OXFORD – For just the seventh time ever, Ole Miss and Georgia will meet as ranked opponents. And for just the second time, both teams are in the top 10.
No. 5 Ole Miss (6-0, 3-0 SEC) is one of two undefeated teams remaining in the SEC along with Texas A&M. No. 9 Georgia (5-1, 3-1), the defending SEC champion, has not lost to the Rebels at home since 1996 and saw its 33-game home winning streak snapped earlier this season against Alabama.
The Bulldogs are tied for 19th nationally with 17 points per game allowed and 26th with 307.2 yards per game allowed. Ole Miss is 20th nationally in scoring offense at 37.8 points per game and fifth in total offense at 515.3 yards per game. Here is a look at how Ole Miss’ offense matches up with Georgia’s defense.
In the passing game
Ole Miss senior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has started the last four games for Ole Miss and is 18th nationally in passing efficiency. He’s averaging 306.8 passing yards per game in four starts, which would lead the SEC had he held that average over the first two games of the season when redshirt sophomore Austin Simmons started. Chambliss is No. 1 in the SEC in both yards per completion and attempt (15.1, 9.9).
Georgia’s pass defense is 60th nationally at 215.5 yards per game allowed and is 64th nationally in passing efficiency defense. The Bulldogs’ eight touchdown passes allowed is tied for fifth-most in the SEC. Tennessee’s Joey Aguilar threw for 371 yards and four touchdowns against Georgia; SEC opponents are averaging 253.3 passing yards and two touchdowns per game through the air. Georgia has allowed one 100-yard receiver: Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell II (177 yards, three touchdowns).
The Bulldogs have had issues getting to the quarterback this season; Georgia averages 1.33 sacks per game, which is tied for 112th nationally. The Rebels have surrendered seven total sacks.
In the running game
Ole Miss’ Kewan Lacy is second in the SEC with 587 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. After averaging just under 176 yards per game rushing last season, Ole Miss is tied for 27th nationally with 204.3 yards per game. Lacy leads the Rebels with 15 rushes of at least 10 yards while Chambliss has 10 such runs, according to Pro Football Focus. Lacy has also forced 47 missed tackles.
Georgia has missed 17 tackles in run defense, per PFF, and has allowed just 11 runs of 10 or more yards all season (fourth-fewest nationally), according to CFBStats.com. The Bulldogs’ 91.7 rushing yards per game allowed is 17th in the FBS. Georgia has not allowed a 100-yard rusher this season; an Ole Miss player has run for at least 100 yards in four of six games.
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