NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For the first time since the 2008 and 2009 seasons, Ole Miss is playing postseason football in back-to-back years. This time the Rebels (7-5, 3-5 Southeastern Conference) will take on the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech (7-5, 5-3 ACC) in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl. Kickoff is set for 2:15 p.m. Monday.
Ole Miss enters Monday’s matchup on a two-game skid, most notably a heartbreaking loss to in-state rival Mississippi State. Georgia Tech is also coming in off a loss to their in-state rival Georgia.
Both teams have had similar seasons leading up to this point. Ole Miss jumped out to an early 3-0 record, but then dropped it’s next three games before reeling off a four-game winning streak. The Yellow Jackets also took care of business in their first three games of the year, but then dropped three of their own, followed by a three-game winning streak, a loss, then their most recent win.
Although their overall records are the same, these two teams couldn’t be more different.
Ole Miss will bring their up-tempo spread offense to Nashville and hope to strike quickly, while Georgia Tech will counter with a triple-option attack that eats clock and methodically moves the ball down the field on the ground.
Leading the way for the Yellow Jacket offense is quarterback Vad Lee. Lee is a dual-threat player running the option and while only throwing for 1,414 yards this season, he was extremely efficient in the running game going for 489 yards and eight touchdowns. Lee struggled when forced to put the ball in the air, throwing nine interceptions and completing less than 50 percent of his passes.
Georgia Tech’s biggest offensive threat will come from the play of their running backs.
The Yellow Jackets had three running backs eclipse the 450-yard mark on the ground this season. David Sims will be the main man to watch coming out of the backfield. He was second on the team in carries to Lee, but led Georgia Tech in yards with 846 and touchdowns with 11.
Zach Laskey and Robert Godhigh will also be utilized in the backfield with Godhigh going for 694 yards on the year and Laskey adding 460. Both also found the end zone multiple times with Laskey scoring seven times and Godhigh recording six touchdowns.
For the Rebels, the focus will once again go to quarterback Bo Wallace. After an up and down season, Wallace finished with 3,090 yards through the air for 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Although Wallace led the team in rushing attempts, he didn’t do much damage only going for 269 yards and four touchdowns.
Ole Miss will look to awaken a dwindling rushing game that took a nosedive at the end of the season. Headlining the backfield will be sophomores I’Tavius Mathers and Jaylen Walton, who both gave solid efforts filling in for an injured Jeff Scott during the season. Mathers led the team with 505 yards on the year, while Walton added 470 of his own. Walton’s six touchdowns led the team, while Mathers tacked on three.
Scott, a senior who started this season off strong, was sidelined with a bone bruise in his back, but looks to be back in the mix for the season finale.
Perhaps the most versatile and threatening part of the Rebel offense though is the receivers. The Rebels will be without one of Wallace’s favorite targets, senior Ja-Mes Logan, for the game, but expect to see these others receivers continue to put in consistent play.
Freshman Laquon Treadwell led the way all season for Ole Miss with 67 catches for 557 yards and five touchdowns, in his first collegiate season and was named the SEC Freshman of the Year.
JuniorDonte Moncrief will look to continue his solid career after posting 53 catches for 825 yards and five touchdowns this year.
Also, according to multiple reports, the Rebels will get a huge pass catching threat back for the game in tight end Evan Engram. Engram only played in seven games this season before going down to injury and eventually having to have surgery. He finished with 20 catches for 265 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, both teams will be staring down a different beast. For Ole Miss, stopping the run will be their main objective, while Georgia Tech will look to contain the Rebels’ spread attack.
Junior linebacker Serderius Bryant and junior safety Cody Prewitt will lead the way for the Rebel defense. Both recorded 70 tackles on the year, a team high, and both will be crucial in filling gaps and containing the option come game day.
Ole Miss is also hoping that sophomore linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche will be back to 100 percent after battling injuries seemingly every week as the season progressed. In his nine games, he was able to record 34 tackles.
The Yellow Jackets will be leaning on safety Jemea Thomas to carry the load for them defensively. He finished with a team-high 73 tackles and also eight pass break-ups. However, the Rebels will have to deal with defensive end Jeremiah Attaochu, who had a huge year recording 15.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.
Linebackers Brandon Watts and Quayshawn Nealy will also most likely play a big role in the game finishing with 59 and 57 tackles on the year, respectively.
Kickoff from L.P. Field in Nashville, Tenn. is set for 2:15 p.m. Monday. The Game will be televised on ESPN.
For a position-by-position breakdown of Ole Miss and Georgia Tech, follow this links below.
Music City Breakdown: Quarterbacks
Music City Breakdown: Running Backs
Music City Breakdown: Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Music City Breakdown: Offensive Line
Music City Breakdown: Defensive Line
Music City Breakdown: Linebackers
Music City Breakdown: Secondary
Music City Breakdown: Special Teams
For continuing coverage of Ole Miss football, follow @SigNewton_2 and @thedm_sports on Twitter.
— Matt Sigler
mcsigler@go.olemiss.edu
