Preview and Predictions: No. 16 Ole Miss hosts No. 3 Georgia
OXFORD, Miss. — No. 16 Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2 SEC) hosts No. 3 Georgia (7-1, 5-1) this Saturday in Vaught-Hemingway for one of the most-anticipated matchups of the season, one that Rebels’ head coach Lane Kiffin has been looking toward since his team’s horrendous defeat last year in Athens, 52-17.
That defeat led to a restructuring of the Ole Miss roster, one that brought in talented transfer portal players at key positions on both sides of the ball — but most noticeably on the defensive side as the Rebels brought in defensive linemen Princely Umanmielen and Walter Nolen, linebacker Chris “Pooh” Paul, Jr. and defensive back Trey Amos, to name a few.
The turnaround in the defense has been remarkable. Ole Miss currently is No. 2 in the nation in sacks, recording a total of 41 on the season for an average of 4.56 per game. The Rebels are No. 1 in the nation in tackles-for-loss, recording a whopping 75 on the season for a 10.4 per game average. They’re also No. 2 in the nation in rushing defense, only giving up 82.2 yards per game on the ground. Georgia rushed for 300 yards on Ole Miss last year.
“We’re better defensively than we were a year ago, and very different in the front six, with the four D-linemen and two backers, we’re a lot different there, and hopefully that will help us.”
Lane Kiffin
All that being said, Coach Kiffin knows his team has to be much improved from the one that lost to the Bulldogs just a year ago.
“When we look for plays, sometimes we look at NFL plays, so last week we pulled them up,” Kiffin said this week. “And we went from watching a defensive (film) cut-up of Georgia to watching an NFL team — I won’t say which team — and I was like, ‘pause the film.’ Georgia’s 11 actually looked better than the starting 11 on this NFL defense.”
As for the Bulldogs, they are 47-3 over their last 50 games and haven’t lost more than one game in a season since 2020. Offensively, they are averaging just over 430 yards per game, with 299 yards per game coming through the air. Redshirt senior Carson Beck continues to lead the Bulldogs at quarterback, ranking top 25 nationally in passing yards (2,302), passing touchdowns (17) and completions per game (23.75).
Four Bulldog receivers have hauled in three or more receiving TDs this season, and Arian Smith leads the team with 503 receiving yards on 31 catches. On the ground, Georgia is led by Florida transfer, Trevor Etienne, and true freshman, Nate Frazier. Etienne and Frazier average 65 and 41 yards rushing per game respectively.
Defensively, the Bulldogs rank No. 12 in FBS, allowing just 295.3 yards per game. Georgia limits its opponents to just a 28 percent conversion rate on third down, No. 6 in the country. Malaki Starks leads the Bulldogs in tackles, with 43 total stops. Linebacker Jalon Walker is the best Georgia player at getting to the quarterback with 4.5 sacks on the season.
So, what happens in Saturday’s game?
The Rebel Walk has put together a group of panelists who are weekly sharing their predictions for the upcoming game. Our panel brings a variety of perspectives that showcase many different points of view.
Game Details
- Kickoff: Saturday, November 9, 2:30 PM CT
- TV: ABC
- Radio: OleMissSports.com
- Memphis: WHBQ-AM 560
- Oxford: WOXF-FM 105.1
- Jackson: WFMN-FM 97.3
- Betting Odds: Ole Miss +2.5; O/U 54.5 (as of Friday afternoon)
The Leaderboard
TJ Oxley (The Rebel Walk): 20 Points (+6)
Kam Wicker (The Rebel Walk): 16 Points (+3)
Grayson Weir (BroBible): 15 Points (+4)
Adam Brown (The Rebel Walk): 12 Points (+1)
Zach Moreth (The Rebel Walk): 8 Points (+1)
Caleb Salers (Supertalk Mississippi): 4 Points (+1)
Scoring Metric and Panel Predictions
Scoring: Each panel member can earn a total of six points per week.
• One point will be awarded for correctly picking the winning team outright.
