COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Ole Miss opened the season with a dominant home performance and already showed the kind of scoring balance that can separate a major-conference team from a mid-major visitor. The Rebels hit efficiently from the field, got enough production from the perimeter, and held their opponent to a low point total. That is the kind of profile that tends to translate well against smaller-lineup opponents early in the year. Central Arkansas also started 1-0, but its early metrics are more modest. The Bears’ offense was productive in their opener, yet their shooting rates and adjusted efficiency figures suggest a team that can be pushed into inefficient possessions against a longer, more athletic defense. Against an Ole Miss group that should control pace and shot quality at home, the Bears will need an outlier shooting night to turn this into a close game.
Ole Miss should win comfortably at home, with its superior shooting efficiency and stronger defensive ceiling driving the game flow. Central Arkansas has enough rebounding to avoid a total collapse, but the Rebels’ offensive edge and home-court control point to a decisive result. Final score projection: Ole Miss Rebels 91, Central Arkansas Bears 63.
