Where to watch Miami vs. Ole Miss: TV channel, stream, odds, prediction, pick for CFP semifinal
The story will be recounted Thursday in the College Football Playoffs as Miami and Ole Miss prepare for a highly anticipated showdown to kick off the semifinals. The Rebels have already broken the school record with 13 wins and are closer than ever to winning the school’s first solo national title. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, exceeded high preseason expectations, sneaking into the playoffs and running through the the toughest path in the playoffs to reach the semifinals.
It’s the ACC versus SEC, a high-flying offense against a high-flying defense. It is The U against the New. No matter who wins, the winner will land in the national championship as an unlikely entrant.
Simply put, No. 10 Miami vs. No. 6 Ole Miss doesn’t improve much in terms of stakes and storylines. The rebels could win a national title without Lane Kiffinwho fled town for rival LSU — and recruited a few assistants from Ole Miss — before the playoffs. Miami can cap its return to long-lasting glory under the leadership of alumnus Mario Cristobal, who left Oregon three years ago to bring his alma mater back to the national stage.
Neither team lacks superstars. Quarterback Carson Beck is the most accurate passer remaining in the playoffs. Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss went from Division II national champion to backup on the Rebels’ bench to become perhaps the most electric player in the postseason. Georgia couldn’t keep up with him in the quarterfinals as he led the Rebels to a thrilling 39-34 victory.
CFP predictions: Why Ole Miss will win the title | Why Miami will win the title
Miami’s defense has been a brick wall, allowing just 17 total points in wins over Texas A&M and Ohio State in the CFP. They sacked mobile quarterback Marcel Reed seven times on the road. Julian Sayin, the nation’s most accurate passer, couldn’t win the first downs.
The Fiesta Bowl features two of the CFP’s most compelling stories.
Where to watch Miami vs. Ole Miss live
Date: Thursday January 8 | Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: State Farm Stadium – Glendale, Arizona
TV: ESPN | Live broadcast: Fubo (Try for free)
Follow it to LIVE updates, highlights and analysis as Miami and Ole Miss battle for a spot in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Miami vs. Ole Miss: What you need to know for the Fiesta Bowl
Trench warfare: Miami’s playoff run was highlighted by the incredible pass rush provided by Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, who helped lead the nation’s best sack-producing defense. The Hurricanes had 12 sacks in two playoff games and recorded at least four sacks in four straight games, bringing their total to 46 for the season. Their pressure rate is also an elite 40.5%. Ole Miss allows just 1.3 sacks per game, ranking in the top 20 nationally, and actually ranks behind Ohio State, which gave up six sacks to Miami. Yet the difference for the Rebels is quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, whose mobility has kept Georgia out of reach. The Bulldogs had no sacks and only three tackles for loss in the quarterfinals. Ole Miss is sacked on just 3.1% of passing plays, ranking seventh nationally.
Championship Pedigrees: Ole Miss has never won a solo national title, and Miami is seeking its first since 2001, but championship-worthy quarterbacks lead both teams in their quest for history. Chambliss led Ferris State to a Division II national title last season before transferring to Ole Miss. Carson Beck is 36-5 in his career, including a 15-3 record against ranked opponents. He is the first quarterback to win this many games over three years since 2012-14 (Marcus Mariota). Beck completed 74.4 percent of his passes, but in the last two games he threw for fewer than 150 yards for the first time in his career as a starter. Chambliss has thrown for more than 300 yards in eight games this season, including a career-high in last week’s win over Georgia.
Which elite running back steps up? : Get ready for a runoff in Arizona. Miami’s Mark Fletcher Jr. has been a bull in the playoffs, especially late in games, totaling 262 yards in the playoffs to rank fourth all-time in CFP history. Ole Miss’ Kewan Lacy is a scoring machine, recording rushing touchdowns over the last eight games while racking up an incredible 877 yards in that span. Lacy’s 23 rushing touchdowns rank third in SEC history, behind two Alabama running backs who won national titles in their respective seasons.
Miami vs. Ole Miss prediction, picks
If Miami struggles to affect Trinidad Chambliss in the pocket, the Rebels win. If the Rebels can’t protect their quarterback against defensive ends Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, the Hurricanes will win. Chambliss escaped pressure for most of the season, as did Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed before Miami sacked him seven times in the first round. Ole Miss’ defense is solid but not elite, which should allow the Hurricanes to score at least three touchdowns with a bevy of stars that have been kept at bay against two elite CFP defenses. Ole Miss has scored 30+ points in eight straight games. Choice: Over 51.5
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