• Two points will be awarded if the predicted score is within 7.5 points total. There is a caveat to this. For example, if a panel member says that a team wins the game 21-0 and that team loses 0-21, the total score is technically within 7.5 points. However, points will only be awarded if the score is close to the prediction (i.e. – a score of 24-3 has a total of 27 and is within 7.5 points of 21).
• Lastly, a panel member will be awarded three points if his prediction is correct.
With that being said let’s get to the predictions as Ole Miss welcomes Georgia.
Grayson Weir, Bro Bible
Score: Ole Miss 24 – Georgia 21
Key prediction: Jaxson Dart throws two touchdowns in the win
I’ve been saying for two years now that if the Rebels are going to get the Bulldogs in their current state as THE elite program in college football, it is going to be this year in Oxford. I stand by that. This Ole Miss roster is finally able to compete with Georgia in terms of physicality and it starts on defense.
The defensive line unit is facing its biggest challenge thus far and they are ready to answer the bell. Walter Nolen is going to wreak havoc, which will allow Jared Ivey and Perkins to get to Carson Beck off of the edge .
Offensively, it seems weather is going to be a factor which will result in a lower final score than a sunny Saturday in early October. Ulysses Bentley finally has his chance to shine and will get in the end zone, but Domonique Thomas is going to be the difference between the tackles. Jaxson Dart is going to throw an awkward pick in the early going, which will inspire him to a two-score day with one to Tre Harris and one to Caden Prieskorn on a wheel route in the red zone.
Kam Wicker, The Rebel Walk
Score: Ole Miss 20 – UGA 21
Key Prediction: Ole Miss sacks Carson Beck 3 or more times
With this being one of the most-anticipated games of the college football season and perhaps one of the biggest games in Kiffin’s career, I expect both teams to come out firing. Don’t be surprised to see the score jump up early; however, with potential rain the second half could get gritty. I think this one will come down to whoever can make that last defensive stand and who wants it more.
Zach Moreth, The Rebel Walk
Score: Ole Miss 27 — Georgia 29
Key Prediction: The Ole Miss rushing attack will combine for over 150 yards and 2 touchdowns.
I have Ole Miss losing in an absolute dogfight of a game. This game will come down to making a stop on the defensive side of the ball and due to the impressive Georgia defensive line, it feels as if the pressure will be too much to handle. Remember, the last time Georgia played an elite offense against Texas, they recorded six sacks. Hopefully, I’m proven wrong.
Adam Brown, The Rebel Walk
Score: Ole Miss 38 — Georgia 31
Key prediction: Jaxson Dart passes for over 350 yards and scores three TDs in the air and one with his legs
Ole Miss has been firing on all cylinders over the last six quarters on both sides of the football. Jaxson Dart had a career-setting game against Arkansas last week against Georgia look for him to pass for over 350 yards and three touchdowns in the air and score one with his legs.
Look for a big day for Tre Harris. I think he will play and will be eyed heavy by the UGA defense, but with Jordan Watkins having a record setting day against the Hogs it will be hard to lock both of them down all afternoon. Harris will finish the game with 200 yards and two touchdowns.
The Rebels defense has to get to Carson Beck and make it hard for him in the pocket. Beck has thrown for 11 interceptions this season.
Caleb Salers, Supertalk Mississippi
Score: Georgia 23 — Ole Miss 21
Key prediction: Tre Harris plays and finishes with over 100 yards receiving and one score
After a historic outing at Arkansas, the Ole Miss offense will be slowed by a domineering Georgia defense. An inability to run the football will make the Rebels one-dimensional all contest. While Lane Kiffin’s crew will have some success in the air, mainly with Tre Harris mounting more than 100 yards and a score, it won’t be enough to notch a signature win.
On defense, corner Trey Amos will take advantage of a trigger-happy Carson Beck with a pick. Simultaneously, the defensive front and linebackers will do enough to prevent any meaningful ground game from the Bulldogs and keep the Rebels competitive in a tight matchup.
Game Info:
Ole Miss and Georgia kick off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway. The game will be broadcast on ABC.
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.
