Kentucky vs Ole Miss Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks
The No. 7 Kentucky Wildcats and No. 14 Ole Miss Rebels are set to clash in a Week 5 SEC matchup. Both teams are enjoying undefeated starts at 4-0, but one will leave Hollingsworth Field with a loss.
The Rebels are 2-2 against the spread while Kentucky is 3-1. Neither team covered in Week 4. Ole Miss blew a lead to Tulsa as 21-point favorites but managed to avoid an upset. Meanwhile, Kentucky beat Northern Illinois 31-23 as 27-point favorites in a less than dominant performance.
Let’s check the latest NCAAF odds, stats, injury reports, and NCAAF lines for Kentucky vs Ole Miss. We’ve plenty of Vegas NCAAF odds for you to consider.
Kentucky Wildcats
The Wildcats may be a top-10 team, but they don’t have the offensive line to back up that ranking. If Kentucky hopes to keep its undefeated season alive, this group will need to do much better. QB Will Levis was under constant pressure against Northern Illinois and was sacked five times by a not-so-impressive defense.
In four games, Levis has been sacked 16 times. It is the second most in the entire nation. His talent is undeniable as he still managed to throw for over 400 yards and four touchdowns. But Ole Miss’ defense is far better than any Kentucky has faced this season.
It’s not all bad news for the seventh-ranked team in the nation. For starters, their running game will open up with Chris Rodriguez Jr. returning to action after being suspended for the first four games. Rodriguez led the SEC in rushing yards last season and will give this offense explosiveness and flexibility. Starting guard Tashawn Manning will also return after sitting out last week with an injury.
The key for Kentucky in this spot will be to try to overcome a Rebels’ defense that ranks seventh in the nation in points per game and fourth in points per play.
Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss needs to get it together after surviving a disastrous second half against Tulsa in Week 4. After scoring 35 points in the first half, the Rebels’ offense disappeared and they did not score another point for the rest of the game. This wouldn’t have been a considerable problem had their defense been able to stop a mediocre Tulsa rushing attack. The Golden Hurricane finished with 262 yards and three touchdowns on the ground but saw their comeback fall short.
Ole Miss, meanwhile, managed just 145 total yards after halftime and one failed trip to the red zone. The Rebels still have a top-10 scoring defense, but it looked vulnerable against Tulsa.
The one thing Ole Miss continues to do well is start fast on offense. The Rebels have scored at least 21 points in the first half in four straight games and will need a similar start to Saturday’s showdown. With their tendency to let off the gas as the game progresses, Ole Miss needs to grow as big of a lead as possible in the early going.
This scoring push will likely be on the ground, as the Wildcats are very good at defending the pass. Kentucky has allowed just two passing touchdowns compared with three interceptions. Rebels QB Jaxson Dart had just 154 passing last week, yet somehow found the end zone twice. He also ran for 116 yards. Dart and the rest of this offense should lean into that again in Week 5 and try to run roughshod over Kentucky.
Kentucky vs Ole Miss Injury Report
DE Sam Anaele is again listed as questionable for Kentucky after missing the first four games due to an undisclosed ailment. He likely misses this game.
For the Rebels, WR Jaylon Robinson is questionable and unlikely to play for the third week in a row with an unknown issue.
Kentucky vs Ole Miss Head-to-Head
These two teams have met eight times since 2000, with Ole Miss holding a 6-2 lead straight up and 5-3 against the spread. Ole Miss is on a 2-0 winning streak, with both victories at Kentucky by a combined four points. The Rebels haven’t played at home against Kentucky since 2010, winning 42-35.
Kentucky vs Ole Miss Game Information
- Game: Kentucky vs Ole Miss
- Location: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS
- Day/Time: Saturday, Oct. 01, 7 p.m. ET
- Kentucky vs Ole Miss Live Stream: ESPN
Kentucky vs Ole Miss Betting Lines
| Team | Handicap | Moneyline | Total |
| Kentucky Wildcats | +6½ -110 | +225 | 54½-110o |
| Mississippi Rebels | -6½ -110 | -265 | 54½-110u |
The odds in this chart are based on the time of publication. They are subject to change.
Kentucky vs Ole Miss Prediction
Despite being the higher ranked team, we don’t see things going well for the Wildcats in Week 5. Their offensive line continues to underperform and allow far too many sacks. The Rebels rank fifth in the nation in sacks and can exploit this weakness. The return of Rodriguez is big news, but this team needs more than a returning star to overcome Ole Miss’ stifling defense.
