The Kentucky Wildcats moved to 1-0 on Saturday as they knocked off the Toledo Rockets, 24-16.
It wasn’t the prettiest game you have ever watched as both offenses struggled mightily throughout all four quarters. Luckily for the UK, their defense held strong as they led the Cats to a must-have win early in the season. Now comes the other game on the schedule that you could label as a must-win if you wish to have a good season… the Ole Miss Rebels.
A lot of talk this week will turn to how Kentucky knocked
off the Rebels in Oxford last season, for what became their only signature win in 2024. For Ole Miss, that loss is what ultimately kept them out of the 12-team playoff. Meaning Saturday’s game will be a revenge game for Lane Kiffin, who will likely not take his foot off the gas if his team gets rolling.
Coming off a 63-7 win over Georgia State, the Rebels were cooking as they put up 695 yards of offense against the Panthers. With 400 yards passing and 295 yards on the ground, Kiffin’s offense was incredibly balanced in week one, and obviously very explosive. The Kentucky offense was neither of those things, begging the question: How will this even be a game?
A very good question to ask, honestly, but luckily, this is a similar matchup as it was last season. Ole Miss looks to go tempo and score tons of points, while Mark Stoops and Kentucky want to win this game with ball-control and great defense. For the BBN, we can check the box for defense, giving the fanbase some slight hope for the upset. The biggest question mark, however, will be under center for the Rebels.
Austin Simmons had an impressive week one, but this coming Saturday will be his first road start of his career. Meaning if Kroger Field can bring the noise at 3:30, the Cats could stand a chance.
This is an important week two for both teams. Should be a fun one on Saturday.
Kentucky Wildcats vs. Ole Miss Rebels
Date & Time: Saturday, September 6th @ 3:30 PM EST
Location: Kroger Field in Lexington (KY)
TV: ABC
Streaming: WatchESPN
Radio: UK Sports Network with Tom Leach and Jeff Piecoro
Odds: Ole Miss is a 10.5-point favorite via FanDuel Sportsbook.
Early Predictions: Odds Shark has Ole Miss winning 41-10. Dimers.com has it Ole Miss 31, Kentucky 21. Our own Samuel Hahn picked Ole Miss to win 28-27.
