Orange Bowl 2014: Bold Predictions for Mississippi State vs. Georgia Tech

The Mississippi State Bulldogs and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets took very different paths to the Orange Bowl. The Bulldogs were ranked among the nation's elite for most of the season, but they faltered down the stretch and missed out on the College Football Playoff. The Yellow Jackets went on a late-season surge to finish second in the ACC and lock up a berth in this prestigious bowl game.

While each team enters this contest under different circumstances, both are looking to end their seasons on a high note with a victory in the Orange Bowl. Mississippi State and Georgia Tech have been very good in certain departments on the football field this season, and those areas in which they flourish could be magnified on such a large stage with so much at stake.

That's where bold predictions come into play. As we await these teams to return to action, let's take a look at what could potentially happen for each squad if everything fell into place.

Bold Predictions for Mississippi State

Dak Prescott Rushes for 100 Yards, Three Touchdowns

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We've all seen Prescott's ability to move the chains with both his arm and his legs this season; however, the quarterback hasn't rushed for 100 yards in a game since an October 11 contest against Auburn. While the signal-caller has eclipsed the century mark four times this season, he hasn't scored more than two touchdowns in any of those contests.

There's a good possibility he could change that if everything clicks in the Orange Bowl. Georgia Tech's biggest weakness on the defensive side of the ball is against the run. They currently rank 69th in the nation, allowing an average of 168.8 yards per game on the ground and have given up 23 rushing touchdowns this season.

Prescott rushed for 939 yards and 13 touchdowns during the regular season, averaging 4.8 yards per carry along the way. Well, he can certainly outdo himself against a Yellow Jackets team that is allowing 5.1 yards per rush this year.

Expect Mississippi State to run the ball often in an effort to keep Georgia Tech's prolific offense on the sidelines. If the Yellow Jackets begin to focus too much on running back Josh Robinson, a few well-timed option runs by Prescott could lead to a huge day on the ground.

The Bulldogs Score 50 Points

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Mississippi State eclipsed 50 points exactly once this season in a November 22 contest against Vanderbilt. In that game, Prescott was on fire, passing for three touchdowns and rushing for another, while the Bulldogs accumulated six offensive touchdowns. There's a possibility they'll do it again when they face Georgia Tech.

The Yellow Jackets haven't given up 50 points this season, but they did give up 48 in a loss to North Carolina. The Tar Heels put on a Bulldogs-like performance in that game, as quarterback Marquise Williams passed for four touchdowns and rushed for another, as the team accumulated seven offensive touchdowns. Sounds pretty similar, doesn't it?

Mississippi State has more than enough talent on the offensive side of the ball to post gaudy numbers against Georgia Tech's 52nd-ranked scoring defense. Although, what may be even more important is the team's mindset entering this game. The Bulldogs were expecting to play for a national championship, and they will be entering the Orange Bowl with a big chip on their shoulder.

If this team can harness their frustration for how the season ended and turn it into on-field production, there's no telling what they could accomplish on New Year's Eve.

Bold Predictions for Georgia Tech

Justin Thomas Totals 300 Yards of Offense, Five Touchdowns

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This is a feat that Thomas only accomplished once this season, and that was against Georgia Southern. While 300 yards of offense doesn't seem like much for a quarterback, it most certainly is in Georgia Tech's triple-option scheme when passing is limited.

So, why will Thomas put up these gaudy numbers against Mississippi State? Well, it's quite simple: The Bulldogs have a terrible pass defense, ranking 122nd in the nation and allowing an average of 285.2 yards per game through the air. But, why is that important if the Yellow Jackets don't throw the ball often?

Mississippi State could be walking into a trap here. Thomas doesn't take to the air much, and that will bring the Bulldogs defense up toward the line of scrimmage. If Georgia Tech picks its spots, it will be able to strike with big passing plays over the top of an unsuspecting defense that regularly struggles in coverage.

With only a handful of big plays through the air, Thomas could easily eclipse 200 passing yards. That leaves him with 100 more yards to gain on the ground, which is a likely scenario when running the triple option, even against the nations' 25th-ranked run defense.

The Yellow Jackets Pick Prescott Three Times

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One thing that the Bulldogs quarterback struggles with on occasion is accuracy. He's completing 61.2 percent of his passes on the season, but he's struggled against better pass defenses and has thrown 10 interceptions on the season. Georgia Tech has an average pass defense, ranking 66th in the nation, but it also has plenty of ball hawks.

The Yellow Jackets have accumulated 17 interceptions in 13 games this season and rank tied for 16th in the nation in takeaways. Prescott has recently struggled against better secondaries, tossing two picks against Auburn, two against Arkansas and three against Alabama.

With eight interceptions in his last seven games, Prescott's ability to protect the ball has declined. Considering he's thrown multiple interceptions in three games this year, it doesn't appear as though he bounces back quickly from errors. This is something Georgia Tech will be able to exploit.

Of course, if this bold prediction is to come to fruition, the Yellow Jackets are really going to have to fire up their pass rush that has only accumulated 18 sacks this season against a Mississippi State offensive line that has given up just 21.

All team rankings and statistics courtesy of NCAA.com and current as of December 13.