Tag: georgia ole miss

What the media is saying ahead of Georgia-Ole Miss

Several media outlets share their opinions on Georgia Bulldogs football ahead of their game at Ole Miss

So far throughout the season, the Georgia Bulldogs have been a massive talking point for any college sports show. Georgia’s currently 7-1 and atop the SEC, but many folk are wondering about their staying power as SEC champions. Georgia has a loss to No. 11 Alabama (6-2) and their close wins against Kentucky (3-6), Mississippi State (2-7), and Florida (4-4).

A lot of media buzz has been around Carson Beck, who has struggled mightily with six interceptions in his last two games. A lot of praise has been given out to the defensive side of the ball, with guys like KJ Bolden, Mykel Williams, and Jalon Walker all getting recognition.

Ahead of the game against the 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, here are some media takes about Georgia or the matchup between UGA and Ole Miss:

Paul Finebaum believes that this game is big for Lane Kiffin

Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

Via the DawgNation podcast, Paul Finebaum gave his thoughts on the game, hinting that this will be a referendum on Lane Kiffin’s career.

“Ultimately, I think this is the biggest game of Lane Kiffin’s career. He has a chance to come closer to punching his ticket to the College Football Playoff, or letting it all slip away. You’re going to hear about this in the game in Baton Rouge, but this is really about the opportunity for Ole Miss.”

Uncle Lou on Bleacher Report shares opinion on Carson Beck

On Bleacher Report, Uncle Lou went on his show to discuss the Bulldogs, and he had an interesting take on Carson Beck.

“The turnovers are obviously a problem. You just can’t talk about Georgia without addressing it. It’s just mind numbing, and it’s hard to understand why. It’s like a golfer with the yips. If you look at him last year, there’s a reason why every single top returning quarterback list anyone put out had Carson Beck on it. There’s a reason why he was considered a top-10 pick, potentially No. 1! But he’s far from that now, looking at third- or fourth-round pick. He might be the worst quarterback in the SEC.”

SI names Georgia players to watch

Jackson Harris of Sports Illustrated named some Georgia players that could have a big impact on the Ole Miss game.

Wide receiver Dillon Bell

“Bell is a do-it-all player for the Georgia Bulldogs, lining up in the backfield, slot, and out wide with the ability to hit a big play every time he gets the ball.”

Safety Malaki Starks

“The strong safety for the Dawgs is one of the leaders of this defense, and he has been all over the field to start 2024. Starks tallied two tackles for loss in the loss to Alabama but was a key part of the victory in Austin, racking up seven total tackles and one TFL.”

Linebacker Jalon Walker

“Walker was a man amongst boys in the win over Texas, tallying three sacks and absolutely harassing the Longhorn offensive line. The Rebels offensive line hasn’t been great but has improved in pass protection in the past two weeks. To really have a chance on Saturday, however, the Rebels need to find a running game.”

UGA vs. Ole Miss series history

Georgia Bulldogs versus Ole Miss Rebels football series history: Dawgs on top

The Georgia Bulldogs lead the all-time series history over the Ole Miss Rebels 33-13-1. Georgia has won 11 of the last 12 meetings in the series, but the Bulldogs did not win their last trip to Oxford.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is 1-1 in his career against Ole Miss with his only loss to the Rebels coming in 2016. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is 0-1 against Georgia.

Let’s take a look back at some of the recent meetings between the two SEC foes.

Nov. 11, 2023 – Georgia 52, Ole Miss 17

Georgia entered as the No. 1 team, facing a top-10 ranked Ole Miss. Georgia controlled the game from start to finish, with quarterback Carson Beck delivering a standout performance, throwing four passing touchdowns. The Bulldogs’ defense effectively limited Ole Miss’ rushing leader Quinshon Judkins and forced multiple turnovers.

Judkins scored two rushing touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to stop Georgia’s dominant offense. This victory continued Georgia’s long winning streak and strengthened their College Football Playoff hopes​.

