Georgia football has clear advantage over Ole Miss in Sugar Bowl
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
The Georgia Bulldogs have one clear statistical advantage over the Ole Miss Rebels in the Sugar Bowl. Georgia‘s superior run defense made a big impact in the Bulldogs’ 43-35 regular season win over Ole Miss. The Bulldogs and Rebels have similar stats in several categories including turnover margin, rushing offense and scoring defense.
Georgia’s run defense is ranked No. 4 in the country and is allowing just 79.2 yards per game while Ole Miss’ run defense is allowing 147.8 yards per game, which is No. 68 in the country. Georgia outrushed Ole Miss 221 to 88 in the first meeting, which is a big reason why the Bulldogs won despite Ole Miss scoring touchdowns on the Rebels’ first five possessions.
The silver lining for Ole Miss’ rushing attack is that the Rebels scored four rushing touchdowns including two from star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. Ole Miss star running back Kewan Lacy is banged up with a shoulder injury ahead of the Sugar Bowl, but he’s expected to play. Georgia coach Kirby Smart does not think that the Rebels will be too different from the first meeting.
“Defensively, people don’t give them (Ole Miss) enough credit for disruption and the way they move and stunt and do things up front,” Smart said. “They play a lot of guys up front. They play really hard.
” I don’t know that I can say there’s a ton of change. We haven’t changed that much. If you’re a good team you do what you do and you do it well. You don’t trick people. You go out and you beat them with what you do best.”
Ole Miss’ run defense is certainly not what the Rebels do best. Ole Miss and new head coach Pete Golding will look to slow down Georgia’s running attack more in this meeting against Georgia. The Rebels’ passing attack has enough firepower to overcome some issues in the run game, but Ole Miss has to stop the run better on New Year’s Day to beat Georgia.
Follow UGA Wire on Instagram or Threads for more Georgia football coverage!
This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Georgia football’s biggest advantage vs. Ole Miss
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos