Mississippi’s landshark defense has lost some of its bite in recent weeks.
The Arkansas Razorbacks lead the No. 8 Ole Miss Rebels 17-0 at halftime. The Razorbacks game plan has been simple. They’ve ran the football effectively and overwhelmed Ole Miss at the point of attack.
Despite the rankings, Arkansas’ lead shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. The Razorbacks beat LSU by the same score last week. And Bret Bielema‘s squad is a stronger opponent than its 5-5 record indicates.
Arkansas giving Ole Miss early trouble -Razorbacks are the only team in the top 20 of FPI that isn't at least 3 games above .500
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 22, 2014
Arkansas’ running attack has proven to be too much for Ole Miss’ talented defense. The Razorbacks ran for 103 rushing yards compared to Ole Miss’ 12 yards. And Arkansas has held the ball nine minutes longer than the Rebels.
The Rebels defense also struggled to cover Arkansas’ talented tight ends. Drew Morgan and Hunter Henry combined to catch five passes for 81 yards.
Meanwhile, Ole Miss had to deal with an injury to quarterback Bo Wallace. Wallace’s ability to play and do so effectively in the second half could have a drastic effect on Ole Miss’ chances to make a comeback. Wallace left the game due to a leg injury before he returned. But a lack of mobility will severely hamper his game if he comes out of the half and continues to lead the Rebels’ offense.
With Wallace hampered and a struggling defense, Arkansas will continue to pound the ball during the second half. Another loss by Ole Miss will take them completely out of the conversation to make a New Year’s bowl game.
