Miami and Ole Miss are chasing historical past within the School Soccer Playoff. Ole Miss has already damaged the varsity file with 13 wins, and is nearer than ever earlier than to successful the varsity’s first solo nationwide title. Miami has bucked expectations, sneaking into the playoff and navigating probably the most tough postseason path to achieve the semifinals.
It is the ACC vs. SEC, a high-flying offense towards a big-time protection. It is The U towards The New. Regardless of who wins, the victor will land within the nationwide championship as an unlikely participant.
Merely put, No. 10 Miami vs. No. 6 Ole Miss does not get a lot better when it comes to stakes and storylines. The Rebels might win a nationwide title with out Lane Kiffin, who bolted city for rival LSU — and grabbed a couple of Ole Miss assistants — earlier than the playoff. Miami can cap its long-gestating return to glory beneath alum Mario Cristobal, who left Oregon three years in the past to carry his alma mater again on the nationwide stage.
Neither staff is brief on superstars. Quarterback Carson Beck is probably the most correct passer remaining within the playoffs. Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss went from a Division II nationwide champion to a backup on the Rebels’ bench to maybe probably the most electrical participant within the postseason. Georgia could not sustain with him within the quarterfinals as he led the Rebels to an exhilarating, 39-34 comeback victory.
Miami’s protection has been a brick wall, permitting solely 17 complete factors in wins towards Texas A&M and Ohio State within the CFP. They sacked cell quarterback Marcel Reed seven instances on the street. Julian Sayin, the nation’s most correct passer, could not choose up first downs.
The Fiesta Bowl pits two of probably the most fascinating tales within the CFP.
Miami vs. Ole Miss: Must know for Fiesta Bowl
Trench warfare: Miami’s postseason run has been highlighted by the unimaginable move rush offered by Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, who’ve helped lead the nation’s greatest sack-producing protection. The Hurricanes have 12 sacks in two playoff video games and have recorded not less than 4 sacks in 4 straight video games, pushing their complete to 46 for the season. Their stress price can also be an elite 40.5%. Ole Miss solely permits 1.3 sacks per recreation, rating within the prime 20 nationally, and truly ranks behind Ohio State, which gave up six sacks to Miami. Nonetheless, the distinction for the Rebels is quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, whose mobility stored Georgia out of attain. The Bulldogs had zero sacks and solely three tackles for loss within the quarterfinals. Ole Miss is sacked on solely 3.1% of move performs, rating seventh nationally.
Championship pedigrees: Ole Miss has by no means received a solo nationwide title, and Miami is chasing its first since 2001, however championship-worthy quarterbacks lead each groups of their pursuit of historical past. Chambliss led Ferris State to a Division II nationwide title final season earlier than transferring to Ole Miss. Carson Beck is 36-5 in his profession, together with a 15-3 file towards ranked opponents. He is the primary quarterback to win that many video games over three years since 2012-14 (Marcus Mariota). Beck has accomplished 74.4% of his passes, however within the final two video games, he is thrown for fewer than 150 yards for the primary time in his profession as a starter. Chambliss has thrown for 300-plus yards in eight video games this season, together with a profession excessive within the win final week towards Georgia.
Which elite operating again steps up?: Prepare for a run-off in Arizona. Miami’s Mark Fletcher Jr. has been a bull within the playoffs, particularly late in video games, dashing for 262 yards within the postseason to rank fourth all-time in CFP historical past. Ole Miss’ Kewan Lacy is a scoring machine, recording dashing touchdowns within the final eight video games whereas choosing up an unimaginable 877 yards over that span. Lacy’s 23 dashing touchdowns rank third in SEC historical past, behind two Alabama operating backs who received nationwide titles of their respective seasons.
The place to observe Miami vs. Ole Miss dwell
Date: Thursday, Jan. 8 | Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: State Farm Stadium — Glendale, Arizona
TV: ESPN | Reside stream: Fubo (Strive free of charge)
Miami vs. Ole Miss prediction, picks
If Miami struggles to have an effect on Trinidad Chambliss within the pocket, the Rebels win. If the Rebels cannot shield their quarterback towards defensive ends Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, the Hurricanes win. Chambliss has escaped stress a lot of the season, however so had Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed earlier than Miami sacked him seven instances within the first spherical. Ole Miss’ protection is stable however not elite, which ought to permit the Hurricanes to attain not less than three touchdowns with a large number of stars who’ve been stored at bay towards two elite defenses within the CFP. Ole Miss has scored 30-plus in eight straight video games. Choose: Over 51.5
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