10-Point Checkup with Dr. SEC – Ole Miss

Photo: Perry McIntyre Jr.

The Georgia Bulldogs will attempt to remain undefeated this week as they head to Ole Miss as underdogs despite being ranked No. 11 in the nation. Although Georgia has owned this series historically, the Rebels have been on the rise under Hugh Freeze.

As you prepare for this weekend’s game, here are ten little-known facts about this game and the series historically.

1. Ole Miss is no longer an afterthought. At No. 21 in the coaches’ poll and No. 23 in the AP poll, Ole Miss is ranked for the 36th time in the last 37 rankings.

2. Only two other teams in the FBS have been defeated this season after holding a 21+ lead. However, Ole Miss did it against both. No. 4 Florida State (45-34) and No. 1 Alabama (48-43) this season.

3. This is the 46th meeting between Ole Miss and Georgia. The Bulldogs hold a 32-12-1 all-time series lead including winning the past 10-games consecutively.

4. Georgia enters the game ranked #11. Ole Miss is 10-14 against ranked teams under Hugh Freeze, including a 4-10 record against top-10 foes and 3-5 vs. top-five opponents.

5. The schedule doesn’t get any easier for Ole Miss as they play ten bowl teams from last year. That is tied for second-most in the country.

6. Chad Kelly had the third-most passing yards (4,042) and total yards (4,542) in SEC history last year. He is on another record pace this season including 469 yards last week against Alabama.

7. A lot of attention is given to senior QB Chad Kelly as he leads the SEC with ten passing touchdowns, but TE Evan Engram leads all TE’s in the nation with 20 catches and 302 receiving yards.

8. While UGA has been in a special teams funk, Ole Miss kicker/punter Gary Wunderlich converted all three field goal attempts from 23, 18, and 38 yards last week against Alabama and also punted three times for a 54.7-yard average.

9. There will be familiar faces on the opposing sideline for at least two sets of players Saturday. Ole Miss senior long snapper Will Few and Georgia senior tailback Brendan Douglas were high school teammates at Aquinas High School in Augusta, Georgia. Also, Ole Miss freshman walk-on defensive end Ty Reyes and Georgia redshirt freshman place-kicker Rodrigo Blankenship were teammates at Sprayberry High School in Marietta, Georgia.

10. Former Georgia linebacker (2009-2012) and Ole Miss graduate assistant Christian Robinson will face off against his Alma Mater for the first time. Robinson was also a graduate assistant at UGA and as a player racked up 159 tackles and 22.5 tackles for loss.