Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss
The VRBO FIESTA BOWL
Ole Miss Rebels (13-1) vs. Miami Hurricanes (12-2)
Tonight: 6:30 p.m. CT
STATE FARM STADIUM, Glendale, Az
Television: ESPN
Live Thread: OleMiss365.com
Our Fiesta Bowl coverage of the Ole Miss Rebels is brought to you by Visiting Angels of Northeast Mississippi, located at 334 North Spring Street, Tupelo, Miss. Contact them today at 662-432-1900.
OLEMISS365.com STAFF PREDICTIONS
THOMAS MICHAEL
I, unlike the oddsmakers in Vegas, think the Rebels are clearly the better team. Miami’s offense is led by Carson Beck, the former Georgia QB, and has been efficient if nothing else. From their defense we should expect to see plenty of pressure from their front seven, specifically Ruben Bain, in order to make up for their lack of depth at corner. The Rebels have to not allow themselves to get into 2nd or 3rd and long situations and keep their tempo up to counter the defensive front of Miami. On defense they must play physical and force their offense into uncomfortable situations.
Pete Golding and company are looking to continue a historic season, and I think they will. Give me the Rebels by 6, 34-28, in a game where it doesn’t feel as close as the scoreboard says.
LEE ANN HERRING
These two teams both possess lethal components that can be dangerous if executed effectively. The Rebels are in a strong position with their offense leading the charge. Controlling the game and maintaining a high tempo will be crucial to wearing down the Canes’ defensive ends quickly. An additional factor to consider is Kewan Lacy and the Ole Miss offensive line, particularly right guard Patrkic Kutas. Expect Lacy to run behind Kutas on inside zone and power concepts—this has been the secret sauce for the Rebels’ success, and Lacy has thrived as a result.
While Miami boasts some elite edge rushers, their weakness lies in their interior defense, which lacks strong run stoppers—a vulnerability Ole Miss can exploit. Although the Canes are generally solid against the run, they struggle specifically against inside zone plays on their right side. Lacy has been on fire lately, racking up 10 rushing touchdowns and 15 explosive runs over the last five games.
Ultimately, this matchup hinges on Chambliss’s ability to evade pressure and connect on explosive plays. If he succeeds, I believe that Ole Miss’s bend-don’t-break defense will force Carson Beck into some critical mistakes, paving the way for a potential National Championship appearance for the Rebels. Diego Poinds has been exceptional in pass protection this season, allowing no sacks while only yielding five pressures against SEC opponents. Rebel right tackle Hayden Williams has also proven formidable, allowing just two sacks all season and four pressures in his last six matchups.
Combine that with Chambliss’s Houdini-like ability to escape pressure and make big plays—he’s shown he can dismantle a Cover 3 defense with ease—and you have a recipe for success. The Canes have struggled with tackling this season, missing 25 tackles and allowing eight explosive plays against teams like Texas A&M and Ohio State. Chambliss has excelled in clutch moments during passing situations with multiple targets at his disposal, including De Zhaun Stribling, who could easily exploit weaknesses among Miami’s middle linebackers.
Now let’s discuss that bend-and-break defense; it’s another key element for victory. The Rebel defense has been solid against passing attacks, rarely allowing explosive plays. Carson Beck hasn’t generated many big plays throughout the season, and I doubt he’ll find enough opportunities to break through Ole Miss’s pass defense to outscore Chambliss.
Defense will undoubtedly be crucial here; however, this game will ultimately come down to which team can put points on the board more effectively. I lean toward Ole Miss—not just because of their stronger offense but also due to their solid offensive line play and superior tackling abilities.
Don’t get me wrong; there may be moments when Miami surprises us with big plays that could shift momentum. Still, I don’t believe they have enough explosiveness to outlast Ole Miss on both sides of the ball. My prediction? Ole Miss takes it 33-23 over Miami.
DARBY MCRAINIE
Ole Miss feels like a team of destiny. Every time the stage has expanded this season, the Rebels haven’t flinched; they’ve elevated. The lights get brighter, the opponent gets louder, and Ole Miss responds with its most complete football. Momentum matters in January football, and right now the Rebels have it in waves. They’re playing loose, physical, and connected, the kind of team that knows exactly who they are and they don’t care about the logo on the helmet of their opponent.
Miami will have answers early, but sustaining four quarters against this version of Ole Miss is a different challenge altogether. The Rebels’ strike when it matters most tilt the game late, where belief becomes the separator. When it tightens in the fourth quarter, Ole Miss has proven it can finish and finish with fireworks. SPOT THE DANG BALL, Rebels take the Fiesta Bowl, 34–27, and keep a season of destiny rolling.
DAVID JOHNSON
I won’t keep you long. Ole Miss is in the midst of a fairytale season and in fairytales, the good guys always win. There are heroes Pete Golding and Trinidad Chambliss, who were the unlikeliest of characters to sit on the throne of college football glory way back in August. The villain is obvious…Lane Kiffin, who turned away from his troops like Benedict Arnold.
What does any of this have to do with tonight’s game?
Nothing.
And everything.
Ole Miss wins what I believe will be a pretty competitive contest. I’m going 28-17 Rebels. The fairytale continues.
