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ESPN’s FPI has published a prediction for the Gator Bowl pitting Ole Miss and Duke on Jan. 2 in Jacksonville.
The Rebels are being given a hefty 83.4% chance to take care of Duke and get to double-digit wins this season.
Ole Miss went 9-3 this season, a solid record, but 3 losses proved to be too many for the Playoff committee, which also didn’t include 3-loss SEC teams like Alabama and South Carolina.
On a positive note, star quarterback Jaxson Dart has said he’s playing in the bowl game when he easily could’ve opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft. Dart’s presence will certainly help the Rebels’ cause against the 9-3 Blue Devils, who ended the regular season with 3 straight wins and also hope to get to double-digit victories under first-year head coach Manny Diaz.
Duke was not as fortunate, as starting quarterback Maalik Murphy has chosen to transfer to Oregon State ahead of the 2025 season. The Blue Devils are expected to start Henry Belin IV as their quarterback against Ole Miss.
The motivation should be strong for both teams to finish strong and get to that magical 10th win of the season.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 2.
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Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
