Another week, another bombshell confrontation is on the way! Georgia Bulldogs are lacing up their shoes to fight off the No.16 Ole Miss in an intriguing match-up this weekend. The two powerhouses possess a very different reality at this point in time. While the Bulldogs exude SEC champion potential, questions remain about their two losses, and the Rebels are currently outside the top 12. So, it’s quite obvious if Lane Kiffin wants to beat Kirby’s squad, they need to play some unreal football, making history under the mix. But how feasible would the idea be?

On November 7th, Joel Klatt previewed the weekend’s biggest games on The Joel Klatt Show and delivered a stern reality check.”What generally happens in big games for Georgia? They show up,” Klatt said. “Their floor is so much higher than Ole Miss’s floor, and I just can’t trust Ole Miss to play that well for two straight weeks.” 

Georgia has their own issues to improve. Especially if we zoom out on their last match-up against the Florida Gators, the issues stretched beyond the 34-20 scoreboard. Quarterback Carson Beck’s repeated interceptions couldn’t let the game be a defensive statement for the Bulldogs. The internet trajectory turned into a viral meme house with people pulling off random humor over Beck’s awful performance. It was certainly a shadow over Smart’s week 10 brilliance. But as Klatt sees, it is still a petty hole compared to the Rebels’ bottom line.

“It’s going to be very ‘in Vogue’ to say, ‘Hey, Georgia’s been struggling a bit. Their quarterback, Carson Beck, just hasn’t looked like the Georgia we’re used to seeing. And look at Ole Miss. They’re coming off a game where their offense was on fire,’” Klatt explained, giving a balanced view of Ole Miss at their best and Georgia at their worst. But when it comes to actually beating the Bulldogs, that’s a different story. As Klatt pointed out himself, “they [Georgia] just show up” in big games. “Their floor is so much higher than Ole Miss’s floor. And I just can’t trust Ole Miss to play that well, two straight weeks,” the veteran CFB analyst noted.

Also adding to the woes, the Rebels released an odd injury report that sparked the controversy of Lane Kiffin feigning injuries. Multiple SEC giants have already petitioned for the same. Now, scrutiny pressure will add extra cynicism to the team ahead of their deciding clash. But Kirby Smart has some high words on the opponents’ remarkable growth in the defensive line.

Kirby Smart sang praise on Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss

Ole Miss might not be the favorite heading to their home clash against Georgia Bulldogs, but they have Pete Golding’s top-tier defense to rely on. You can agree with all the brownie points the Bulldogs got in their breakout season, but the Rebels still can make it to the playoff, pulling off an unthinkable feat with their ability to disrupt the backfield. The Revels showcased an equal grasp over the pass rush. Ole Miss, in fact, has the best record in NCAA history in terms of sacks and sack yardage, with 41 in the season for 256 yards. They posted a notable 10 sacks with 15 TFLs against Oklahoma and eight sacks with 13 TFLs against Arkansas.

Smart has studied that and appreciated the effort wholeheartedly. While the veteran coach sees their next endeavor as another rousing challenge on the card, he noted how Lane Kiffin did a commendable job in holding the defense together, getting some incredible talents on the board, and launching highly physical plays. ”These guys are disruptive, powerful, fast, tons of sacks, tons of tackles for loss,’‘ said the Georgia coach.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart gets a special mention from Smart as he recognized the explosive, highly aggressive playing style of the prized running back. ”A lot of respect for how he competes. You can tell he’s got a fiery, competitive attitude, just like his coach does, just like Lane does. So they have a lot of the same personality traits,” the Georgia HC said, keeping the enemy higher ahead of facing the crucial SEC clash.

What’s your take on the latest hopelessness the CFB analyst points out for Lane Kiffin and the team despite Smart’s big words? Let us know in the comments.