Preview and Predictions: Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl features No. 10 Penn State vs No. 11 Ole Miss

ATLANTA — In their first-ever matchup against each other, Ole Miss takes on Penn State today in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta. With that is another edition of The Rebel Walk’s Preview and Predictions, the final one for 2023. This will be the 56th Peach Bowl game and features a quality matchup between two similar teams.

Both Ole Miss and Penn State enjoyed 10-win seasons this season on their way to this matchup. Both Rebels’ head coach Lane Kiffin and Nittany Lions’ coach James Franklin’s teams have some top-tier talent on each side of the ball.

In the festivities of the Peach Bowl both teams took place in “Battle for Bowl Week” competition where members of each team competed in various fun challenges against each other. Ole Miss took the victory in that — but will it win in the bowl game?

The Peach Bowl marks the second time in three seasons that Ole Miss will play in a New Year’s Six bowl under coach Lane Kiffin. With a win the Rebels would make program history recording the first eleven win season in its storied existence. For Penn State, a win would mean back-to-back eleven-win seasons and back-to-back New Year’s Six bowl wins.

If you are looking for a look at what Ole Miss needs to do to be successful, we’ve got you covered. Click HERE.

Many, many thanks to our esteemed panel, back for the final game this season. Check them out and follow them on social media.

Zach Moreth — The Rebel Walk
Grayson Weir – BroBible
Kam Wicker – The Rebel Walk
Caleb Salers – SuperTalk Mississippi
Tyler Komis – Inside The Rebels/247Sports
TJ Oxley – The Rebel Walk

GAME DETAILS

• Kickoff: Saturday, Dec. 30th, 11:00 AM CT
• TV: ESPN
• Radio:
  • OleMissSports.com
  • Memphis: WHBQ-AM 560
  • Oxford: WOXF-FM 105.1
  • Jackson: WFMN-FM 97.3
• Betting Lines as of Friday at :
  • Ole Miss: +5.5
  • O/U: 52
  • Ole Miss Moneyline: +175
  • Penn State Moneyline: -210

Predictions

Zach Moreth – The Rebel Walk

Ole Miss 24, Penn State 20

Prediction: In the Peach Bowl, I predict that the offense of Ole Miss is too skilled and talented for the Penn State defense. The experienced wide receiving corps will have its way with the secondary of Penn State, but it’s going to come down to the offensive line who’s playing a ferocious defensive line.

X-Factor: Ole Miss Offensive Line

Kam Wicker – The Rebel Walk

Ole Miss 34, Penn State 28

Caleb Salers – SuperTalk Mississippi

Ole Miss 28, Penn State 24

Prediction: The Rebels cap off 2023 with the first-ever 11 win season in program history. Lane Kiffin’s crew earns the historic feat in a nail-biter that is highlighted by standout wide receiver Tre Harris. The Louisiana Tech transfer will put the Nittany Lions’ ferocious defense to the test and record over 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns

Grayson Weir – BroBible

Ole Miss 42, Penn State 18

The only way that the Rebels can lose this game is if they are unable to focus on the present while looking ahead to 2024. I don’t see that being the case. Ole Miss matches up better at every offensive position, though the Penn State defensive line was able to pick up the slack without Chop Robinson earlier this year against lesser opponents. Quinshon Judkins is going to force the Nittany Lions to stack the box early, which will open up passing lanes for Dart to the sidelines. As the defense pulls back off of the ball to try and prevent shots down field, Judkins will be able to get loose in the middle of the game.

The Rebels are being significantly underestimated on defense against Drew Allar and the passing attack, which looked lifeless against Michigan and Ohio State. Nick Singleton is going to break a few big runs. That’s okay as long as the defense can punch back with a sack or big play off of the edge. There will be a lot of simplicity on the other side of the ball. Forcing them to try and get tricky will be the key, which will lead to turnovers.

Ole Miss has a big chance to make a statement in this game. I don’t expect them to squander it.

Tyler Komis – Inside the Rebels

Ole Miss 27, Penn State 23

Prediction: It’s been over a month since the Rebels have played a game, so the rust will need to be knocked off early on in the game. They will not win playing catch up if they fall behind by two possessions by halftime. The argument could be made that they’ve been a second-half team all season, but it’ll be hard to do so in this moment and on this stage. That being said, I don’t believe that will be the case. Shutting down this ground attack will be easier said than done. If the Rebel defense can just limit that area and make the Nittany Lion offense a little more predictable than usual, I think they can find success in making Drew Allar uncharacteristically forcing throws. Protecting Jaxson Dart will be paramount in getting the victory as well.

X-factor: Isaac Ukwu

TJ Oxley – The Rebel Walk

Ole Miss 24, Penn State 27

Prediction: The line at the time of my prediction leans -4.5 favoring Penn State. It really feels like this game is a pick ’em. Both teams have talented playmakers on offense and both have some impressive defensive units as well. The big questions come down to how well Ole Miss stops the Penn State run game and how well Penn State does against Ole Miss’ tempo. The Nittany Lions do have an interim coordinator on the defensive side of the ball so how much of an adjustment is there going from Manny Diaz to Anthony Poindexter?

I could lean either way here, this one depends on who can take care of the ball, and what offense can find that explosive play. Should be a fun one.

TJ Oxley

TJ Oxley is the Vice President of Operations and the Director of Community Relations for The Rebel Walk. He is also the Director of Basketball Content and Senior Basketball Writer. He has over five years of experience providing in-depth analysis of college basketball through multiple platforms. A former MBA graduate of Ole Miss, TJ started with The Rebel Walk in 2019.