No. 6 Ole Miss will laned in Glendale, Arizona on Tuesday afternoon ahead of Thursday’s Fiesta Bowl against No. 10 Miami.
The Rebels remain the underdog in the eyes of oddsmakers for the College Football Playoff semifinal game. But a spread of 3.5 points is close to being a tossup.
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One reason why the Hurricanes are favored is their defense. Ole Miss will face the best defense its seen all season that ranks No. 4 in scoring defense (13.07 ppg) and No. 10 total defense (285.1).
“They have a great defense, very physical,” Ole Miss wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling said about Miami’s defense. “They run to the ball very well. They’re very good at the D-line position also, so just looking forward to the challenge and grateful for the opportunity.”
Miami’s defense ranks very similar to Oklahoma in most statistical categories and the Rebels found success against the Sooners in Norman, Okla.
“There’s schematically differences, but this reminds me very much of, like, those great Seattle Seahawks teams, that you don’t have to go out there and try to confuse them because whatever you do, all right, they’ve seen a thousand times,” Ole Miss quarterbacks coach Joe Judge said. “They know how to cover the routes. They know how to match the things. They know what’s coming their way. They don’t do too much that they’re going to be confused when you present them something different. But they get off. They play fast.”
One thing helping out the Rebels is they have one of the two best offenses Miami has faced (Notre Dame is the other). It should make for a fascinating matchup in a little more than 48 hours.
Student-Athlete Availability Report
Miami
Out
- LB #9 Malik Bryant
- WR #13 Daylyn Upshaw
Questionable
- DB #2 Damari Brown
- DL #44 Cole McConathy II
- DL #99 Ahmad Moten Sr.
Probable
- DB #29 OJ Frederique Jr.
Ole Miss
Out
- CB #13 Cedrick Beavers
- LB #34 Raymond Collins
- OL #76 John Wayne Oliver
Questionable
- DE #5 Kam Franklin
Probable
- TE #4 Caleb Odom
- RB #5 Kewan Lacy
- TE #8 Dae’Quan Wright
- WR #19 Cayden Lee
- CB #28 Dante Core
How to Watch: No. 10 Miami vs. No. 6 Ole Miss
- Who: No. 10 Miami Hurricanes (12-2) vs. No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels (13-1)
- When: 6:30 p.m., Thursday
- Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
- TV: ESPN
- Radio: Live Radio
- Stats: Live Stats
- Series History: Ole Miss leads all-time series 2-1
- Last Meeting: Miami 20, Ole Miss 7 (1951)
- Last time out, Rebels: def. No. 3 Georgia, 39-34
- Last time out, Hurricanes: def. No. 2 Ohio State, 24-14
Odds, Spread, Totals
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Spread
- Miami: -3.5 (-102)
- Ole Miss: +3.5 (-120)
Moneyline
- Miami: -164
- Ole Miss: +138
Total
- Over: 51.5 (-115)
- Under: 51.5 (-105)
