Ole Miss football vs. Central Arkansas: Scouting report and a score prediction
OXFORD − Ole Miss football shouldn't have too much of a challenge ahead of itself when the Rebels host Central Arkansas.
The No. 23 Rebels (1-0) play the Bears (0-1) at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday (6 p.m., SEC Network+). The battle pits an SEC team coming off a Sugar Bowl appearance against a middle-of-the-pack FCS team that went 5-6 last season and opened this year with a 27-14 loss to Missouri State.
The big intrigue of the matchup will be for Ole Miss at quarterback. The Rebels plan to start sophomore Luke Altmyer, who came off the bench in the season-opening win over Troy. USC transfer Jaxson Dart, who started the game, is expected to play in a relief capacity.
THE GOOD AND BADGrading what Jaxson Dart did (and didn't do) well versus Troy
WHO WILL RUNMaking sense of Ole Miss football's running back riches
ALTMYER'S UPLane Kiffin was pleased with Jaxson Dart, but Luke Altmyer gets his shot next game
Here is the Clarion Ledger's scouting report and prediction for Saturday's game.
Ole Miss offense versus Central Arkansas defense
The Rebels' offense was held to 28 points, including just one score in the second half, in its season opener. Regardless of who plays quarterback, it should be a little easier for coach Lane Kiffin's offense to move the ball against Central Arkansas.
That said, there are areas the Rebels need to show improvement at after an uninspiring opener. The receivers struggled to create separation and yards after the catch, the offensive line had a brutal pass blocking day and Dart didn't do a great job of pushing the ball downfield for big plays. This created a more methodical, chugging Rebels offense than the "Score From Far" identity Kiffin loves to tout.
It's hard to tell too much from a game against an FCS opponent, but this game can be considered a step forward if Ole Miss figures out how to regain its big-play identity.
Ole Miss defense versus Central Arkansas offense
Central Arkansas' offense played better in its opener than its 14 points indicate. The Bears ran for 168 yards and made 23 first downs but were a brutal 1-for-12 on third down conversions and threw two interceptions, holding the offense back.
Still, the Bears shouldn't be too much of a challenge for Ole Miss' defense given the way the Rebels fared against Troy. Ole Miss' defensive linemen and linebackers lived in Troy's backfield, logging 10 tackles for loss and four sacks. Playing an FCS opponent should allow the Rebels' defensive playmakers to feast again by creating turnovers and getting quick stops against Central Arkansas' shaky third-down offense.
Score prediction
Ole Miss 41, Central Arkansas 10: Ole Miss extends its Power 5-best streak of games holding opponents to 21 points or below to seven games and the offense wakes up a little bit with an improved passing game and even more highlights from running backs Zach Evans, Quinshon Judkins and Ulysses Bentley IV. This one shouldn't be close and Kiffin should come out of this one a little more pleased than last week.
Contact Nick Suss at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on Twitter @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss football vs. Central Arkansas: Scouting report, prediction
