Peach Bowl 2014: Preview, Predictions for Ole Miss vs. TCU
TCU wanted a playoff bid.
But instead, it's getting a 12:30 p.m. New Year's Eve date with Ole Miss in the 2014 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
That's how the cookie crumbles for TCU (11-1), which doesn't get the benefit of a Big 12 title game but proved it was worthy of top consideration from the playoff committee, which ranked it No. 6 during Sunday's selection special on ESPN.
Ole Miss played a hellish SEC schedule, so it could be better than its 9-3 record suggests.
Games like this will have much more meaning once the playoff expands, because the Rebels versus Horned Frogs promises to rival the rest of the New Year's Six festivities.
Tale of the Tape
1 of 7As indicated by the stats above in the interactive graphic, turnovers will be a key for both TCU and Ole Miss during the Peach Bowl.
Basically, TCU must keep getting them, finding them and creating them. Ole Miss has to stop losing them and giving them away.
Rushing the ball, as always, helps sets the tone. Don't be fooled by the 51-yard difference in favor of the Rebels—the Horned Frogs can hop around too.
Ole Miss Keys to Victory
2 of 7
Balance is the key for the Rebels, who are led by quarterback Bo Wallace.
The 6'4", 217-pound senior eclipsed the 300-yard mark thrice this season and fell just four yards short of No. 4 with 296 during a 31-17 win over Mississippi State. He finished with 3,085 passing yards, No. 3 in the SEC, and threw for 22 touchdowns and 11 picks.
Also mobile when need be, Wallace completed his final year with five rushing scores. The Rebels' offensive attack will likely go as far as Wallace takes it—but he'll need help, and that's where Jaylen Walton enters the picture.
The 5'8", 166-pound junior burst for 148 yards on 14 carries during his team's victory over the in-state rival Bulldogs. Walton's appearance in the Egg Bowl gives reason to believe that there is more in store.
Marquis Haynes is one of the obvious powers on the other side of the ball. The 6'3", 220-pound freshman defensive end finished the year with 7.5 sacks, good for No. 7 overall in the SEC.
Finding a way to keep up with TCU's high-paced offense while simultaneously stifling it with defense is easier said than done. But that's why it'll be a fine balancing act for Ole Miss' Hugh Freeze, who's coached his way out of a few jams in recent years.
TCU Keys to Victory
3 of 7
Leaning on the arm of Trevone Boykin, who exploited Iowa State for 460 yards and four touchdowns, is a great idea. So much so that offensive coordinator Doug Meacham will likely go ahead with doing that New Year's Eve.
Boykin finished the year with 3,714 yards, 30 passing touchdowns and just seven interceptions. He spots a target and makes the throw. The rest is on guys such as Josh Doctson, who tallied 59 catches for 959 yards and nine touchdowns.
Deante' Gray caught eight touchdown balls. Aside from he and Doctson, 11 others had at least one catch for six. Boykin likes to get his friends involved.
Rushing the ball hasn't been easy against Ole Miss, which finished 2014 with the No. 13-ranked total defense (No. 29 run defense). Despite having a stable of backs who know how to find the end zone (23 TD, 31 with Boykin), the Horned Frogs probably won't run over the Rebels, who gave up an OK-but-not-stellar 3.4 yards per attempt.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Ole Miss Players to Watch
4 of 7
He's 6'3," so he has reach.
But he's only 220 pounds, so he can't always overpower opponents.
But Marquis Haynes doesn't always need to do that, evidenced by his quickness from the edge. He finished the year with 7.5 sacks. Boykin was sacked 20 times, making him a somewhat popular target for the other guys. One of them could be Haynes, who is a beyond-great option for defensive coordinator Dave Wommack.
"He's not just a pass-rusher for us," Wommack said in October, according to Hugh Kellenberger of The Clarion-Ledger. "He's a great pass-rusher."
Wallace's mobility and adequate arm make him dangerous. But then again, so does his decision-making ability. He can either be lights-out or ice-cold, depending on the weather or time of day. When on, he's incredible—he ended the year with a No. 22-ranked efficiency rating of 147.7.
Ole Miss had the No. 29-ranked passing offense, which is a bit misleading considering that it has playmakers Vince Sanders and Evan Engram. However, due to a gruesome leg/knee injury, Laquon Treadwell was lost for the year, leaving a gaping hole in Wallace's pool of targets.
Together, Sanders and Evans will be tasked with maintaining the Rebels' rate of 13.39 yards per completion.
And as mentioned earlier, finding balance is the key. Running backs Jaylen Walton and Jordan Wilkins lead the charge as the top rushers. However, I'Tavius Mathers and Mark Dodson are serviceable; they combined for roughly 500 yards and seven rushing touchdowns.
