Allstate Sugar Bowl Prediction: Georgia vs Ole Miss II on Tap

The College Football Playoff saves the best game for last. Well, I guess that depends on your perspective, but the SEC did send five teams to the Playoff this year. Depending on how it goes in Pasadena, Georgia, or Ole Miss could be the only one left from the conference in which it just means more. The Allstate Sugar Bowl will be the second meeting of the year between these two teams. The October clash was a barn burner that saw Ole Miss’s failure to convert three fourth-quarter drives proving the difference in Georgia’s 43-35 win.

This will be the second straight trip to New Orleans for Georgia in the CFB Playoff quarterfinals. Last year’s matchup against Notre Dame was rather forgettable. Gunnar Stockton made his first career start, and the offense could get nothing going against the Irish. A 57-second span between the end of the second quarter and the start of the third quarter put the game out of reach for Georgia. For Kirby Smart, that was last year. The 2025 Georgia team is new and different. This has passed their test on the road in Tennessee and at home against two of the three at Ole Miss and Texas, and won a second straight SEC Championship.

Let’s take a look at what Georgia fans can expect from Ole Miss and Georgia as they prepare for Thursday’s game.

Matchup: Georgia vs. Ole Miss
History: Georgia leads the series 34-13-1.
Last Meeting: The Dawgs defeated the Rebels 43-35 in Athens in October.
Date and Time: Thursday, Jan. 1st | 7:00 PM EST
Location: Caesars Superdome | New Orleans, Louisiana
Television: ABC
Spread: #GoDawgs – 6.5

The Rebels were famously jilted at the CFB Playoff altar when Lane decided to take his talents to Baton Rouge. As shocking as it was to see a coach with multiple 10-win seasons and on the verge of a historic run for a program that has largely played outside the upper echelon of the SEC, the Rebels haven’t blinked. Sure, it hurt to lose Lane. He is a cult persona of college football. His schtick played well as the thorn in the SEC and CFB’s side. This is now Pete Golding’s team. He is not Lane, but we found out in an early press conference that he has just as much edge, but with different packaging. “I’m not changing who I am. I ain’t changing what the hell I wear. I’m not going to yoga. I ain’t doing any of that shit. I am who I am. We’re going to roll.”

The key to Ole Miss rolling in the Allstate Sugar Bowl will be the health of running back Kewan Lacy. Lacy is one of the most dynamic backs in the conference and will help take some of the pressure off Rebel quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. The Missouri transfer set an Ole Miss single-season record with 21 rushing touchdowns and over 1,300 yards, earning First Team All-SEC honors. He was banged up with an upper-body injury in the first round matchup against Tulane.

Young Sightings: Colbie Young has been out with an injury since the first quarter of the Ole Miss game. The Georgia receiver has been seen taking reps in practice this week. Young was a favorite target of Gunner Stockton this year. He was a key in helping Georgia stretch the field on offense. Young has 23 receptions for 336 yards and 1 touchdown in seven games, good for a cool 14.6 yards per catch.

Stockton on Round 2s: As we mentioned earlier, Stockton will appear in his second straight Allstate Sugar Bowl. Judging from his comments this week, the Dawgs QB1 is locked in. “I’ve had a best taste in my mouth to be honest ever since. I don’t handle losses too well.” This will also be the second time that Stockton will play against Ole Miss this year. OC Mike Bobo had high praise for his quarterback’s first matchup against the Rebels. “We had a mantra in that game that we’re going to go out and play free, and I thought he went out there and played free… Whether he has a good play or a bad play, Gunner is kind of the same.” Stockton played out in the second half and was a big reason why Georgia was able to overcome the double-digit comeback in the fourth quarter.

This game will be a battle. These are two of the top teams in the SEC. The crowd may tip in the scales of Ole Miss, with the Rebels being just five and a half hours away. Georgia has continued to answer the bell on offense and defense. Along with Ohio State and Oregon, is one of three teams with the tools to win it all. Lacy’s status will be key to keeping Ole Miss in the game. If he is out, then Georgia may turn this one sideways. Even with Lacy in the game, Georgia will find the stops necessary to punch their ticket and meet O-H-I-O in the Fiesta Bowl on January 8th.