SEC: Ole Miss vs Kentucky 10/1/22 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Ole Miss Rebels and Kentucky Wildcats clash Saturday in SEC week 5 college football action at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The Kentucky Wildcats look for back-to-back 5-0 starts. The Ole Miss Rebels look for their first 5-0 start since the 2015 season. 

The Kentucky Wildcats have won 4 of their last 6 road games. Will Levis is completing 67.5 percent of his passes for 1,185 yards, 10 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Tayvion Robinson and Dane Key have combined for 590 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns, while Barion Brown has 13 receptions. The Kentucky Wildcats ground game is averaging 91.5 yards per contest, and Kavosiey Smoke leads the way with 263 yards and 1 touchdown. Defensively, Kentucky is allowing 13 points and 272 yards per game. Jacquez Jones leads the Kentucky Wildcats with 26 tackles, Darrion Henry-Young has 1 sack and Keidron Smith has 1 interception.

The Ole Miss Rebels haven’t lost a home game since October 2020. Jaxson Dart is completing 62.2 percent of his passes for 697 yards, 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Jonathan Mingo and Malik Heath have combined for 477 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns, while Michael Trigg has 13 receptions. The Ole Miss Rebels ground game is averaging 280.8 yards per contest, and Quinshon Judkins leads the way with 429 yards and 5 touchdowns. Defensively, Ole Miss is allowing 10 points and 318.5 yards per game. Troy Brown leads the Ole Miss Rebels with 29 tackles, Khari Coleman has 2.5 sacks and Isheem Young has 1 interception.

The Wildcats are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 conference games and 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall. The Rebels are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS loss. The under is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 games overall. The under is 11-1 in Rebels last 12 games overall.

The Kentucky Wildcats and the points are attractive given how good that defense looks and the fact running back Christopher Rodriguez Jr. is returning from suspension. However, Kentucky has had issues across the board offensively, and it may take a while for things to get going. There’s no doubt the Ole Miss Rebels have shown a more balanced attack up to this point, and their defense is solid as well, which includes being ranked sixth in scoring defense. We’re not being asked to lay anything crazy. Give me Kentucky by a touchdown.