No. 3 Georgia will search redemption within the Sugar Bowl on Thursday, when it takes on No. 6 Ole Miss contained in the Superdome in New Orleans. The Bulldogs have been in an equivalent scenario a yr in the past within the Faculty Soccer Playoff semifinal once they have been eradicated by a surging Notre Dame group that completed because the nationwide runner up.
Again then, UGA was counting on unproven quarterback Gunner Stockton, who was making his first profession begin in a high-stakes showdown in opposition to one of many nation’s greatest defenses. This time round, Stockton is a seasoned veteran who emerged as one of many nation’s high QBs whereas guiding the Bulldogs to an SEC championship.
On the opposite aspect, Ole Miss will even be looking for some redemption after the Rebels misplaced 43-35 at Georgia on Oct. 18. Head coach Lane Kiffin has since departed for LSU, leaving Ole Miss within the care of recent coach Pete Golding for this system’s first-ever CFP look.
Regardless of the surprisingly timed teaching transition, the Rebels seemed robust in a 41-10 first-round beatdown of Tulane. With star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss spearheading a dynamic offense, Ole Miss stays a power to be reckoned with.
Georgia is getting into off a bye, however the Bulldogs have been dominant in a 28-7 SEC title recreation win over Alabama. The UGA protection has gone 4 straight video games with out permitting greater than 10 factors.
Georgia vs. Ole Miss: Must know for Sugar Bowl
Kewan Lacy’s standing: The highest injury-related storyline getting into the Sugar Bowl seems to be the well being of Ole Miss star operating again Kewan Lacy. The Missouri switch exited the Rebels’ first-round win over Tulane within the third quarter with an obvious shoulder damage. Although he returned, he seemed to be lower than 100%, which has forged his standing for the quarterfinals into doubt. Lacy is second nationally amongst all gamers with 21 dashing touchdowns. Although he tallied simply 31 yards dashing on 12 carries within the Rebels’ October loss at Georgia, he did rating two touchdowns in opposition to the Bulldogs.
The final assembly: Georgia scored on each offensive possession in opposition to Ole Miss in its 43-35 win over the Rebels on Oct. 18 till it was time to take a knee. It was an unbelievable efficiency from the UGA offense and quarterback Gunner Stockton. However that does not imply the victory got here straightforward for the Bulldogs. Ole Miss proved unstoppable for 3 quarters and took a 35-26 lead into the fourth inside Sanford Stadium. Lastly, when the sport was on the road, Georgia’s protection stepped up and got here up with crucial stops at hand Ole Miss its solely lack of the season.
New teaching rivalry: Add one other chapter to school soccer’s long-running saga of former Nick Saban assistants teaching in opposition to one another. Georgia coach Kirby Sensible and new Ole Miss coach Pete Golding every share the excellence of being former Alabama defensive coordinators who at the moment are operating their very own SEC applications. Sensible is the most-accomplished department of the Saban tree, whereas Golding is only one recreation into his head teaching profession and has so much to show. Whereas they did not overlap at Alabama, they realized beneath the identical instructor, and each helped the Crimson Tide win nationwide titles.
The place to observe Georgia vs. Ole Miss dwell
Date: Thursday, Jan. 1 | Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Caesars Superdome — New Orleans, Louisiana
TV: ESPN | Reside stream: Fubo (Strive totally free)
Georgia vs. Ole Miss prediction, picks
Since giving up 35 factors in opposition to Ole Miss in a 43-35 house victory over the Rebels on Oct. 18, Georgia has grown into certainly one of school soccer’s premier defensive outfits. The Bulldogs’ final 4 opponents have averaged a paltry 7.25 factors per recreation as coordinator Glenn Schumann’s unit has developed the tooth wanted to make UGA a professional nationwide championship contender. It is onerous to think about Ole Miss taking part in as completely offensively because it did by means of the primary three quarters of the primary assembly. Search for Georgia’s protection to give you sufficient key stops to assist Georgia draw back and attain the semifinals. Decide: Georgia -6.5
Who will win and canopy in every school soccer bowl and playoff recreation? SportsLine’s pc mannequin simply simulated every matchup 10,000 occasions and has revealed its picks. Go to SportsLine now to see all its school soccer picks.
