When in doubt, look at the point spread. With the No. 5 Ole Miss Rebels coming into Athens, one would think the bookmakers would be giving them a bit more respect when taking on the No. 9 Georgia Bulldogs. Initially, the point spread started out at Georgia -6.5, but it has gone up to -7.5 in recent days. Again, the oddsmakers are trying to get even money on both sides of the point spread.
Before the line came out, this felt like a game where Georgia would be laying around 3.5 or 4.5 points, instead of the 6.5 and 7.5 spreads we have seen of late. Any time a line does not make sense, the oddsmakers might be onto something. It is not only Trinidad Chambliss' biggest game of his Ole Miss career, but it will only be the second time this season they have played away from Vaught-Hemingway.
On the year, Ole Miss is 6-0, but 5-0 in Oxford. While they wiped the floor with Georgia State and Tulane in the non-conference, those are Group of Five teams. Their other three home wins are 41-35 over Arkansas, 24-19 over LSU, and 24-21 over Washington State. As far as their only road game is concerned, they beat Kentucky 30-23 in Lexington. Georgia dominated Kentucky in Athens, 35-14.
Not only is Ole Miss largely unproven on the road, the Rebels are not winning by a ton at home either.
Ole Miss' impressive 6-0 record might only be held up by a house of cards
For as easy as it was to pile on Georgia for having a bad first half at Auburn, the Dawgs still won the game decidedly in the second half to improve to 5-1 with a thrilling 20-10 road victory. No, Georgia has not been a perfect team this year, far from it... However, what the Dawgs have had to navigate trumps anything teams like Ole Miss has faced. The LSU win is impressive, but that one was at home.
Overall, Ole Miss still feels like a playoff team, but not all playoff teams are created equally. The Rebels can afford a road loss to Georgia in Athens, so long as they do not lose two more games. While they will end up playing one of the softest schedules in the SEC, as well as being the only team in the league without a Power Four opponent in the non-conference, the Rebels should make it in at 10-2.
Ultimately, even if Georgia lost a few weeks ago at home to Alabama, that does not change the fact that Sanford Stadium is still one of the toughest places to play in the country as a visitor. College GameDay will be in Athens, and so will most of the sport's attention. What is important to know is the Rebels have not faced a team like Georgia yet, and it most certainly has not played one on the road.
If Ole Miss wins this game, then give the Rebels credit, but the odds are not in the favor to do this.