To this point in the college football season, Ole Miss’ offense has moved at will against just about everybody, but almost no one has been able to budge Oklahoma’s defense. One will have to give on Saturday in Norman.
The No. 13 Sooners host No. 8 Ole Miss at 11 a.m. CT Saturday on ABC for a top-15 matchup between two 6-1 teams that some experts have deemed an elimination game for the College Football Playoff.
Score prediction for Sooners vs Rebels
The Sooners enter Week 9 with the best defense in the country, ranking first in total defense while giving up 213 yards a game and second in scoring defense while allowing 9.4 points. Ole Miss, though, is eighth in the FBS in total offense while averaging 491.9 yards a game.
Last week, South Carolina scored just seven points against the Sooners as the Rebels suffered their first loss to Georgia, but still hung 35 points on the Bulldogs. Whether it's a win or loss, or an SEC or nonconference opponent, both of these squads have accomplished the same thing every week.
Whether Ole Miss thrives throwing the ball or not might not matter in Norman on Saturday, though. Rain moved into Oklahoma on Friday, and the inclement weather might still be around by the early kickoff, forcing this game to be a low-scoring affair no matter the original game plans.
But even if it’s clear skies, the Rebels still won’t be able to march down the field like they’re accustomed to against this OU defense. The Sooners’ offense hasn’t been eye-popping on the other side, but it’s at least better than Ole Miss’ porous defense. So although this matchup has been headlined by the strengths, it could actually come down to whose weakness is stronger.
This will be a frustrating game for both fan bases at times, but the uglier this game becomes, the better chance the Sooners have.
Prediction: Oklahoma 20, Ole Miss 13