Mississippi @ Georgia preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2011 ) Georgia 27, Mississippi 13

Jarvis Jones’ return to the lineup helped the Bulldogs get back on the route to the SEC Championship Game, and sixth-ranked Georgia looks to close in on the Eastern Division title when it hosts hot Mississippi on Saturday. The Bulldogs upended the Gators and can win the East for the second consecutive season with victories in their final two conference games. Jones, a junior linebacker who had missed time with ankle and groin injuries, earned conference defensive player of the week honors. The Rebels have won two in a row in SEC play after losing 16 consecutive conference games. Mississippi won last week at Arkansas, getting a 31-yard field goal from conference special teams player of the week Bryson Rose.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Georgia -14

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI (5-3, 2-2 SEC): First-year head coach Hugh Freeze has his Rebels one victory away from becoming bowl eligible. Mississippi only rushed for 77 yards in the victory against Arkansas, but sophomore quarterback Bo Wallace passed for 278 yards. The Rebels are averaging 23 first downs per game and are sixth in the nation in red-zone conversions (26-for-28). Jeff Scott ranks fifth in the conference in rushing yards (87.4).

ABOUT GEORGIA (7-1, 5-1): Jones recorded a career-high 13 tackles with three sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries against the Gators. He won the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski national defensive player of the week for the second time this season. The Georgia defense, which had played sluggishly for most of October, forced six turnovers. Quarterback Aaron Murray looks to rebound from a brutal three-interception performance. The Bulldogs rank fifth in the SEC in rushing and fourth in passing, a balanced attack that has Georgia averaging 36.8 points this season. The Rebels have allowed 27 or more points in three of their four conference games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Wallace has rushed for 263 yards and is fifth in the conference in total offense (239 yards per game).

2. Georgia freshman RB Todd Gurley has rushed for 10 touchdowns this season, and stands third in the SEC with 92.5 rushing yards per game.

3. Georgia holds a 31-12-1 series lead, winning the past nine meetings. Ole Miss has not defeated the Bulldogs since 1996.

PREDICTION: Georgia 31, Mississippi 14