Many football fans would have argued that Georgia knew who their first opponent would be in the College Football Playoff since the official playoff bracket was revealed. The Ole Miss Rebels were luckily matched up with Tulane in the first round of the playoff and they were nearly three touchdown favorites. But Ole Miss had to play without former head coach Lane Kiffin for the first time, so anything was possible.
But everyone still assumed Ole Miss would be Georgia's first opponent in the playoff, and those predictions came true as the Rebels beat Tulane 41-10 to setup a rematch in the CFP quarterfinals.
Georgia vs Ole Miss rematched confirmed in the College Football Playoff
Georgia and Ole Miss have already played once this season. That game took place in Athens on Oct. 18 and was one of the biggest games of the season in all of college football. Ole Miss was undefeated and a top five team in the country while Georgia was still looking to move up the rankings after their loss to Alabama earlier in the season. Thankfully Georgia got the win they needed by a 43-35 final score.
This victory did not come easy for Georgia. The Bulldogs offense was dominant all game long, but it was their defense that really let the team down. Ole Miss scored a touchdown on their first five possessions of the game and it didn't look like Georgia was going to be able to stop them. But the defense finally woke up in the fourth quarter and got enough stops to help Georgia win.
Since that victory Georgia's defense has begun playing much better. Georgia's offense has continued to play just as well as well. But the biggest change from the first matchup is obvious as Ole Miss no longer has Kiffin roaming their sideline.
Will that motivate the Rebels enough to pull off this upset? Or will Georgia cruise to an easy victory? Both outcomes are very possible, but the edge has to be given to Georgia who is one of the hottest teams in all of college football and the only team to beat Ole iss this season.