Getty Images
Atlanta will play host to the most intriguing matchup of the bowl season outside of the playoff games when the No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels, fresh off an Egg Bowl win over rival Mississippi State, take on the No. 6 Horned Frogs of TCU in the Peach Bowl. Gary Patterson’s squad is reeling from the inexplicable three position drop after a 52-point win that left the Horned Frogs out of the playoff, while the Rebels managed to salvage a season that was rapidly falling apart by playing spoiler and ruining State’s playoff dreams. When offense meets defense, a great battle typically ensues, and this one certainly fits the mold.
Ole Miss’ “Landshark” defense has been nothing short of spectacular this season, ranking first in the nation in scoring defense, but TCU’s high-powered offense, led by quarterback Trevone Boykin, provides a distinctly unique challenge for the Rebels. Boykin & Co. averaged 46.8 points per game during the regular season, and while the Rebels have faced high-scoring offenses with dual-threat quarterbacks earlier this year, TCU’s proficiency at lighting up the scoreboard, and opposing defenses, has been prodigious.
As good as TCU’s offense has been, however, the Ole Miss defense has been just as impressive. The Rebs are allowing a paltry 13.8 points per game and are as good as anybody in the country at stopping plays behind the line of scrimmage. Giving Robert Nkemdiche, Senquez Golson, Cody Prewitt and the rest of the Landshark defense a month to prepare is tantamount to a death sentence for any offense, and if the Rebels perform as they have all season, Ole Miss should be in excellent position to pull off the upset.
The real question as to whether or not the Rebels will be able to beat the Horned Frogs, however, lies with the play of Bo Wallace. Throughout his career, the only thing that has been consistent about Wallace’s play has been inconsistency. If “Good Bo” shows up, the Ole Miss offense should have little trouble moving the ball against a TCU pass defense that ranked 87th in the country. If it is “Bad Bo” and the turnovers start piling up, the Rebels will be in serious trouble.
If the game against Mississippi State is any indication that Ole Miss has turned the corner, then the Rebels have the potential to beat TCU and prove that the team that beat Alabama is back. Expect the Ole Miss defense to hold the Frogs to their lowest scoring total of the season, and if Bo doesn’t try to force too much, the Rebels should come out on top in a close one.
Final Score: Ole Miss 31, TCU 27
