Tad Pad, if you can too. They won't charge or anything, I'm sure.
SCORE PREDICTION: Ole Miss 65 - Arkansas 78