Sept. 24, 2016 – Ole Miss 45, Georgia 14 

Ole Miss achieved a major victory over Georgia, with quarterback Chad Kelly showcasing his skills by passing for 282 yards and three total touchdowns. Ole Miss took an early lead with three first half touchdowns and built a commanding 31-0 halftime advantage over Kirby Smart and Georgia.

The Rebels’ defense held Georgia scoreless until the fourth quarter, where the Bulldogs scored twice but remained far behind. This game snapped a 10-game losing streak for Ole Miss against Georgia, though the result was later vacated due to NCAA sanctions.​

​Nov. 3, 2012 – Georgia 37, Ole Miss 10 

Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Tavarres King celebrates a touchdown in the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Sanford Stadium. Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia pulled away in the second half after being down 10-0 early to Ole Miss. Quarterback Aaron Murray threw for 384 yards, leading a scoring surge that saw Georgia outscore Ole Miss 37-0 after the Rebels’ early advantage. The Bulldogs’ defense tightened up, intercepting passes and shutting down Ole Miss for the rest of the game. Georgia won at home to maintain its lead in the SEC East race​.

Sept. 24, 2011 – Georgia 27, Ole Miss 13 

Georgia overcame a slow start with running back Isaiah Crowell and quarterback Aaron Murray leading the way offensively. Crowell’s rushing and Murray’s passing helped Georgia establish a lead, while their defense contained Ole Miss, which struggled to find momentum on offense.

Georgia held a 17-7 halftime lead and maintained control in the second half. The game secured Georgia’s first conference win of the season, and the Bulldogs gained momentum toward a strong SEC finish.

SEC rule change comes at perfect moment for Georgia

How an SEC rule change benefits Georgia football ahead of the Bulldogs’ game at Ole Miss

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and the conference are cracking down on faked injuries, finally addressing an issue that has plagued the league for years.

“Play football and stop the feigned injury nonsense,” Sankey said in a memo to the league teams.

The rule change comes at the perfect time for the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs, who face the No. 12 Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday. Ole Miss is the SEC’s most well-known offender of the feigned injury rule. Under head coach Lane Kiffin, the Rebels have had several occasions this season when players went down at the insistence of a teammate.

Ole Miss utilized the practice both on defense and offense. The most common time a fake injury benefits a defense is when the opposing offense is in a rhythm and running no-huddle plays. Offenses have also begun using the tactic to save valuable timeouts.

Any team that violates the policy faces a fine of $50,000 on the first offense, $100,000 on the second offense and a head coach suspension for one game on the third offense.

“I respect commissioner Sankey and what he sends out. We don’t condone that on our team or within our program, so we don’t have to address it. We just tell them that if they’re injured stay down and if not, you get up and go play. That’s just our philosophy,” Kirby Smart said about the SEC’s rule change.

Ole Miss not having the fake injury tactic (without punishment at least) certainly helps Georgia. The Bulldogs will need every advantage they can get against Ole Miss, which has the No. 1 scoring offense in the SEC (42.1 ppg).

Where Georgia ranks in ESPN’s FPI after Florida win

ESPN’s FPI rankings have Georgia football ranked in the top-5 again

ESPN’s FPI (Football Power Index) is out after Week 10. This week involved several high-profile upsets and escapes, making the rankings all the more interesting.

According to ESPN, FPI is defined as “a predictive rating system designed to measure team strength and project performance going forward.” In the FPI, nine of the top 25 teams are in the SEC, including six of the top twelve. The SEC is again looking like the best conference in college football

Georgia stayed put in the rankings after a 34-20 win over Florida where they played very inconsistently. Georgia fans were upset at how low they were placed after their 30-15 win over Texas (who is, by the way, still the No. 1 team on FPI), but this win didn’t prove them right. Georgia needed two fourth quarter touchdowns to finally pull away from Florida, who did not have their top two quarterbacks.

Interestingly enough, Alabama still ranks higher than Georgia. Alabama will get their mettle tested against LSU, another top 25 team in these rankings. There will be a lot riding on that matchup, with both teams threatened to fall out of the College Football Playoff picture with a third loss.

