When Kentucky and Ole Miss face off Saturday in a game with College Football Playoff implications, the teams and fans might recognize something of themselves in their opponents. The Wildcats, with just three 10-win seasons in the past 50 years, are fresh off a 10-win season and looking for national respect. The Rebels, with just three 10-win seasons in the past 50 years, are also fresh off a 10-win season and are also looking for national respect.
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin’s teams usually feature a wide-open, high scoring offense. This year, they’re the SEC’s top rushing team, with a squad of talented running backs compensating for an adequate, but unexciting passing game. On the other hand, Kentucky under Mark Stoops has lived a ground-and-pound life, but the Wildcats some to Oxford ranked next to last in the SEC in rushing, but with QB Will Levis lighting up the air.
The Rebel defense has been excellent this season, but generally against competition that is well south of sub-par. Last week, while Kentucky ground through a slog of a 31-23 win against Northern Illinois, Ole Miss beat Tulsa by one score and allowed 262 yards rushing. Between the two teams, Kentucky’s win in the Swamp is the lone foray of either squad into what should be competitive football.
This game is certainly a matchup of two of the SEC’s premier coaches. The son of a respected coaching veteran, Lane Kiffin has grown into an excellent coach, admittedly about a decade late for the Tennessee Vol fans. While the younger Kiffin is still certainly capable of a cocky edginess, he’s worn out most of his rough edges and is well respected at Ole Miss. Meanwhile, Mark Stoops is the now Kentucky’s winningest coach ever, and has made his career in Lexington by stealing away close games.
Both teams have one excellent offensive facet and one that’s fairly shaky. The difference might be that Kentucky welcomes back senior running back Chris Rodriguez for this game. Is it unreasonable to expect one player to be the difference between victory and defeat? In general, perhaps. But in a game where the two teams match up pretty evenly, Rodriguez could well be the difference.
If he can avoid some of the negative plays that have slowed Kentucky’s offense, Rodriguez could be the extra boost to get Kentucky over a hump of having not won a road game at the home of an SEC West foe since 2009.
The guess here is that Rodriguez might not be in perfect form, but he can grind out enough tough yards to be the difference for the Wildcats, who are an underdog by nearly a touchdown. Just another chip on the shoulder, just another week in the meat grinder that is the SEC. And just another win.
Kentucky 31, Ole Miss 28
Other SEC Predictions:
Alabama 42, Arkansas 21
Mississippi State 31, Texas A&M 21
LSU 28, Auburn 17
Georgia 48, Missouri 6
Florida 52, Eastern Washington 10
Joe Cox is contributing editor for KySportsStyle.com Magazine. He grew up in Letcher County and Bell County and has written or co-written nine books. His most recent, "A Fine Team Man: Jackie Robinson and the Lives He Changed," was released in February 2019 and can be ordered on Amazon or at many local bookstores. Joe is an attorney and lives in Logan County with his wife and children. You can reach him at jrcox004@gmail.com.
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