OM and Arkansas Clash In Oxford

Way Too Early Game-by-Game Schedule and Predictions for 2013 . Part nine A Glance at the Arkansas Matchup.

Seph Anderson, Sportswriter to The South, focuses his sports writing and photography skills on covering timely Ole Miss and SEC news, among all things sports across the South.

seph.anderson@hottytoddy.com

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Photo by Robert Jordan/Ole Miss Communications

Arkansas athletics director Jeff Long may have made a mistake hiring interim coach John L. Smith after the Bobby Petrino fiasco, but hiring Bret Bielema was a home run. Many thought Arkansas would go after a coach familiar to the SEC, but surprisingly they went to the Big 10 to steal Bret Bielema away from the Wisconsin Badgers.

What did Bielema do at Wisconsin?

In seven seasons with the Badgers, the head coach complied a 68-24 overall record, posted four seasons of 10 or more wins, led Wisconsin to three straight Big 10 titles and three consecutive Rose Bowl appearances.

Bielema is a proven winner. The only question will be how long before he is successful at Arkansas?

Thanks to a last-second field goal in Little Rock last season, Ole Miss escaped with a 30-27 road win against John L. Smith and the Razorbacks. Arkansas players will be looking for revenge.

The Hogs will make the short trip over to Oxford following a home game with the Auburn Tigers, featuring two first-year SEC head coaches. The winner should take away a great deal of momentum.

Arkansas went 4-8 last season, but they’re much better than their 2012 record. A team that went 11-2 on their way to a Sugar Bowl berth in 2011, Arkansas is a talented club.

However, it’s a home game for the Rebels in 2013.

Rolling at 6-2 by this point and receiving a great deal of national attention, Ole Miss won’t suffer a letdown against the Hogs at home.

Way Too Early Prediction:

Ole Miss 38, Arkansas 24

Overall Record 7-2 (5-1 SEC)