As mentioned, there were several matchups that impacted this list. Ohio State and Penn State battled it out in Happy Valley, with the Buckeyes putting an end to the Nittany Lions’ undefeated season in a 20-13 win. Iowa State and Clemson were both upset at home, putting their playoff dreams in serious doubt. Texas A&M got crushed by South Carolina’s rushing attack. Kansas State was also upset on the road against 3-5 Houston

Week 11 will feature some more exciting matchups. The biggest ones will be from the SEC, with Georgia heading to Oxford to play Ole Miss and the Alabama-LSU game.

ESPN’s FPI Top 25 after Week 10

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  1. Texas (26 FPI)
  2. Ohio State (25.9 FPI)
  3. Alabama (25.3 FPI)
  4. Georgia (23.1 FPI)
  5. Notre Dame (22.5 FPI)
  6. Ole Miss (22 FPI)
  7. Oregon (21.7 FPI)
  8. Tennessee (20.5 FPI)
  9. Miami (19.5 FPI)
  10. Indiana (19.3 FPI)
  11. Penn State (19 FPI)
  12. LSU (16 FPI)
  13. Clemson (14.9 FPI)
  14. Louisville (14.8 FPI)
  15. Texas A&M (14.5 FPI)
  16. SMU (14.1 FPI)
  17. USC (13.7 FPI)
  18. South Carolina (13.3 FPI)
  19. Boise State (13.1 FPI)
  20. Iowa (12.3 FPI)
  21. Iowa State (11.8 FPI)
  22. Kansas State (11.5 FPI)
  23. Colorado (10.7 FPI)
  24. Tulane (10.7 FPI)
  25. Florida (10.5 FPI)

Rece Davis releases college football rankings after Week 10

Rece Davis lowers the Georgia Bulldogs in his college football rankings after the Florida game

ESPN’s “College GameDay” analyst Rece Davis released his top 10 rankings after Week 10 of the college season. Davis has a vote for the Associated Press and agreed with the media consensus for his top team this week. He ranked the Oregon Ducks No. 1.

The Georgia Bulldogs, fresh off an unimpressive 34-20 win over Florida, fell to No. 3 in Davis’ rankings. Georgia is the highest-ranked team from the SEC because of its 30-15 win over Texas, but as time goes on, that benefit of the doubt could fade away.

If Georgia keeps looking suspect against conference noncontenders as it did against Florida, Kentucky and Mississippi State, it could negatively affect its ranking. Next week, UGA will be tested against Ole Miss, which was just outside of the top 10 of Rece Davis’ rankings at No. 14.

Of course, the biggest game last weekend was Ohio State-Penn State in the Big Ten. Undefeated Penn State was looking to beat the Buckeyes for the first time in a several years, but its offense couldn’t break through against Ohio State (as usual). The Nittany Lions even had several chances from inside the 5-yard line to score, but the Buckeyes buckled up, stopping Penn State and winning 20-13

A few new teams join Davis’s rankings.

Undefeated Indiana joins the list at No. 10. It continues to look impressive with the largest point differential in the Big Ten. Notre Dame, meanwhile, may simply be the beneficiary of circumstance. It was on a bye this past weekend. When Clemson and Iowa State were upset, the Fighting Irish sneaked in.

Week 11 will feature some great SEC bouts. Georgia will square off against Ole Miss, but the more consequential one is Alabama going against LSU. These teams have had up-and-down seasons. Alabama was the No. 1 team nationally after beating Georgia before falling on its face against Vanderbilt.

LSU looked like a shoo-in for the College Football Playoff before falling apart against Texas A&M. This will be a desperation matchup: The loser will almost certainly be out of the running for a berth in the SEC championship game.

Rece Davis’ top 10 college football rankings after Week 10

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  1. Oregon Ducks
  2. Ohio State Buckeyes
  3. Georgia Bulldogs
  4. Texas Longhorns
  5. Miami Hurricanes
  6. Penn State Nittany Lions
  7. Tennessee Volunteers
  8. BYU Cougars
  9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
  10. Indiana Hoosiers