For the first time in four years, Georgia and Ole Miss will dance together at high noon ET in Oxford, Mississippi, and for the 46th time in the series that has lost its bitterness since realignment in the SEC. Don’t get too used to seeing these two on the field together, though, because their next meeting is set for the 2023 regular season, barring a potential clash in the SEC title game.
The early line reveals Mississippi favored by -7 at home, with an over/under set at 62.
Georgia:
It is pretty safe to say that the Bulldogs’ season will rely heavily on the legs of Nick Chubb, although when you bring back the NCAA’s best passing defense from a year ago, there is plenty to expect in Athens.
A 3 – 0 start for first-year coach Kirby Smart was exactly what the doctor ordered, made even better by the one-point win over Missouri last weekend to start conference play. It took almost all of the 60 minutes to come away with the W, as QB Jacob Eason found Isaiah McKenzie in the end zone, with only 1:29 left in the game, to escape Faurot Field with a 28 – 27 win.
Eason went on to go 29 for 55 with 308 yards and 3 TDs in the win, while Nick Chubb was a pedestrian 19 for 63 in the ground game.
Freshman punter Marshall Long basically stole Brice Ramsey’s job, and he has been stellar, averaging 40 yards a boot and changing field position when asked to come up with the big kicks.
The Bulldogs got off to a 1 – 0 start this season with a 33 – 24 win over North Carolina in the Georgia Dome, and carried it over to a 26 – 24 win over Nicholls State. At the time, the tilt provided some concern to many in Athens, being that Georgia was down 14 – 13 in the third quarter.
Mississippi:
It is rather simple to sum up the Ole Miss season through three games, and we can do it three words. Second Half Debacles!
Mississippi has squandered two 20+ point leads in their two losses this season, and the second half performances in each of the Florida State and Alabama games led to the failures. Mississippi was up 28 – 6 late in the first half on Florida State to open the season at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, and were outscored 32 – 6 in second half, only to end up losing 45 – 34.
After a week 2 ‘cupcake win’ over Wofford, 38 – 13, the Rebels found themselves with another lead this past weekend over the number one team in the land, Alabama, and let it all go to waste again. Mississippi led the Tide 24 – 3 early in the second quarter, and were outscored 31 – 19 in the second half again.
Head Coach Hugh Freeze is in the midst of his fifth year with Ole Miss, and co-defensive coordinators Dave Wommack and Jason Jones have some work ahead of them as SEC play begins this weekend. Georgia will certainly provide a test for a defense that has surrendered an SEC West Division worst 106 points through three games.
The offense has put up 38.3 PPG, and senior QB Chad Kelly will surpass 1,000 passing yards this weekend, barring injury, of course. He has completed 67 of his 107 attempts for 62.6%, and has gained 76 yards with his legs.
His go-to receiver is indeed his tight end, Evan Engram, who already has 20 receptions for 302 yards and two scores. Engram has been a constant for all four seasons with Ole Miss, and will likely be headed to the NFL next season.
Damore’ea Stringfellow and Van Jefferson have each grabbed 12 balls, and combined for 313 yards and three scores as well through the three outings.
Notes:
In 45 games played between the two teams since 1940, the Bulldogs hold a 32 – 12 – 1 edge over Ole Miss.’
Georgia is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games.
The Bulldog Under is 9 – 1 in their last 10 games overall, and are riding an eight-game win streak back to last season.
In the last 7 meetings, the Under is 6 – 1.
Ole Miss is 8-3 ATS in their last 11 home games.
Under is 6-2 in Rebels last 8 home games.
Fun Facts:
This may not be one of the long-standing rivalries that can be found all around the landscape of college football, but from 1966 to 1998 the two teams met annually, and were part of a budding rivalry at the time.
Between the two teams, they have earned 18 SEC Championships, 8 national championships and 3 consensus national championships.
Game Prediction:
The total has our attention, and it will be the best place to look for action, although the +7 with the Bulldogs looks mighty inviting as well.
Seeing Ole Miss completely fall apart in their two biggest games of the year so far, leaves a bad taste in any bettor’s mouth when it comes to backing them, so we do envision many suitors of the +7 with Georgia.
We recommend a play on this total to go Over the number, because 62 points is simply a gift.
Second halves wide open, and quarterbacks who have shown they can move the ball, is a good combination to expect some points, so with a 38 – 35 type of prediction, we offer the Over 62 at -110.
