GAME DAY: #2 (#3) GEORGIA BULLDOGS AT #16 (#16) OLE MISS REBELS (2024-11-09)

A calm chilly 40° morning here in the Queen City as Week 11 commences and big boy college football is on deck. Unlike previous years, under the new 12 team playoff format, it feels like college football is just ramping up now towards an action packed next two months.

I don’t think the “take” on this game today is a complicated one. A lot has been said on here and all throughout the media from any sports journalist with an opinion that Carson Beck absolutely must play better. This game is a make-or-break game for him and I do believe this is one of those weird games that falls into the ‘pivotal game’ category. Teams run into these games now and again where they’re facing adversity and either are going to rise above it or its going to derail their season. This feels like this kind of game. I for one am cheering for Beck because we have no other option - Kirby is going to ride or die with him, so any discussion of our QB room is a moot point unless Beck gets injured so badly that they can’t inject him, cast him, or prop him up back on the field. I am rooting for Beck to make a huge bounce back this game.

This is a huge game, a psychological game, and a back-against-the-wall / season-on-the-line game for Ole Miss. They lose this game with 3 regular season losses and I just don’t see any avenue to a playoff berth for Ole Miss, so that’s going to give them extra juice for this game. The problem for Ole Miss is that while Lane has coached well in these type of games, these games are the ones that have repeatedly gotten away from him and he has lost. Lane has a bit of James Franklin syndrome when it comes to the big time matchups; He just hasn’t had great success in winning over the years he’s been at Ole Miss. Ole MIss’s offense is a machine in the SEC right now. Jaxson Dart is a complete beast, throwing last week for 515 yards and 6 TDs against Arkansas. Ole Miss is going to keep our defense on its heels all game and would love to turn this into a shootout because they would absolutely believe that turns the tables in favor of them. The two losses that Ole Miss has taken this year against Kentucky & LSU, Dart was under pressure from a swarming defense in both of those games. Our defense can deliver that kind of performance on steroids today, so I don’t expect to see Dart making highlight reels.

What do I think? I am taking Georgia to win this game until someone else other than Alabama beats us. Kirby has a platinum track record in these huge adversity games and Kiffin does not. I know it is worn out, tired, and almost cliché at this point to say this - but we absolutely cannot continue turning the ball over 3 times and expect to win these games. I don’t think Beck has to light the world on fire today, I think he needs to be efficient and smart. A 250 yard 2 touchdown day is plenty enough and let the ground game do the rest.

GO DAWGS! GATA! SIC EM! 

Game & Broadcast Info

• Kickoff: Saturday, November 9 – 3:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (64,038) | Oxford, Miss.
• 2024 Records: Georgia (7-1, 5-1 SEC), Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2 SEC)
• 2024 Rankings: Georgia #2/2, Ole Miss #16/12
• TV: ABC (Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy, Molly McGrath)
• Video Stream:  ESPN+
• Radio: 95.5 FM WSB – Bulldog Network |  Affiliates  | Scott Howard (PxP), Eric Zeier (Color), DJ Shockley (sideline)
• Audio Stream:  georgiadogs.com
• Satellite: Sirius/XM: 80
• Web Stats:  georgiadogs.com
• Twitter: #UGAvsMISS
• SECN ReBroadcast: 11/13: 2:30-5:30am ET; 11/13: 10p-1am ET
• History:  Georgia vs. Ole Miss All-Time Series Results: UGA 33-13-1
• Last Meeting: UGA won 52-17 in Athens, Ga., 11/11/2023

Beck has to have some players around him step up.

The RB room is very thin; Frazier, Cash, and a banged up and probably very limited Etienne. I would say we could use Bell a bit, but that leads us to our next topic: The thin and dropsy prone WR room.

There as well we have seen multiple preseason and in season losses and suspensions.

We probably need to use quick short passes as an extension of the running game, but teams are sort of on the old bubble and tunnel screens. We shall see if Bobo has something else he can bring out.

We really need to have Smith make a couple of explosive plays, and get some good work out of our TE's.

Start fast for a change... contain them on D... stop the turnovers.

God Bless and Go Dawgs

Is Thorson punting short intentionally? 

So far everything I said we needed isn't happening.

We tried the stupid bubble screen as an extension of the run game and they were all over it.

Dropped pass and pass catch not made.

Smith and the TE's.

So far play calling is "not to lose" vs confident and aggressive.

D is leaving players completely uncovered.

Better wake up!

Oh well, nothing to say!