The Kentucky Wildcats improved to 6-2 with a 29-26 win over the Tennessee Volunteers last week. They will look to continue their impressive season when they host the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday. Kentucky isn’t that strong of a team but they keep getting manageable opponents. Tennessee last week was a team on their level and now they get a banged up Ole Miss squad. The Rebels have a whole host of issues, so that’s why we see the Wildcats as a favorite. Ole Miss has now dropped five of their last six games and is a program that is swiftly sinking to the bottom of the SEC.
Kentucky has clinched a bowl game invitation for the second consecutive season and they still have a legitimate shot to clinch eight or nine wins with a strong finish. Ole Miss will be without its best player after losing quarterback Shea Patterson to injury. After blowing a double-digit lead in last week’s loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks, the Rebels definitely appear vulnerable on the road this week.
Details
Odds: Kentucky -4
Date & Time: Saturday November 4th 2017 – 4:00 PM ET
Location: Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky
Broadcast: SEC Network
Reasons To Bet On The Ole Miss Rebels
While Ole Miss will be without Patterson, it’s worth noting that junior quarterback Jordan Ta’amu was pretty good in last week’s loss to Arkansas. Ta’amu threw for 368 yards with an interception but the Rebels couldn’t contain the Razorbacks in a 38-37 loss. Ta’amu is capable of delivering another strong performance on the road this week but he is going to need more help in order for Ole Miss to pull off the upset in what should be a hostile environment. The Rebels defense ranks No. 116 in the country in points allowed per game, which simply won’t cut it on the road against a talented SEC outfit. Each of Kentucky’s last three victories have been clinched by a single score so even though they might not win this game straight up Ole Miss might still find a way to do enough to cover on the road.
Reasons To Bet On The Kentucky Wildcats
The Wildcats strength of schedule has played a substantial role in their 6-2 start but it isn’t like the Rebels represent a much more difficult test than what they have faced so far this season. Kentucky is third in the SEC East division behind only South Carolina and Georgia and they have been particularly good at home where their only hiccup was a 28-27 loss to Florida all the way back in September. The Wildcats have averaged 25.1 non-garbage points per game so while a lot of people have been quick to write them off based on their schedule they have actually put up some decent numbers. Head coach Mark Stoops isn’t about to let his team rest on their strong start so expect him to ramp up the urgency at home once again this weekend.
Outlook
We’ve seen a little bit of bouncing around with this betting line. Kentucky originally opened -4.5 but then has dropped to -3.5 and come back to -4.5 multiple times. It’s landed right in the middle as of right now as the Wildcats are currently sitting as a four-point favorite for this affair. As far as the total goes, the movement has been pretty clear. Bettors seem to like the over. It opened up at 60 but all of the action has been on the high side as the line is now at 63.5.
Kentucky should have a slight edge at home on Saturday but considering how they have performed this season we aren’t willing to completely overlook the Rebels as a 3.5-point underdog on the road. Each of the Wildcats’ eight games has been decided by 11 points or fewer and two of their last four wins were decided by four points or less. Ole Miss has enough talent to keep this game close and give Kentucky all that it can handle at home. The Wildcats will win a close one while the Rebels do just enough to cover as road underdogs.
Pick: Ole Miss +4
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