TCU Players to Watch
5 of 7
Even without Devonte Fields, who was dismissed this season, the Horned Frogs' D-line dominated.
Leadership from Chucky Hunter, a 6'1," 300-pound senior DT, helped ease the burden. He finished with a career-high three tackles for loss versus Iowa State and says that his team has just gotten started. Ole Miss should be on the lookout for large, protruding chips on shoulders.
"Gary Patterson says TCU deserves to be in the College Football Playoff. Chucky Hunter says TCU isn't done yet. READ: http://t.co/Y74Tvq4b1n
— TCU 360 (@tcu360) December 6, 2014"
And there's always Sam Carter, the anchor of a stingy secondary. The senior safety is a Jim Thorpe candidate and came away with four interceptions and 52 tackles this year. Chris Hackett, a junior corner, had six picks and 73 tackles.
Offensively, Trevone Boykin's nearly 4,000-yard arm highlights an offense that scored 46.8 points per game, No. 2 in the nation. Defending that is a nightmare, even for a defense like Michigan State's.
Running back Aaron Green served as a great complement to Boykin in the backfield, rushing for 848 yards and eight touchdowns.
Assuming he's ready for the Peach Bowl, B.J. Catalon, who's recovering from a late-season concussion, would only strengthen a rushing corps that racked up 2,512 yards (5.4 YPC) and 31 touchdowns.
What They're Saying
6 of 7
This is a collection of what national and local media members said and are saying about Michigan State and TCU.
Sports Illustrated's Andy Staples questioned the Big 12 and TCU's playoff argument, saying, "Well, if you’ve got two champs, then you probably have no champ. That’s especially problematic when the dual, dueling champs come from the league that has bragged all season that it produces 'One True Champion.'"
It's safe to say that Staples believes the Horned Frogs are right at home in the Peach Bowl against Michigan State.
The Detroit News' Bob Wojnowski weighed in on quality victories:
"Alabama, Oregon and FSU are in. Will come down to Buckeyes and TCU. And I'll say this: TCU has no win as good as OSU at Michigan State.
— Bob Wojnowski (@bobwojnowski) December 7, 2014"
Matt Hammond of CBS Houston (Sports Radio 610) had the right idea:
"if CFP had 8 teams this year: Oregon, Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State, TCU, Baylor, Michigan State, Miss State. i'd sign up for that.
— Matt Hammond (@MattHammondShow) December 7, 2014"
Judging by his recent tweets, it seems as if the Big Ten Network's Brent Yarina is pro-TCU. Prior to the selection, there was a buzz about Michigan State and TCU possibly meeting in the Peach Bowl. Regardless of opponent or bowl, almost everyone, even those in Big Ten country, agree that the Horned Frogs' resume compared favorably to just about everyone in the land.
"Who did Michigan State beat? Best win is vs. Nebraska. Next: Maryland? How in the world is TCU overrated?" he replied to a Horned Frogs naysayer/possible Michigan State fan.
There are more strong supporting statements and great cases on both sides. There is no debating that the Peach Bowl will feature a pair of top-notch programs.
However, Mississippi State athletic director Scott Stricklin, who doesn't exactly have a horse in the race, takes the cake with the following tweets:
"Some commentators leaving Big 12 out of top four. Would they be doing same if it was Texas and OU instead of TCU and Baylor? #brandnamebias" he posted, followed by, "I’m not insinuating a conspiracy … only that, subconsciously, brand name teams may be assumed to be better … even if they aren’t."
Generally speaking, most are viewing the Peach Bowl as a low blow to coach Gary Patterson's program. Even the unbiased Associated Press. But Patterson took the "high road" when asked about the snub during ESPN's selection special. No bitterness on his end, just pure class the entire way.
That's the high road in any conference, even ones without title bouts.
Prediction
7 of 7
Ole Miss slid out of the season with three wins over Top 25 teams, including now-No. 1 Alabama. However, three losses certainly hurt the Rebels, who bowed 10-7 to LSU, 35-31 to Auburn and 30-0 to Arkansas, which recently ended a streak of 17 straight conference losses by beating LSU.
TCU finished with two wins over over Top 25 teams, including an early-season triumph over then No. 4-ranked Oklahoma. Other than losing 61-58 to Baylor, another playoff-worthy team, the Horned Frogs could do almost no wrong in 2014.
Prediction
It's the No. 2-ranked offense of TCU (46.8 PPG) versus the No. 1-ranked defense in terms of points allowed (13.8).
This one is difficult, as the Rebels seem to be a quiet power. But TCU proved that's it's the real deal and that it probably deserves a playoff spot. Then again, Baylor would say the same.
Anyway, the Horned Frogs take out their aggression and give the Rebels a 28-20 parting gift on New Year's Eve.
Follow Bleacher Report featured columnist Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
