Georgia Bulldogs: Will they thrive against No. 23 Ole Miss?
Fact: It’s been 20 years since the Ole Miss Rebels beat the Georgia Bulldogs. Will the Dawgs maintain their winning streak over the Rebels this Saturday in Oxford?
The Georgia Bulldogs got off to a good start this season with a 33-24 victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels. Since then, it appears the Bulldogs have been merely surviving rather than thriving. After North Carolina, the Dawgs went on to barely escape a major upset by Nicholls State, a game in which they won 26-24. Week 3 wasn’t very encouraging either, when the Bulldogs struggled to manage a win on the road at Missouri, 28-27. However, the Bulldogs are 3-0 and all eyes are now on this Saturday’s matchup against the Ole Miss Rebels, who are currently 1-2. But don’t let their record give you any relief; first, consider who they’ve played.
The Rebels opened the season with a 45-34 loss to the Florida State Seminoles, though they led the game well into the second quarter. In Week 2, Ole Miss beat Wofford 38-13, giving them their only win thus far. The Rebels then took on the No.1 Alabama Crimson Tide last week at home. Again, they had a large lead early on, only to let it slip away with a 48-43 loss.
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Georgia vs Mississippi: Who comes out with the W?
Both the Georgia Bulldogs and Ole Miss Rebels have a lot to prove heading into Saturday’s game, largely making predicting the outcome a toss up. For the Bulldogs, a win would only advance their position in the race for the SEC title as they would move to 4-0. On the other hand, a win for the Rebels seems more crucial; a win brings them new life, while another loss could be detrimental to their season overall. Are we looking at a potential upset Saturday?
We’ve seen the Georgia Bulldogs barely squeak by previous opponents, and the schedule only gets tougher as the season progresses. How long will they continue to just “get by?” Can we expect to see Nick Chubb bounce back against the Rebels defense? He had a fantastic typical Nick Chubb start in his return against North Carolina with 222 yards, but since then, he’s fallen off the radar, failing to hit 100 yards in the last two games.
For the Rebels, Chad Kelly will continue to be their main weapon. This season, he’s averaged 343 passing yards. Compare that to the Bulldogs defense, who just came off a loss at Missouri in which they let Drew Lock pass for 376 yards. Though the Rebels may have fallen out of the College Football Playoff conversation for the moment, Kelly still leads the SEC in passing touchdowns this season. If the Bulldogs give him an inch, he just might take a mile.
Georgia may hold the winning record, but Vegas has other news for this Saturday’s matchup. The odds have recently gotten worse for the Bulldogs. The Rebels opened as a 6-point favorite, but since then, the Georgia Bulldogs are now predicted to be the 7.5 underdogs.
Prediction:
VIA Brian Stultz of Campus Insiders:
"Eason and Chubb have led the Bulldogs to a 3-0 record, but it hasn’t exactly been impressive. After losing the lead to Alabama, Ole Miss will have some fire in themselves and come out ready to play. This time, however, they will hold the lead and get a much-needed victory. Ole Miss by 14.UGA vs. Ole Miss Score Prediction: Ole Miss 38, Georgia 24"
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The Georgia Bulldogs head to Oxford, Mississippi this Saturday, Sept. 24, in hopes of maintaing their winning streak over the Ole Miss Rebels. Catch the game at12 p.m. ET on ESPN or online at WatchESPN.com.