SEC football predictions, Week 5: Will Ole Miss or UK remain perfect?
No. 7 Kentucky (4-0) at No. 14 Ole Miss (4-0)
How to watch: Oct. 1 at 12 p.m. on ESPN
The most anticipated game of the Week 5 schedule in the SEC is a pair of teams vying to retain that designation as a “darkhorse to win the SEC.” A loss by either Kentucky or Ole Miss likely will strip either team of competing for an SEC championship since Alabama and Georgia are currently the top two teams to beat from both divisions.
Kentucky QB Will Levis has been playing really well this season, throwing for 300+ yards in each game of the season except for the Week 2 showdown with Florida. He’s thrown four picks this season and had to endure 16 sacks in just four games so far this season. One complaint is that these are sort of empty stats mostly against Group of 5 or FCS teams.
The Wildcats have a heavy passing attack that will make things easier on Ole Miss to defend— Kentucky is averaging just 81.5 rushing yards per game. The Rebs, on the other hand have a much more balanced attack (207.3 passing yards per game, 280.8 rushing yards per game), but their rushing game is what makes them so dangerous.
Ole Miss leads all SEC football teams in total rushing yards and total rushing touchdowns so far this season and they’re doing it by committee. They have two running backs who have eclipsed 350 rushing yards so far this season and QB Jaxon Dart has totaled more than 200 yards himself on the ground.
Ole Miss has too many weapons for Kentucky to account for and a raucous home crowd. The Rebels win this clash in a close one.