Georgia vs. Ole Miss prediction: Expert picks and odds for Sugar Bowl CFP quarterfinal

No. 3 Georgia will seek redemption in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday, when it faces No. 6 Ole Miss inside the New Orleans Superdome. The Bulldogs were in an identical situation a year ago College Football Playoffs semifinal when they were eliminated by a surging Notre Dame team that finished second nationally.

At the time, UGA was relying on unproven quarterback Gunner Stockton, who was making his first career start in a high-stakes matchup against one of the best defenses in the country. This time around, Stockton is a seasoned veteran who has become one of the best QBs in the country while guiding the Bulldogs to an SEC championship.

On the other side, Ole Miss will also look for redemption after the Rebels lost 43-35 at Georgia on October 18. Head coach Lane Kiffin has since left for LSU, leaving Ole Miss in the care of new coach Pete Golding for the CFP program’s first-ever appearance.

Despite the coaches’ oddly timed transition, the Rebels looked strong in a 41-10 win over Tulane in the first round. With star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss leading a dynamic offense, Ole Miss remains a force to be reckoned with.

Georgia goes into bye, but the Bulldogs dominated in a 28-7 win in the SEC title game against Alabama. UGA’s defense has gone four straight games without allowing more than 10 points.

Georgia vs. Ole Miss: What you need to know for the Sugar Bowl

Kewan Lacy Status: The main injury storyline entering the Sugar Bowl appears to be the health of Ole Miss star running back Kewan Lacy. The Missouri transfer ended the Rebels’ first-round win over Tulane in the third quarter with an apparent shoulder injury. Although he returned, he appeared to be less than 100%, which put his status for the quarterfinals in doubt. Lacy is second nationally among all players with 21 rushing touchdowns. Although he totaled just 31 rushing yards on 12 carries in the Rebels’ October loss to Georgia, he scored two touchdowns against the Bulldogs.

The last meeting: Georgia scored on every offensive possession against Ole Miss in its 43-35 win over the Rebels on Oct. 18 until it was time to take a knee. It was an incredible performance from the UGA offense and quarterback Gunner Stockton. But that doesn’t mean the victory was easy for the Bulldogs. Ole Miss was unstoppable through three quarters and took a 35-26 lead into the fourth inside Sanford Stadium. Finally, when the game was on the line, the Georgia defense rallied and made critical stops to hand Ole Miss its only loss of the season.

New coaching rivalry: Add another chapter to the long-running college football saga in which former Nick Saban assistants coach against each other. Georgia coach Kirby Smart and new Ole Miss coach Pete Golding each share the distinction of being former Alabama defensive coordinators who now lead their own SEC programs. Smart is the more accomplished branch of the Saban tree, while Golding is just one game into his head coaching career and has a lot to prove. Although they didn’t overlap at Alabama, they learned from the same teacher and both helped the Crimson Tide win national titles.

Where to watch Georgia vs. Ole Miss live

Date: Thursday January 1st | Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Caesars Superdome — New Orleans, Louisiana
TV: ESPN | Live broadcast: Fubo (Try for free)

Georgia vs. Ole Miss prediction, picks

Since giving up 35 points against Ole Miss in a 43-35 home win over the Rebels on Oct. 18, Georgia has become one of the premier defensive outfits in college football. The Bulldogs’ last four opponents have averaged 7.25 points per game, as coordinator Glenn Schumann’s unit has developed the teeth needed to make UGA a legitimate national championship contender. It’s hard to imagine Ole Miss playing as perfectly offensively as it did in the first three quarters of the first game. Expect the Georgia defense to make enough key stops to help Georgia pull away and reach the semifinals. Pick: Georgia -6.5

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