Peach Bowl 2014: Bold Predictions for Ole Miss vs. TCU
This year's Peach Bowl is comprised of two teams wondering what might have been. Both Ole Miss and TCU had championship aspirations, but both fell short and were left out of the Top Four by the College Football Playoff selection committee.
The Rebels were one of the nation's hottest teams after starting the season 7-0. Unfortunately, back-to-back losses to LSU and Auburn sealed their fate. However, the team was able to finish the regular season on a high note, defeating Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl and knocking its in-state rival out of championship contention.
The Horned Frogs were a highly debated team around the College Football Playoff's final rankings. TCU was ranked third in the nation at the end of November and went on to torch Iowa State 55-3 to end the regular season. Although, despite a valiant effort, the team was left out in the cold, falling out of the Top Four to No. 6 overall.
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While these teams took far different paths to the Peach Bowl, we're certainly lucky to see the stout defense of Ole Miss attempt to contain the high-octane offense of TCU. Before these teams take the amateur gridiron once more, let's take a look at some bold predictions for both teams in this ensuing contest.
Bold Predictions for Ole Miss
Evan Engram Tallies 200 Receiving Yards, Touchdown
Tight ends don't often eclipse the 200-yard mark, but if anyone at the position can get the job done, it's Engram. A big, friendly target for quarterback Bo Wallace at 6'3" and 217 pounds, Engram's large frame, reliable hands and deceptive speed make him a valuable target.
During the team's last four games of the season, Engram's role in the offense increased. In three of those contests, he recorded at least five receptions and surpassed the 100-yard mark twice. He broke out in the Egg Bowl with a 176-yard performance which included an 83-yard catch-and-run.
The tight end spoke of his quarterback's ability to get him the ball when he sees mismatches during an interview with Hugh Kellenberger of The Clarion-Ledger, "They left a (linebacker) on me sometimes and there were some holes I knew I could get into. (Quarterback) Bo (Wallace) had to put it there, and he did that. I just had to take advantage of the opportunities I had."
TCU has struggled against the pass at times this season, ranking 85th in the nation and allowing 242.4 yards per game through the air. Wallace has several nice weapons at his disposal, but watch for the quarterback to get the ball into his playmaking tight end's hands early and often.
Ole Miss Holds TCU Under 30 Points
Sure, that doesn't seem like a bold prediction at all. How difficult could it be to hold an offense to fewer than 30 points in a game—especially for the Rebels' top-ranked scoring defense that allows just 13.8 points per game? Well, no one has been able to accomplish the feat yet this season.
Through 12 games, the Horned Frogs have scored at least 30 points in each contest. Their ability to get points on the board in a hurry is what makes them so formidable heading into bowl season. TCU currently ranks second in the nation in points scored, averaging 46.8 per game. This team is so prolific, it even scored 58 points in its lone loss this year.
Ole Miss has the defense capable of containing the dangerous TCU attack. While the Rebels can get after the passer—they accumulated 25 sacks during the season—what makes them scary is their ability to completely shut down an offense by winning the battle in the trenches. Ole Miss totaled an impressive 90 tackles for a loss through just 12 games, an average of 7.5 per contest.
There's no doubt the potent TCU offense will get some points on the board, but if Ole Miss can be disruptive in the backfield, it will throw off the rhythm of the Horned Frogs offense, keeping them from sustaining long drives and holding them to a season-low point total.
Bold Predictions for TCU
Trevone Boykin Totals 350 Total Yards, Four Touchdowns
There haven't been many quarterbacks able to accumulate many yards through the air against the Rebels this season. Even in a higher-scoring loss to Auburn on November 1, the Rebels allowed only 254 passing yards to Tigers quarterback Nick Marshall.
Still, in that game, Marshall threw for two touchdowns while rushing for 50 yards and scoring twice more. There's no reason to think the dangerous Boykin won't be able to one-up Auburn's signal-caller. After all, he does lead the nation's seventh-ranked passing offense that averages 332.8 yards per game.
Don't expect Boykin to tally 350 yards and four scores through the air against Ole Miss. If he is to reach those totals, he'll need to get his legs moving as well. While he hasn't run as often this season as he did in 2013, he has displayed his ability to scramble at times, racking up 123 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries against Kansas State.
Considering Kansas State is ranked 23rd in the nation against the run, it's safe to say Boykin has the ability to duplicate that mark against an Ole Miss squad that ranks 29th in that category. Suddenly, 350 total yards and four touchdowns doesn't seem so far-fetched.
TCU Picks Off Wallace Three Times
Wallace doesn't exactly have the reputation of being an accurate quarterback. After all, his completion percentage dipped to 61.2 percent in 2014, which is the lowest of his three-year career at Ole Miss. He isn't a model of ball security, either, tossing 11 picks this season and 38 in three seasons.
Those numbers really don't favor the quarterback against a TCU team that ranks second in the nation in takeaways. Through 12 games, the Horned Frogs have a whopping 36 takeaways, totaling 13 fumble recoveries and 23 interceptions. Yes, they are averaging just short of two picks per game.
Wallace is no stranger to tossing multiple picks in a single contest. While he's only done that three times this season, one such time was during the season opener against Boise State. He threw three picks against a Broncos team that wound up ranking tied for seventh in the nation in takeaways with 29 in 13 games. That's quite an ominous statistic for Wallace.
One of the biggest reasons for TCU's success in this department is its ability to generate plenty of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The Horned Frogs have 35 sacks this season, and if that number goes up against Ole Miss, so will the team's interception total.
All team statistics and rankings courtesy of NCAA.com and current as of December 13.
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