Miami vs Ole Miss Picks and Prediction for Thursday January 8 2026

By: Eddie Kline Updated 01/21/2026, 02:39 PM ET

Miami Preview

A spot in the College Football National Championship will be up for grabs on Thursday night, when the Miami Hurricanes take on the Ole Miss Rebels in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. Make sure you are ready for all the football action with our college football picks. The tenth-seeded Hurricanes (12-2) feature one of the best defensive lines in the country and are allowing 13.1 points per game. On New Year’s Eve, Miami kept Ohio State off the scoreboard in the first half during a 24-14 victory at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

Miami started the scoring on a Carson Beck nine-yard touchdown pass to Mark Fletcher. Keionte Scott intercepted a bubble screen and returned it 72 yards for a score to give the Hurricanes a commanding 14-0 lead. Senior DL Akheem Mesidor added a pair of sacks for the Hurricanes.

Ole Miss Preview

The Ole Miss Rebels endured the loss of head coach Lane Kiffin to LSU and have responded by scoring 80 points through the first two games of the College Football Playoff. The sixth-seeded Rebels (13-1) rank second nationally in total offense and are averaging 37.6 points per contest. On New Year’s Day, Ole Miss erased a nine-point halftime deficit to earn a thrilling 39-34 victory versus Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss shredded the Georgia secondary for a season-high 362 yards and a pair of touchdowns. WR Harrison Wallace contributed a game-high 156 receiving yards and a score. Kewan Lacy added 98 rushing yards and found the end zone twice for the Rebels.

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Miami vs Ole Miss Pick

Miami CB O.J. Frederique (foot) is listed as probable and Ole Miss DT Kam Franklin (concussion) is considered questionable for this game. The Hurricanes will be able to establish the run with their massive elite offensive line and then wreak havoc for Chambliss with their fierce defensive line. Take Miami to win and cover. Final Score Prediction, Miami Hurricanes win 31-20.

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