College Football Playoff: Joel Klatt reveals pick for Tulane at Ole Miss

It’s a first round rematch in the College Football Playoff. For the second time this season, the Ole Miss Rebels are set to host the Tulane Green Wave, after Ole Miss dominated the first meeting.

This matchup is plenty different, of course. The stakes are significantly higher, with it being a win or go home Playoff game. On top of that, Lane Kiffin and Jon Sumrall, the head coaches for both teams, have also taken new jobs.

Ultimately, Joel Klatt is confident in Ole Miss to win its first-ever Playoff game. He explained on The Joel Klatt Show exactly why that is.

“Ole Miss is great at home,” Klatt said. “They’ve won 21 of the last 22 in Oxford. That home crowd is going to be riled up, obviously, with Kiffin’s exit. Meanwhile, Jon Sumrall and Tulane. He’s coming off that win over North Texas in the American Championship, where they got five takeaways. He’s got another job. So, they’re dealing with a little bit of distraction.”

There are some notable differences in the two coaching changes at Ole Miss and Tulane. Lane Kiffin and the Rebels went through a saga that was highly publicized regarding whether or not they were going to retain him or if he would leave. Ultimately, he left. On top of that, he wanted to stay and coach, but the dispute became public and he wasn’t allowed to do so.

In Tulane’s case, Jon Sumrall is moving to Florida. However, the split is much more amicable and he’s being allowed to coach the Gators and the Green Wave at the same time through the season.

That coaching situation doesn’t matter to Joel Klatt, though. For him, it’s pretty simple. One team is much better than the other in terms of talent. That’s Ole Miss.

“Ole Miss wins this game. This is too big of a task for Tulane. It just is. I know some people have said, ‘Well, because of Kiffin, I think Tulane could,'” Klatt said. “Tulane is not a good enough team to line up against Ole Miss. This Ole Miss team is incredible. They have Georgia. They have them, and they’re an undefeated team and they have a bye. I think Ole Miss wins this one, even if it’s not as drastic as the 45-10. 35-14. That covers the 17.5. So, I’m gonna give the 17.5 and I’m gonna take Ole Miss, 35-14, at home on Saturday.”

Ole Miss and Tulane will both be playing in their first-ever College Football Playoff games. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, December 20th.

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