Ole Miss fans and bettors got a glimpse of what to expect from the Rebels in 2020 – and it’s very much a good-news, bad-news deal as they prepare to face host Kentucky on Saturday. Ole Miss (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS) lit up the scoreboard but was torched on defense in a 51-35 loss to the Florida Gators. The Wildcats (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS) opened the year with a dispiriting 29-13 loss to Auburn.
- Date/Time: October 3, 4 p.m. ET
- Stadium: Kroger Field
- TV Coverage: SECN
- Sportsbook Odds: Kentucky -7 | O/U 56.5 (Line History)
- Ole Miss vs Kentucky Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The Wildcats opened as 7-point favorites, but you can find the line at a tantalizing -6.5 in some spots. The total has risen from an Sportsbook of 56.5 to 58.
Ole Miss News & Notes
Oddsmakers were expecting a shootout and they got one – but it was much wilder than anyone anticipated, with the Rebels and Gators combining to put up 86 points and blow past the total of 58.5 in the process. The Ole Miss defense allowed 642 total yards to the Gators, making several Wildcats offensive players attractive contrarian options in daily fantasy formats this week.
Offensively, however, the Rebels had a strong showing against a formidable Florida team. Matt Corral was given the nod at starting QB ahead of the electrifying John Rhys Plumlee and took full advantage, throwing for 395 yards and three touchdowns. Plumlee, the team’s leading rusher in 2019, had just four rushes for four yards and one catch for six yards.
Kentucky News & Notes
The Wildcats are no doubt salivating at the prospect of facing that Ole Miss defense after getting stifled throughout their season-Sportsbook loss to the Tigers. Kentucky actually fared well against a stout Auburn defense, outgaining the Tigers in total yardage 384-324 while going an impressive 12-for-20 on third down – their ultimate undoing was a 1-for-3 touchdown success rate in the red zone.
Daily fantasy players should consider a Kentucky stack of quarterback Terry Wilson and wide receiver Josh Ali; the duo could go largely unowned given the strength of the rest of the Week 5 schedule. Wilson looked like his pre-injury self, throwing for 239 yards and a TD while adding 13 carries for 42 yards in defeat. Ali was Wilson’s top target with nine catches for 98 yards.
Betting Pick: OVER 56.5 (-110)
The Wildcats offense will feel liberated after getting shackled by Auburn, while Ole Miss proved last week it can move the football with consistency. This could be another Rebels shootout.
- Ole Miss is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games on the road.
- Kentucky is 7-0 ATS in its last 7 games at home.
- The OVER is 7-2 in Kentucky’s last 9 home games.
