The Kentucky Wildcats will play host to the Ole Miss Rebels today as they look to move to 4-2 in SEC play and 7-2 overall.
A win would match their win total from a season ago and put them in prime position to get to eight regular-season wins for the first time in three decades.
Ole Miss leads the all-time series 27-14-1, but Kentucky leads the series 11-9-1 in Lexington. Kentucky has also won two of the past three meetings dating back to 2005, including a 30-13 home win in 2011, the last time the two programs played.
A win today would have the Cats reaching seven wins on Nov. 4, the third-earliest in school history, and the earliest since 1977 (Oct. 29). Kentucky would also have 13 wins in their past 19 regular-season games. They’d also be 14-5 in a span of 19 regular-season games for the first time since Nov. 13, 1976 to Oct. 21, 1978 (14-4-1).
One thing that speaks to Kentucky's advantage in this matchup is Ole Miss's defense, or lack thereof. They've given up an average of 37.5 PPG this season and are more than suspect to the run.
The Rebels are just 126th in the country vs the run, giving up a whopping 260.5 rush YPG & 19 rushing touchdowns through just eight games. They also are allowing a disappointing 5.66 YPC.
Ole Miss will enters today at 1-4 in SEC play & 3-5 overall. The Rebels have put up their share of points this season, averaging 31.5 PPG. However, they have averaged just over 16 PPG vs ranked teams this season.
Last weekend, the Rebels were at home and once led 31-7 over Arkansas, however ended up blowing the 24-point lead to lose 38-37 on an Arkansas FG as time expired.
With Kentucky quarterback Stephen Johnson banged up, look for the Wildcats to lean heavy on not only running back Benny Snell Jr. but also Lynn Bowden in the wildcat & Sihiem King as the change-of-pace back.
Bowden has shown spurts of being able to throw the ball this season via trick plays as well as being highly effective after the catch, while King has shown lightning-quick speed to torture defenses.
The real challenge for Kentucky this weekend will be slowing down a Rebel offense that is averaging over 39 PPG in their last three contests. I look for both teams to put up points with some explosive plays but if Kentucky can lean on their rush attack to chew up clock, they'll be able to keep the Ole Miss offense off the field.
Here's everything you need to know to follow the Cats:
When: 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 4
Where: Kroger Field, Lexington, KY
TV: The game will be aired on SEC Network with kick-off set for 4 P.M. EDT. SEC Network can be found on these channels for the following networks: AT&T UVerse - 607, DirecTV - 611 & Disk Network - 408.
Watch online: WatchESPN.com or the WatchESPN app
Radio: UK Sports Network (630 AM or 98.1 FM in Lexington, 840 AM in Louisville, UK Sports Network affiliates statewide
Satellite radio: XM 191 or Sirius 138
Listen online: UKathletics.com or the UK Athletics app
Odds: The Wildcats will be favored by -3.5 this weekend with a whopping Over/Under of 63.5.
Prediction: OddsShark projects the Cats to win 32-26.