Bowl season still has a few more intriguing games before it officially ends. Among those is the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. This year’s clash in the Gator Bowl gives us Ole Miss taking on Duke, in the first-ever meeting between the two. With two programs that have different feelings about the way their seasons have gone, despite both being 9-3, there’s no question this should be an intriguing matchup.
For the Duke Blue Devils, the season has been reasonably successful. Their 9-3 record features two losses coming to top-15 teams in SMU and Miami. The other loss came to a Georgia Tech team that ended the season with a winning record of 7-6.
On the other side, the season for Ole Miss has objectively been a disappointment. They came into the year with championship aspirations and seemed like a near lock to make the College Football Playoff. Instead, they come in with a 9-3 record, including a horrible loss to Kentucky. While many may argue bowl games are meaningless, for the Rebels this year, the Gator Bowl is massive. A loss to Duke would be a disaster, yet another blow in what has turned into a bad year. A win would allow them to at least enter the offseason with a bit of momentum.
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Preview
What To Expect From Duke
Coming into this one, the Blue Devils will be starting at a disadvantage. Their starting quarterback Maalik Murphy entered the transfer portal almost as soon as it opened. Then, making matters worse, their primary backup, Grayson Loftis, also entered the portal. That means Henry Belvin is set to get the nod, in what will be only his second career start. For Belvin, going up against what has been one of the country’s top defenses is certain to be one of the biggest challenges of his career.
But quarterback isn’t the only position the Blue Devils will be missing a key player. Their leading running back, Star Thomas, also decided to opt out of the bowl game. Without their starting quarterback and running back, the offense is likely going to have a difficult time moving the ball and getting points on the board.
On defense, things look better and more promising. The Duke defense has been solid all year long and come into this one with fewer opt-outs. But they are going to be asked to stop one of the nation’s best offenses. And with the potential struggles on offense, the pressure will be even greater for the defensive side of the ball. For the Blue Devils, whether the defense can handle that pressure is arguably the biggest question for this one.
Which Ole Miss Team Shows Up?
Arguably the biggest question mark for the game from either side is figuring out which Ole Miss team shows up. If the Rebels come out motivated and want to make a statement about missing the playoffs, there’s a good chance they win this one relatively easily. If they come out flat and look as if they’re just ready for the season to be over, then they are quickly going to find themselves on upset alert.
For Ole Miss fans, the good news is that they do seem to be motivated. The Rebels have seen a minimal number of opt-outs for the bowl game, seeming to suggest that they want to make a statement. Quarterback Jaxson Dart has announced that he’ll suit up in red and blue one last time. Receiver Jordan Watkins and tight end Caden Prieskorn have done the same. On the defensive side, high-end NFL prospects Trey Amos and Walter Nolen both announced they’ll be playing their final collegiate game in the Gator Bowl.
If focused, this means the defense should be able to largely stifle a short-handed Duke offense. On offense, expect Lane Kiffin to give Dart plenty of chances to shine one last time at the college level. This should mean plenty of passing yards and points for the Rebels.
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Bottom Line and Prediction
This matchup almost certainly comes down to how badly Ole Miss decides they want it. The defense should be able to have success against a severely depleted Duke offense. And without any major opt-outs, the Rebel offense should look similar to what we saw during the regular season. More often than not, that was a unit that outmatched most opponents they played.
In the end, as unfortunate as it may be, opt-outs prove to be the difference maker here. If both teams were coming in with full participation, there’s a good chance this would be a great matchup. However, with Duke playing as a shell of the team we saw in the regular season, they simply don’t have enough weapons to keep it all that close. Expect the Rebels to win this one with relatively few problems.
Ole Miss 41, Duke 17
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