Peach Bowl 2014: Ole Miss vs. TCU Schedule and Early Predictions
It's Ole Miss and TCU slated for the 2014 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on New Year's Eve, pegging one of the nation's hardest-hitting defenses against an insanely prolific offense.
The Horned Frogs are undoubtedly feeling left out after falling from No. 3 to No. 6 in the final College Football Playoff standings, but they will look to bounce back from that disappointment with a chance to knock off one of the SEC's elite. As for the Rebels, they turned around a sour ending to the season with a big Egg Bowl win. A still-young Ole Miss squad will be intent on building some momentum for a 2015 run.
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The matchup is certainly enticing from an outside perspective, as Sports Illustrated's Zac Ellis noted:
Let's take an early glance at the 2014 Peach Bowl matchup.
2014 Peach Bowl: No. 9 Ole Miss vs. No. 6 TCU
When: Wednesday, Dec. 31
Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta
Start Time (ET): 12:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Odds (via Odds Shark): TCU -3, as of Dec. 7
Peach Bowl Preview
The Book on Ole Miss
A magical 2014 season of resurgence for Ole Miss football turned sour in the form of three straight SEC losses, but the resilient Rebels bounced back when it mattered most.
Maybe it didn't matter for their already-dashed playoff hopes, but the Egg Bowl is everything in Mississippi, and the Rebels made a statement by drubbing Mississippi State, 31-17, in a game that wasn't as close as the final score might indicate.
Hugh Freeze's Rebels have undoubtedly emerged from the slugfest of the SEC West with some bruises, as star wideout Laquon Treadwell and linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche are out for the season. The offense isn't the same without Treadwell but is finding its rushing prowess with Jaylen Walton. He rattled off 148 yards in 14 carries against the Bulldogs, passing the century mark for the first time in 2014.
The Rebels' biggest win of the last week was retaining Freeze after reported overtures from Florida for its then-vacant position. But after locking up a raise and extension, athletic director Ross Bjork lobbied his team for the Peach Bowl in Atlanta:
Ole Miss ended up getting the nod for the Peach Bowl with Mississippi State heading to Miami for the Orange Bowl, and it creates quite the matchup.
The Rebels' three losses came largely from offensive struggles, which shouldn't be a problem against TCU if Wallace takes care of the ball. The Horned Frogs are stingier than expected up front, but Ole Miss is a passing team first and foremost—and if TCU's defense has a weakness, it's definitely the secondary.
A big game from the Ole Miss defense—specifically from star cornerback Senquez Golson and the secondary—will be needed against TCU's high-powered offense. The Rebels' stout defensive line should hold up well against a strong running game, but Trevone Boykin can get to the edge with his legs and take the top off the defense with long passes.
Staying composed in the secondary could be the difference between a resounding victory and an embarrassing defeat for Ole Miss.
The Book on TCU
It would be hard to blame TCU for being shell-shocked in its first few days in preparation for the Peach Bowl.
After all, the Horned Frogs were No. 3 in the final unofficial CFP poll last week, then turned around in the final weekend of the season to smack Iowa State, 55-3. However, not only did they fall out of the Top Four and see their championship hopes fade, but even Baylor jumped them as they fell to No. 6.
Their inexplicable fall really just showed how flawed the system can be, per CBS Sports' Will Brinson:
But as Gary Patterson's Horned Frogs showed on the field in every instance other than its 61-58 loss to Baylor, they're quite close to the complete package.
Dual-threat quarterback Trevone Boykin has been brilliant in a Heisman-contending season, throwing for 3,714 yards and 30 touchdowns while adding 642 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.
His incredible season has set a plethora of school records, as ESPN Stats & Info noted:
TCU boasts a multi-pronged rushing attack. Boykin is the leading rusher in terms of carries, but Aaron Green leads the team with 854 yards and a 7.7 yards-per-carry average. Green, Boykin and burly back B.J. Catalon have combined for 26 rushing scores.
The offense has been more than formidable in the Big 12 but will go up against one of the nation's most feared defenses in Ole Miss. Deception will be key for the Horned Frogs in the running game, disguising outside rushes with Boykin roll-outs in order to create openings.
Prediction
TCU has been the better team from start to finish this season, but in a battle of a top offense against a top defense, nearly a month of preparation will result in a Rebels victory.
Ole Miss hounded Dak Prescott last weekend in the Egg Bowl, and while Boykin brings a different skill set to the table, they're both dual-threat quarterbacks with big arms. The Rebels will again bring the house over and over. Boykin will make some plays against it but will also be taken down in the backfield plenty.
The defense will be huge for Ole Miss, but Wallace should also have success against a TCU defense that has allowed 30 or more points in every one of its one-possession games. It will be down to the wire, but Wallace and the Rebels defense will come through.
Prediction: Ole Miss 34, TCU 30
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