Good Friday afternoon, Dawg fans!! We’ve almost made it to another jam-packed weekend of college football, with great games all over tomorrow’s slate. The ninth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs face one of their biggest tests of the season tomorrow afternoon against the fifth-ranked Ole Miss Rebels, who remain unbeaten this year. The Dawgs are coming off a chaotic yet convincing 20–10 win over the Auburn Tigers, while the Rebels are fresh off a close victory against Washington State. Tomorrow’s game kicks off at 3:45 p.m. ET, with television coverage beginning at 3:30.
Alright, folks, let’s get into it. I’ve been preaching that the Dawgs have to start fast against quality opponents to win, and yet, they still haven’t managed to. The lack of execution in the first half cost them against Alabama, and if Auburn had a more competent offense, it might have hurt them last week as well. I say this because, unlike Auburn, Ole Miss has a pretty dang good offense, especially in the first half. If Georgia doesn’t come out playing quality football on both sides, they could dig themselves a hole too deep to climb out of.
The Rebels enter this matchup as one of the top offenses in the country. Ole Miss ranks fifth in total offense, eighth in passing offense, and 12th in first-down offense, meaning Georgia’s defense will have to deliver one of its best performances of the season to slow them down. The Rebels are led by dual-threat quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who has burst onto the college football scene. Chambliss transferred from Division II Ferris State and hasn’t skipped a beat transitioning to Power Five football. Through four games, he’s thrown for 1,286 yards, seven touchdowns, and just one interception. He’s also been impressive on the ground, rushing for 281 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 4.6 yards per carry.
Georgia’s defense will also need to contain running back Kewan Lacy, who has rushed for 587 yards and eight touchdowns this season, averaging 4.7 yards per carry.
On the offensive side, Georgia will need one of its best showings as well. If the Dawgs’ defense struggles early, Gunner Stockton and the rest of the offense can’t afford unproductive drives. While the play-calling needs to be a bit more explosive, I expect Georgia to establish the run early to exploit a Rebels defense that struggles against the ground game, ranking 95th nationally in that category.
The Rebels’ defensive backfield is solid enough to prevent Georgia from passing all over them, but I’d still like to see the Dawgs take some early deep shots. The offensive line’s performance will be crucial; if they can’t establish the run early, it may limit their ability to take those big shots downfield.
Prediction: Georgia-31, Ole Miss-27
I think this one will be close. Georgia hasn’t looked like an elite team all season, and honestly, who knows if they truly are? That said, if they handle a good Ole Miss team, they’ll prove themselves legitimate contenders for the College Football Playoff. As mentioned earlier, the Dawgs must start fast on both sides of the ball and play a complete game, not just a strong second half.
At the same time, Ole Miss could very well be overrated, and maybe it takes a team like Georgia to expose them. Do I believe that’s the case? No, but it sure wouldn’t hurt my feelings if it is. Sanford Stadium will be rocking tomorrow, and I trust that Dawg Nation will play a key role in helping Georgia earn a massive win over the fifth-ranked Rebels.
Enjoy the rest of your Friday and have an incredible weekend. I’ll be heading to Athens tomorrow morning to see this one live, so yes, my entire well-being this weekend depends on this game. As always, GO DAWGS!
