Nick Parsons

Today’s Free Picks

The PLAY: Mississippi +3.5 (-115)

This is a FREE PLAY on Ole Miss.

While I think an outright win is the most likely outcome here for Ole Miss in the Bowl Semifinal (Fiesta Bowl), my official call for this FREE PLAY selection will be to grab as many points as you can.

I'm coming off my third straight winning College Football season, and I'm the No. 1-ranked NFL and College Football COMBINED handicapper since 2023 (I'm also working on my third-straight winning NFL season as well). I am shutting down my College Football client program this year, but will still be releasing top-rated FREE PLAYS on both Semifinal games, and in the National Championship Game as well.

Either way, my official call for this FREE PLAY on Thursday, January 8th, 2026, at 7:30 Eastern is to grab the 3.5 points with Ole Miss.

And I like the Runnin' Rebels in this spot for a few different reasons.

Miami enters this one at 12-2 after beating Texas A&M by a score of 10-3 as a 3-point underdog in the first round, before then beating Ohio State 24-14 as an 8-point dog in the Quarterfinal.

Ole Miss destroyed Tulane 41-10 as a 17-point favorite in the First Round, and then it pulled away for a 39-34 win over Georgia as a 6-point underdog in the Bowl Semifinal.

The Rebels come into this one averaging 37.6 points per game, which ranks tenth in the nation, while allowing 20.4, which ranks 27th.

Miami's defense has been incredible over the first two games of the playoffs, but now I expect the Hurricanes to stumble here against this difficult Ole Miss offense.

Miami averages 31.6 PPG, ranked 34th, while allowing only 13.1, which is ranked fourth.

This is a classic matchup of offense vs. defense, and in my opinion, the Rebels' offense will prove to be too much for the Hurricanes to keep up with down the stretch.

Neither is a slouch on the other side of the ball, though, obviously.

Carson Beck was solid in the Buckeyes' win, finishing 19 of 26 for 138 yards and a touchdown.

Rueben Bain and the Miami defense would go on to sack Julian Sayin five times, and they also forced two interceptions, including a pick-six.

Lane Kiffin isn't coaching Ole Miss in the Playoffs; it's Pete Golding, and he has this Runnin' Rebels' offense firing on all cylinders behind the dynamic play of QB Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy, who led the SEC with 21 touchdowns on the ground.

Chambliss is a difference-maker in this big game, in my opinion, as last week the dynamic pivot finished 30-for-46 with 362 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Beck has only thrown one interception over his last six games, but if playing from behind, like I believe he will be at some point, he could be forced into a mistake against this deceivingly good Rebels' secondary.

Clearly, this won't be a cakewalk for Chambliss, as the Hurricanes' defense posted five sacks against Ohio State, and it held the Buckeyes to just 45 rushing yards.

Chambliss is my X-Factor here. He's having a Joe-Burrow-like run, and while I do think that the outright win is the most likely outcome in this one, my official call will be to grab as many points as you can with OLE MISS.

Good luck, NP