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Turn the volume up on some REM, get an order in at the Varsity, and dodge the downtown panhandlers - it’s time for a road trip to Athens.
Trips to Athens, Ga. have been kind to head coach Kermit Davis early on in his Ole Miss career as he sports a 2-0 record against the Bulldogs on the road. Georgia beat Ole Miss in Oxford, 78-74, as it shot 75 percent from the field in the second half to surge to a win over the Rebels.
Georgia (9-6, 2-6 SEC) has since gone 1-2 including a win over a down Kentucky team, a single digit loss to rival Florida and a blowout loss at Sakerlina (what?).
To put it bluntly, Ole Miss (8-7, 3-5 SEC) has got to avenge the earlier loss this season. Georgia is not a squad who will be piling up wins down the stretch, and the Rebels have show the ability to make scoring runs against the Bulldogs.
The latest NET rankings put Ole Miss at No. 69 (nice), and Georgia sits at No. 118. The home loss already has caused problems, but a road win, especially by double digits, would negate some of that impact. I bring up the NET rankings, because it is the measuring stick the NCAA Tournament Committee will use to select teams for March Madness. Ole Miss is eighth in the SEC in the NET rankings, though there are several games left against the top half of the conference for improvement.
Am I crazy enough to believe Ole Miss can string enough wins together to get on the bubble? Yes, its called being a fan for Pete’s sake, but it all starts with today’s game, which is winnable.
Vegas has given a slight edge to the Rebels on the road by a few points. If the Rebels are to pull off the win, it will again need Devontae Shuler to lead the team in points, Jarkel Joiner to drop 15-20 points, and Romello White to snatch a double double. This is the three man core put in place by coach Davis to get through SEC play, and whether it produces or not will dictate how successful the team is through its last nine games.
Odds
Line: Ole Miss -3.5
Over/Under: 142
How to watch
Where: Stegeman Coliseum, Athens, Ga.
When: 5 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network
Online streaming: WatchESPN