The Ole Miss Rebels may not have reached the College Football Playoff field this season. Still, they at least learned their bowl game destination. Ole Miss earned a bid to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, which will take place on Jan. 2. Specifically, The Rebels are set to face the Duke Blue Devils in this bowl game. Hence marking the first NCAA Football Betting meeting all-time between the two programs. In turn, Duke went 9-3 under first-year head coach Manny Diaz. The losses for the Blue Devils came against Georgia Tech (24-14), SMU (28-27 OT) and Miami (53-31).
Gator Bowl Duke Blue Devils vs. Ole Miss Rebels
| Date and Time: | Thursday, January 2, 2025, 7:30 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, FL |
| TV Coverage: | ESPN |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | +15 -110 | 52½ -110 | +450 |  |
| Mississippi | -15 -110 | 52½ -110 | -600 | |
| ||||
Gator Bowl Overview
Last year, the Gator Bowl matchup between No. 22 Clemson and Kentucky was one for the ages. The Tigers topped the Wildcats 38-35 in one of the wildest college football games of the season, featuring a bowl-record 42 points, five turnovers, and five lead changes in the fourth quarter alone.
Finally, a stamp was put on the back-and-forth affair when Tigers running back Phil Mafah scored his bowl-record fourth rushing touchdown of the day. Including his third of the fourth quarter with 17 seconds left in the game. Thus, giving Clemson the lead, which was followed by a successful 2-point conversion. In sum, Mafah finished with 71 yards on 11 carries. Cade Klubnik completed 30 of 41 passes for 264 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. He completed 8 of 9 passes on the winning drive.
Duke Blue Devils Team Overview
Last game, the Duke Blue Devils won 23-17 against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons as 3.5-point road favorites. The game went under the offshore bookmaker total of 53. Duke has a record of 9-3 straight up, 8-3-1 against the spread, and 5-6-1 over/under the total. Duke ranks 107th for total offense, 44th for passing, 126th for rushing and 73rd for scoring. Defensively they rank 44th overall, 35th against the pass, 70th against the rush, and 42nd for points allowed. Also, Duke ranks 80th for fewest turnovers lost and 42nd for takeaways.
Ole Miss Rebels Team Overview
Last game, the Ole Miss Rebels won 26-14 against the Mississippi State Bulldogs as 28-point home favorites. The game went under the NCAA Football Betting total of 63.5. Ole Miss has a record of 9-3 straight up, 7-5 against the spread, and 2-10 over/under the total. Mississippi ranks 2nd for total offense, 3rd for passing, 50th for rushing and 9th for scoring. Defensively they rank 18th overall, 88th against the pass, 2nd against the rush, and 5th for points allowed. Also, Ole Miss ranks 33rd for fewest turnovers lost and 57th for takeaways.
Gator Bowl SBG Free Picks
Ole Miss also finished the year 9-3, and while that is not a bad season, it is a disappointing one, considering the high preseason expectations the Rebels received entering the 2024 campaign. The Rebels seemed to have a clear path to reaching the College Football Playoff after their November win over Georgia, but a loss on the road to Florida sank those hopes late in the year. This will be Ole Miss’ fourth appearance all-time in the Gator Bowl. In this situation, Ole Miss has far more talent and offensive firepower.
Gator Bowl SBG Best Bet: Ole Miss Rebels.