No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 10 Ole Miss Picks, Predictions & Odds

Georgia and Ole Miss have delivered absolute classics the last two times they’ve faced off, with both offenses putting up points and both defenses struggling to get stops.

That’s what these games have felt like. Can you get a stop? Oh, you can get one? Well, then you’ll win the football game.

Now the Bulldogs head to Oxford, one of the few SEC stadiums where Kirby Smart still hasn’t won as Georgia’s head coach.

Georgia Has to Contain Trinidad Chambliss

Georgia has to be able to get Trinidad Chambliss on the ground when the opportunity presents itself. We’ve seen those opportunities multiple times in the last two matchups, and Georgia has failed to get the sucker on the ground.

He’s a very slippery quarterback with great spatial awareness, and he’s capable of extending plays when you think you’ve got him.

But it’s not just about getting sacks. Georgia has to take advantage of turnover opportunities when they’re presented.

I feel like Chambliss is throwing more turnover-worthy balls this year than he was last year. If Georgia can stop the rushing attack and force him to throw the football to win, there will be opportunities to make a play.

Ole Miss has no problem putting the game in his hands, but if Georgia can force one or two turnovers, that could be the difference.

The Bulldogs also have to be better defensively on third down.

Both offenses rank among the top 15 nationally in third-down conversion rate, but Ole Miss ranks 100th defensively. Georgia hasn’t been up to its usual standard on third down, either.

You can’t let third-and-10 turn into fourth-and-one. You can’t let third-and-15 turn into a first down.

Georgia doesn’t have to shut Ole Miss out, but it has to get more stops than it has in the previous matchups.

Georgia Needs to Establish Its Run Game

Georgia has to be able to run the football in this one and control both sides of the line of scrimmage.

If the Bulldogs are effective on the ground, I don’t think they’re going to have a very hard time keeping Ole Miss off the field or scoring points.

But we’ve seen Pete Golding defenses stop Georgia’s rushing attack before.

If Georgia can’t run the football, can Gunner Stockton air it out when he needs to?

This has been one of the most explosive offenses in the country all season, but I don’t think Georgia has been quite as explosive the last couple of games. They certainly didn’t try to push the ball down the field much against Florida.

If Chambliss is having one of those games and Georgia can’t run the football, Stockton might have to go out there and put up 35 points.

He’s got to get back to playing the way he was before the Auburn game.

After Alabama, we were talking about a guy playing some of the best football of any quarterback in college football. Then he had two performances that weren’t nearly as good.

But if there’s anything I know about Gunner, it’s that he tends to show up in moments like this.

Ranked opponent, on the road, massive matchup, night game in Oxford. Those are the situations where he tends to play his best football.

Players Who Can Be the Difference

Chris Cole is somebody who has to play well for Georgia. He missed several opportunities to sack Chambliss in the previous matchup, and those are plays you’ve got to finish.

I also think Jordan Hall needs to continue playing as well as he has, while Justin Williams could be especially important when Chambliss escapes the pocket.

On the Ole Miss side, I’m watching Deuce Alexander.

I think he’s a really good wide receiver, and this passing attack is much easier to get going when he’s playing with confidence. With Kewan Lacy out, Ole Miss needs Alexander to make plays.

But my player of the game for Georgia is Dwight Phillips.

Ole Miss has shown that it can get absolutely gashed in the running game. Nate Frazier is perfectly capable of taking advantage, but Phillips is Georgia’s most explosive runner right now.

He’s been one of the biggest surprises for Georgia this season, not because we didn’t think he was a good player, but because he’s handled a much bigger workload than anybody expected.

If Phillips can break off two or three explosive runs, Ole Miss is going to have a really tough time winning this football game.

Georgia vs. Ole Miss Prediction

I’ve got Georgia winning 30-27.

I think this is going to come down to one score.

Georgia has to establish the running game, get Chambliss on the ground and capitalize on the opportunities it gets defensively.

If Stockton plays the way he’s capable of playing in these big moments and the Bulldogs can get some explosive runs from Dwight Phillips, I like Georgia to come out of Oxford with the win.