No. 2 Georgia visits No. 16 Ole Miss team that faces must-win situation for playoffs, SEC title

Lane Kiffin typically steers clear of talk astir playoffs and championships. This week is an exception.

There's nary sugarcoating nan business facing Kiffin and No. 16 Mississipp i: They person to triumph retired to support those postseason hopes intact, starting Saturday pinch powerhouse No. 2 Georgia.

“I told our players -- because they perceive it each nan clip -- you still person that worldly alive,” Kiffin said. “In my opinion, anybody that’s going to triumph it is going to person to spell done Georgia astatine immoderate point. They’re nan premier programme successful assemblage football.”

The Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference, No. 3 CFP) person won 2 of nan past 3 nationalist titles and already toppled then-No. 1 Texas. Only a nonaccomplishment to Alabama mars their record.

The Rebels (7-2, 3-2, No. 16) person dropped 2 games by a section extremity apiece to Kentucky and LSU.

They're coming disconnected a record-setting violative capacity successful a 63-31 triumph complete Arkansas. But starring rusher Henry Parrish Jr. is retired and prima receiver Tre Harris — who hasn't played successful nan past 2 games — is listed arsenic doubtful pinch injuries connected nan SEC's readiness report.

Ole Miss will beryllium without Parrish. Georgia's apical moving back, Trevor Etienne, near past week’s triumph against Florida pinch a rib injury. He wasn't included connected nan readiness report.

“The large point is conscionable his expertise to prolong and woody pinch a small spot of symptom because he’s going to person immoderate there,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “But he’s a reliable kid, and I deliberation he’ll do good pinch it.”

Ole Miss had Ulysses Bentley IV, Matt Jones and Domonique Thomas down Parrish. Parrish has 678 yards and 10 touchdowns. Etienne has 453 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns.

Georgia backmost Carson Beck has 3 consecutive games pinch aggregate interceptions. Kiffin manages to put a affirmative rotation connected that, figuring it's a fixable problem for a talented passer.

“Versus immoderate group astir nan state wherever you go, well, they protect nan shot but nan backmost can’t make nan throws,” nan Ole Miss coach said. “It’s a bully problem to have.”

Mississippi backmost Jaxson Dart collapsed Archie Manning's schoolhouse grounds pinch 562 full yards (515 passing, 47 rushing) successful nan Rebels’ triumph astatine Arkansas. He besides had six touchdown passes.

“This guy’s playing uncanny shot erstwhile you talk astir nan accuracy, nan completion percentage, nan yards he’s throwing it for,” Smart said. “He’s not throwing dink and dunk passes now. This guy’s throwing nan shot vertical down nan field, shots. Then let’s opportunity you screen each that, and you do that, he tin return disconnected and run.”

Jordan Watkins had 254 receiving yards and 5 touchdown catches.

Smart continues to person occurrence erstwhile leaving nan discourtesy connected nan section connected 4th downs. Georgia has been successful connected 11 of 13 4th downs this play for an 85% complaint that leads nan SEC. The Bulldogs person scored 2 touchdowns connected fourth-down plays, including 1 by Etienne against Texas.

In Smart’s 9 seasons astatine Georgia, nan Bulldogs person a 64% occurrence complaint connected 4th down (74 of 115) pinch 12 touchdowns.

The Bulldogs won past season's gathering 52-17, prompting Kiffin to bespeak connected nan talent spread connected nan violative and protect fronts.

They person decidedly made immoderate upgrades connected nan protect statement pinch players for illustration Walter Nolen and Princely Umanmielen, and astatine linebacker pinch Chris Paul Jr.

“We're a batch different there,” Kiffin said, “and hopefully that will thief us.”

Smart said of nan Rebels' protect linemen: “Big humans. Large, accelerated humans and immovable objects pinch twitch and twist."

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AP Sports Writer Charles Odum successful Athens, Georgia, contributed to this report.

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